Ange Postecoglou’s plan was to wring every little advantage possible out of his World Cup preparation, and World Cup hopeful Dario Vidosic says these ‘one-percenters’ will give Australia a crucial edge.
The Socceroos and Chile meet in their Group B opener in Cuiaba this Friday night (Sat 8am AEST).
On paper, the Chileans are clear favourites with many pundits around the world seeing Australia as nuisance value in a group of death that also includes reigning world champions Spain and powerhouse Holland.
But Socceroo coach Ange Postecoglou and his hand-picked coaching team have put the Australians through a detailed and arduous preparation campaign that began in early May on the NSW Central Coast.
Preparation has been meticulous and taxing, a fact Vidosic, 27, admits might give the Socceroos an edge against opponents who potentially could look at Australia as an easy three points.
“We want to be as best prepared as possible facing Chile in our first game, and we know the extra little details that perhaps they might not make on us could give us that edge,” he said.
“We’re practising very hard individually but also what they do as a team, so we’re trying to give ourselves the best edge, even that one percent it gives us a slight advantage.
“For the coaching staff they’re looking at all the opponents in fine detail and laying that information to us.
“They’re doing a phenomenal job. We can’t be any better prepared.”
Vidosic described Tuesday as “low key” with the squad afforded some recovery time after almost two weeks of intense blocks of training in Vitoria.
“We got the chance to get out of the hotel and unwind. Today was less than normal but tonight we’ll pick it back up with another video session and we’ll be ready to go in the morning [Wed].”
Vidosic admitted he wasn’t sure if he would play in their Group B opener in Cuiaba this Friday night (Sat 8am AEST).
But the attacking midfielder from FC Sion in Switzerland felt he’d done enough in last week’s Croatia friendly and in a training game against Clube Parana to push his case for selection in the tournament opener.
“For me, to have had those two games in that week has helped me with my fitness within the heat, so it’s given me a bit of a boost.
And he felt as comfortable anywhere across a midfield three in a 4-2-3-1, though he did have a preference.
“I can play left and right to get in behind in one-on-ones and get closer to goals, and at times I’ve played up front too, but if I’d had to pick it’d be as a ten because I’ve played that position all season.
“And now we continue to fight for the starting XI for the first game of the World Cup.”
As for familiarity, just as James Troisi has knowledge of a few Italian-based Chileans, the Socceroos could come up against Chilean midfielder Marcelo Diaz on Friday, a player Vidosic has locked horns with in the Swiss League.
“He’s a great player who plays for a great club in FC Basel, so you know already his qualities. He’s very comfortable on the ball, very sharp but I think our midfield unit can outdo that.
“We done quite well against them [Basel] in the league so hopefully that continues here.”
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