The Qantas Socceroos will take confidence into Tuesday’s crucial FIFA World Cup qualifier against Jordan on the back of Thursday’s 3-0 trouncing of Lebanon in Beirut, according to Luke Wilkshire.
The Qantas Socceroos will take confidence into Tuesday-s crucial FIFA World Cup qualifier against Jordan on the back of Thursday-s 3-0 trouncing of Lebanon in Beirut, according to Luke Wilkshire.
Australia had been suffering through a four-match winless run, which was ended emphatically in the Lebanese capital thanks to goals from Tim Cahill, Matt McKay and Archie Thompson.
Wilkshire was the provider for Cahill-s opener and believes he and his teammates have rediscovered the spark needed to ensure the Qantas Socceroos are at their best at the King Abdullah International Stadium on Tuesday.
“It was ideal preparation for, obviously, the important one on Tuesday against Jordan,” Wilkshire said.
“There was a lot of positives to come out of the game and it was good to get back to winning ways.
“It-s always good to win, it becomes natural and you need to get into that rhythm.
“It was good to score a few good goals and to get that feeling back and the confidence back within the team, it-s obviously very positive going into this crucial game.”
Wilkshire has warned of the challenge that awaits the Qantas Socceroos in the form of an equally hungry and perhaps more desperate Jordan side.
Jordan was trounced 6-0 by Japan in their last qualification clash, a result that sees them occupy last place in the five-team Group B at present with only a point to show from their two qualification matches.
Should Jordan hope to qualify for their first ever FIFA World Cup, they simply must post a positive result on Tuesday.
Such desperation, coupled with the evidence of Jordan-s impressive showings en route to the quarterfinal stage of last year-s AFC Asian Cup, makes the Qantas Socceroos- hosts a dangerous opponent come Tuesday.
“We know it-s going to be a difficult game,” Wilkshire said.
“We saw some of their performances from the Asian Cup and we know it-s going to be difficult.
“We going to be well prepared and we-re going to be looking forward to it.”
The Qantas Socceroos resume their FIFA World Cup qualification campaign against Jordan in Amman, at 7pm on Tuesday, 11 September (2am AEST, Wednesday, 12 September).
The Qantas Socceroos return to Australia in 2013, for the FIFA World Cup qualifier against Oman at Sydney-s Stadium Australia at 7.30pm, Tuesday, 26 March, followed by Iraq, at 7.30pm on Tuesday, 18 June.
Tickets for both matches at Stadium Australia are on sale now through Ticketek or via phone, 132 849.