Caltex Socceroo legend Tim Cahill says Australia's existing attacking nature will reap benefits against Thailand on Tuesday night in the crunch World Cup qualifier.
The Aussies face the bottom side in Group B at Melbourne’s Rectangular Stadium. With Melbourne enduring particularly cold weather, the conditions will suit the Thais even less.
And the Socceroos need a big win – preferably by at least four or five goals but hopefully more – to put Saudi Arabia under maximum pressure against Japan a few hours later in Jeddah.
Cahill is more than confident that the advantage will firmly be in the Aussies’ favour before the Saudis and Japan step out onto the King Abduallah in Jeddah in the early hours of Wednesday morning (AEST).
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THE TABLE
GOALS, GOALS, GOALS
“We have to believe in the structure and process, but goals will definitely come.
“I’m confident we’ll score a lot of goals and we’re confident we’ll make a great account of ourselves.
MAKE HISTORY
Tuesday looms as a pivotal moment for this group. Though Cahill simply wants the side to focus on doing what works.
Trust in the process and it’ll deliver, he said.
“There’s been a lot of noise from the outside but really we have to worry about tomorrow night. We have to stay composed and basically and do what we normally do.
“Our football has never changed in four years – if anything we’ve evolved and got better.
“For us the sense in the squad is to always play to win. To play the style that we play and make sure we are strong in our beliefs and making sure we can play football the way it’s supposed to be played.
“2006 [qualification] was special but this is about creating an era under Ange of really creating our own pathway.
“It’s going to be special either way if we qualify but we understand what it means to win and the implications around whether Saudi win or don’t win.
“The only thing that matters to us,” he added, “Is winning and playing great football.”
