Socceroos boss Ange Postecoglou says Asian nations need to cast aside their inferiority complex and play to their strengths against big European and South American nations.
Speaking at the three-day National Coaches Conference in Kuala Lumpur this week, the Socceroos boss declared Europe and South America’s stranglehold on world football would soon be broke.
But only when fellow nations from around Asia stopped thinking of themselves as second-class citizens.
“The biggest difference between Asian nations and the rest of the world comes down to mentality,” Postecoglou told more than 70 coaches and technical directors from around Asia.
“Sometimes our mentality is that we are second class citizens. Too often we focus on our weaknesses but we have to believe in our strengths and back ourselves.”
“In this region, we have some nations with really big strengths but they don’t always play to them. For example, the World Cup is usually played in the summer, in heat and humidity, similar to this part of the world.
“European nations try to slow down the games, but we should try to speed them up.”
Ex-Liverpool and France boss Gerard Houllier was a guest speaker at the conference alongside Iran and former Manchester United assistant Carlos Queiroz.
Currently only one Asian nation [Iran at 41] is inside FIFA’s top 50 in the rankings, with the Socceroos fourth at 61.
So far only nations from Europe or South America have been successful at World Cup tournaments but Postecoglou has no doubt that will be broken within 25 years.
“I believe that in the next five or six World Cups, a confederation from outside Europe or South America will win it,” he said.
“We need to start that process straight away in Asia and we have to believe that we can do it.”
EXCLUSIVE: Tajikistan coach reveals plan for Socceroos clash
In other Socceroo news...
Asian Cup hero James Troisi’s potential move to the Hyundai A-League may hinge on a club’s ability to offer him around $1million a season.
The Daily Telegraph reports Troisi is seeking a $1m-a-season deal but he may have to lower that figure to return to the Hyundai A-League.
The 27-year-old, who has a year to run on his Juventus contract, who has been linked with Western Sydney Wanderers FC and other A-League clubs.
Elsewhere, Tim Cahill says he is a “few weeks” away from deciding on his future but has promised his next move will be a real “eye-opener”.
Cahill is off-contract with Shanghai Shenhua in a few months and has been linked with big-money moves to the Middle East or a return to England on loan.
