Ange’s Socceroos are a long-term project

SBS TV’s football presenter Lucy Zelic says the Socceroos can cause an upset in Brazil but believes this World Cup should be about performances rather than results.

Zelic will be a major part of SBS' extensive and exclusive coverage of the tournament which starts next month.
 
Like most Aussie football fans, the 27-year-old is excited by the new blood and fresh look to the Socceroos under new boss Ange Postecoglou and is confident the future is a bright one with the impressive crop of youngsters coming through.
 
Matches against Spain, Netherland and Chile will provide a huge test of the Socceroos' young squad but one Zelic knows will be vital for the future.
 
"This is going to give us an opportunity to not only develop talent which we haven't given much of a stage in previous World Cup campaigns.
 
It's going to give us a chance to build for the future and that's what it's all about,” she told www.footballaustralia.com.au.
 
"I don't think we should be looking at this (tournament) as a pinnacle, I think we should be looking at this as an experiment to build our talent and look to the future and the Russia and Qatar World Cups.
 
"A lot of the people have called it the 'group of death' but what I've loved is the reaction of all the players involved.
 
"They've came at it with gusto and said 'bring it on'. You don't go to the World Cup, and with all respect to this country, to play Honduras.
 
“You go to play the best and we have drawn some of the best."
 
But that doesn't mean Australia should be going there just to make up the numbers says Zelic, who is the sister of former Socceroo star Ned.
 
Asked if Socceroos fans can dare to dream off pulling off a shock in Brazil, Zelic declared: "One of the things I love about this game is it's so unpredictable, irrespective of what we think about our chances, anything can happen on any day.
 
"Everyone loves the underdog...I wouldn’t rule us out yet. We as Australian people and a footballing nation have that attitude of never say die.
 
"We have to embrace this and be proud of our achievement (of making the World Cup) but know anything could happen."
 
**For the full SBS TV FIFA World Cup broadcast schedule, Click Here