With 104 caps to his name, Mark Schwarzer is as hungry as ever for success ahead of Tuesday’s crucial FIFA World Cup qualifier against Oman.
With 104 caps to his name, Mark Schwarzer is as hungry as ever for international success ahead of Tuesday-s crucial FIFA World Cup qualifier against Oman in Sydney.
The 40-year-old shot stopper will contribute to yet another significant international fixture next week and is relishing the chance to add another triumph to the many of his hugely decorated career.
“The longer you play, the more games you play, if you didn-t have that buzz still, that I still get when I play for my country, I don-t think I-d be still sitting here,” Schwarzer said.
“That-s also what drives me, that continuous buzz and that feeling I get for representing my country.”
With the Qantas Socceroos, Schwarzer has experienced much of the highs and lows of Australia-s passage to Brazil to date, most recently contributing 90 minutes to last October-s 2-1 win over Iraq in Doha.
A similar result against Oman would be welcomed next Tuesday, an outcome that would put Schwarzer within touching distance of his third FIFA World Cup.
“They-re (Oman) a talented side, they-ve got some skillful individual players,” Schwarzer said.
“They-re definitely one of the emerging Arab nations in football, they-re continuously, consistently in the final stages of FIFA World Cup qualifying campaigns, since we-ve been in Asia.
“We know that they-re a team that are getting more organised as the years go on and also becoming a better team.
“This seven/eight days that we have now to prepare for the game is vital and it-s fantastic that we-ve got this time together as a team to prepare.”
In vintage form domestically with English Premier League outfit Fulham, Schwarzer has been keeping an eye on proceedings closer to home, making it clear to local media where his allegiances will lie at Parramatta Stadium on Saturday.
“What he-s (Western Sydney Wanderers Head Coach, Tony Popovic) been able to achieve is outstanding,” Schwarzer, who was born and raised in Sydney-s west, said.
“There-ll be a big screen set up for us to watch the game as a group, we-ll be all there supporting the game and I-ll definitely be supporting Western Sydne.”
The Qantas Socceroos- road to Brazil recommences on Tuesday, 26 March at Sydney-s Stadium Australia with a crucial clash against Oman. Kick off is at 7.30pm AEDT.
Tickets for this match are available from www.footballaustralia.com.au/tickets.