Mathew Leckie says the Socceroos Asian Cup triumph will ensure Germany won’t take it easy against Australia and they give them even more respect in Thursday’s (AEDT) friendly in Kaiserslautern.
The Asian champions take on the reigning World Cup winners in Australia’s first hit-out since that historic win over Korea Republic in January.
And Leckie, who plays his club football in Germany with second division club Ingolstadt, has no doubt the Socceroos are being viewed as a huge threat ahead of the clash at the Fritz-Walter-Stadion.
“Nobody over here sees us as a pushover anymore," Leckie told The World Game website.
"Hopefully we’ll put in a good performance and earn even more respect. Most important is for us to play well and continue on the path we are on. Hopefully we’re at the beginning of something big and we can show that by knocking off the world champions. It would be big scalp for us.
“I’ve had a bit of a muck around with my teammates and have done a few interviews and it's obvious that we're seen in a good light after how we performed at the World Cup and then becoming Asian champions. Germany are the best team in world right now and we’ll see how far off we are from them after this game.
“It’s something special. I’ve been here four years now and to play the world champions and face some those players I watch every week in the Bundesliga is a great thing."
While this is the first of two friendlies for the Socceroos this week – with a clash against Macedonia to follow five days later – Germany are in the middle of their Euro 2016 qualifiers.
Joachim Low’s side takes on Georgia in a must-win clash next Monday (AEDT) and Leckie is wary of a Germany side looking to rediscover their mojo after the World Cup.
"There’s no way they will be taking it easy,” the 24-year-old said.
“After the World Cup they had a couple of retirements and have been bringing a few younger players through but they will be there at the Euros next year for sure (after making a slow start in Group D).
"Ante Milicic (assistant coach) is so well organised and knowledgeable he will know more about them than I do. It's incredible some of the information he finds out about opponents."
Asked the player who possesses the biggest threat to the Socceroos, Leckie trumped for Borussia Dortmund star Marco Reus.
“For me, he’s the one to watch more than anybody and is a real standout," Leckie said.
"He’s one of the best wingers in the world right now, but they have dangers right across the board of course.
“Anything can happen though. If we take that confidence we showed at the Asian Cup into these matches (against Germany and FYR Macedonia five days later) then we’ll get opportunities to score goals."