Qantas Socceroos sure to attack

Qantas Socceroos defender Luke Wilkshire says Australia's recent defensive stability will give the team plenty of confidence to cast off the shackles and go on the attack in Wednesday night's must win Asian Cup qualifier against Oman at Etihad Stadium.

Qantas Socceroos defender Luke Wilkshire says Australia's recent defensive stability will give the team plenty of confidence to cast off the shackles and go on the attack in Wednesday night's must win Asian Cup qualifier against Oman at Etihad Stadium.

The Qantas Socceroos 0-0 draw with The Netherlands in Saturday night's friendly in Sydney was the 10th time in the past 13 matches and the 16th time in the past 24 matches in all competitions that Pim Verbeek's team has kept a clean sheet.

But Australia struggled to create chances against the third-ranked Dutch on Saturday night but that should not be a problem against an Oman side that at 74 is ranked 60 places behind the home side although it did hold the Qantas Socceroos' to 1-1 draw in the opening game of the 2007 Asian Cup finals in Bangkok when only a late equaliser from Tim Cahill prevented the Aussies from suffering an embarrassing defeat.

Wilkshire, a key component of a Qantas Socceroos' defence that has emerged as the team's strength en-route to the 2010 World Cup finals in South Africa, says he expects the team to take a lot more attacking approach against Oman on Wednesday night in a game Australia must win to revive its ailing Asian Cup campaign.

"It will be a totally different game for us on Wednesday night (compared to the Holland match) - it's a game we need to win and a game where we need to score," he said.

With just one point from two games after being forced to use a team comprised solely of A-League players against Indonesia (draw) and Kuwait (loss) earlier this year, Australia sits last in the four team group but a win on Wednesday night will see them draw level with group leaders Oman with only the top two to qualify for the finals in Qatar in 2011.

Wilkshire said it was now time for the team's attack to match the deeds of the defence, which has performed magnificently since Verbeek took charge in late 2007.

"If you look at most coaches they are going to start from the back forward (in building a side)," he said.

"Defensively we look good but now we have got to create and score a few more and I'm sure we will do that on Wednesday."

While Australia spent much of Saturday night's game on the back foot defending against one of the world's best teams, the Qantas Socceroos are preparing for a role reversal on Wednesday night against an Oman side that would be delighted to come away from Melbourne with a draw.

"I am sure they are going to be sitting back defending but we have got to break them down and get the goals," Wilkshire said.

"Of course that is often difficult but we have experienced that before."

"We know what to expect and we know they will look to defend and break on us but it's up to us to create and score the goals."

"We are in a difficult position, the two results (earlier in Asian Cup qualifying) weren't the best so we need to win - we need the three points and nothing else will do."