Socceroos face ‘mammoth’ task, admits Jedinak
BERLIN: Socceroos captain Mile Jedinak admits they face a ‘ mammoth task’ against new-look world champions Germany in Wednesday’s friendly as Australia try and pull off another major upset.
Four years ago, Australia enjoyed a shock 2-1 friendly win in Moenchengladbach to beat Germany for the first time at the fourth attempt, but the only survivors in the current squad are Jedinak and fellow midfielder Matt McKay.
Kaiserslautern’s FritzWalter-Stadion, where Germany host Australia, has a special place in Socceroo history.
It is where they enjoyed their first World Cup win in 2006 when beating Japan 3-1 in the group stages and then lost their last 16 tie to eventual winners Italy.
Buoyed by January’s Asian Cup win on home soil, Australia are hoping to build on their recent success against Germany before playing Macedonia next Monday in Skopje.
Germany coach Joachim Loew is bedding in a newlook 3-4-3 formation, but will still field a near fullstrength side to target a moral-boosting win before Sunday’s Euro 2016 qualifier away to Georgia.
Captain Bastian Schweinsteiger will play for the first time since the World Cup final while Loew welcomes back midfielder Ilkay Gundogan and Holger Badstuber after lengthy injury absences.
“It’s a great game to be involved in. Although it’s a mammoth task to play the world champions in their own backyard, it’s still a good measuring stick,” said Crystal Palace midfielder Jedinak.
“To try and be the best, you have to play the best.
“We have to produce the right performance and to say I’m itching to play is an understatement.
“The atmosphere in the squad is contagious, but we’re going to need that. We’re under no illusions. It’s going to be a tough, tough test.”
Both sides have had little time to prepare with the bulk of their squads having played club football last weekend.
Germany are missing world-class goalkeeper Manuel Neuer, who has a minor knee injury, while Australia are without attacking talisman Tim Cahill, who has an Achilles problem. - AFP