Caltex Socceroos attacker Robbie Kruse believes Australia’s attacking endeavour will help Ange Postecoglou’s side in the team’s crucial play-off match against Syria at Stadium Australia on Tuesday night.
Kruse and his Australia teammates arrived in Sydney on Friday afternoon and have since undertaken two recovery sessions at their Sydney Olympic Park base.
As the squad prepares for Tuesday’s second-leg against Syria, Kruse said that the Caltex Socceroos’ “full throttle” approach won’t change against Ayman Hakeem’s team.
“I think under the boss [Caltex Socceroos Head Coach Ange Postecoglou] we have always gone full throttle,” said Kruse. “Whether we’re winning 1-0 in the 80th minute in Saudi Arabia, or any other situation, we have always gone and pushed for the win.”
“I think that will help us in stages like this (because) when it comes to crunch games our mentality has always been to take it to the opposition. I think that will help us in the game on Tuesday,” he said.
Kruse, who scored Australia’s goal in Thursday’s first-leg in Malaysia, explained that there’s a strong belief within the squad that any of the players ultimately selected on Tuesday evening can get the job done, and added that he’s pleased to have converted his strong goal-scoring form in Germany’s second-division to the national team.
“They [Syria] are going to fight for everything, but we have the same passion and the same hunger as they do,” added Kruse. “I think at home we are a very formidable side.”
“We have a huge squad of 23 who can all play at any given moment and I am sure that the starting team the boss chooses is going to get the job done.”
“I am always happy to score and I have been scoring a lot at Club level (with VfL Bochum), so I am happy to translate that into the national team,” he said.
After defending determinedly as a unit in Melaka, Kruse expressed his disappointment post-match that the Caltex Socceroos didn’t secure a clean sheet against Syria.
“The penalty was difficult to take but we move on and we look forward to the game on Tuesday,” he said. “While I don’t believe it was a penalty, my comments post-game were in the heat of the moment and didn’t accurately reflect my views about playing in Asia. I did not intend to cause any offense and apologise if any was caused.”