Aussies in Confed ‘to win’ despite drubbing

AUSTRALIA departed for the Russia and FIFA’s Confederations Cup yesterday insisting they can still win it, despite a crushing 4-0 demolition by Brazil in a lopsided warm-up.

The Socceroos were thrashed by the South Americans in a fr iendly in Melbourne on Tuesday, but coach Ange Postecoglou preferred to look on the bright side.

“For us, as I said, this game was preparation for what we’re going to face,” he said.

“We needed to do some things in terms of getting some game time into players and we got that. We’ll be ready for the first game.”

The Socceroos held the fivetime World Cup winners to 1-0 at half-time after conceding just 12 seconds from the kickoff, but the home defence’s frailties were exposed by three second-half goals.

It was a sobering farewell for Australia, who face Germany in their opening Confederations Cup game on June 19, then Cameroon and Chile.

Postecoglou said that, despite the high quality opposition, his team could be successful.

“We want to win it, mate,” he told reporters.

“I know after last night that probably sounds ridiculous, but I took this job with the intent of being as ambitious as I possibly can for Australian football.

“When you’re ambitious you have spectacular failures and spectacular successes.

“I’m not going to coach in between, just notch up a stint for my country as a coach flatlining – let’s go there and see what we can do.”

They head into the tournament without skipper Mile Jedinak, who withdrew from the squad ahead of the Brazil game with a groin injury.

The Aston Villa midfielder pulled up sore after Australia’s 3-2 World Cup qualifying win over Saudi Arabia last week and has been replaced by Austria-based midfielder James Jeggo.

“He has had a tough period si nce Ch r i st mas w it h h i s groin and we a ll agree it is in t he best long-term interest of Mile and the Socceroos that he has a brea k to ensure he is ready for t he new sea son,” Postecoglou said.

‘It’s going to be tough’

A replacement captain has yet to be announced, although veterans Tim Cahill or Mark Milligan would be obvious choices.

Cahill, who is desperate to play in his fourth World Cup next year, said the Socceroos need to embrace the Confederations Cup and build on what the side has achieved.

“It’s about the experience of what we’ve done in the last two and half years and to build on it,” he said.

“The Confed Cup is where we really put it into practice and make a mark on the world stage. There’s a lot of g reat tea ms i n t he compet it ion and we know it’s going to be tough.”