Abu Dhabi: Australia are so well prepared for Tuesday’s 2018 Fifa World Cup qualifier against the UAE in Abu Dhabi that they do not need the inside knowledge of their defensive midfielder Mark Milligan.
He plays for Bani Yas in the UAE capital and is acutely aware of the Whites’ prowess — as are his teammates — ahead of the two teams’ second Group B game at the Mohammad Bin Zayed Stadium.
That’s because Football Federation Australia (FFA) has invested heavily in scouting networks in a bid to improve the Socceroos’ standing in world football.
“We’re believers in [coach Ange Postecoglou’s] adage, which is while we may not be necessarily a top-five team in the world, we’ll provide the off-field support at a world-class level to give us every chance,” the FFA chief executive, David Gallop, told the Australian Associated Press (AAP).
Milligan said the Socceroos had pored over a lot of video footage of Mahdi Ali’s men, who made the perfect start to their bid to reach their second World Cup after Italia 1990 with a stunning 2-1 win in Japan on Thursday.
“We’ve all seen a lot of them and we’re all very aware of what they can do,” said Milligan, who was a surprise choice as centre-back alongside Trent Sainsbury in the Australia team which beat Iraq 2-0 at home on Thursday.
“They’ve been preparing a long time. This is a big moment for them. It’s serious business.
“They are a very well-drilled squad, they have some very good individual players and I think over the last year or two they have come together as a team.
“I think we are going to have to be at our best over there in what will be difficult conditions, but it’s as hard for them as it is for us.”
As Gulf News reported on Sunday, the Australia coach Ange Postecoglou insists his men can cope with the searing UAE heat given their meticulous preparations.
His players are wearing special devices which measure their hydration levels and check to see whether their health has been negatively affected by the extreme temperatures.
Ice vests and frequent stints in the swimming pool are also being employed by the Socceroos.
“Testing the players’ hydration levels is an important part of our daily monitoring and this information will be used to manage training loads to ensure the players’ health is considered in preparing for the match,” a FFA spokesman said.
Meanwhile, the defender Trent Sainsbury warned the UAE that Australia would settle for nothing less than victory.
“For us we’re going there for the three points,” he said.
“We’re not going to change our gameplan; it doesn’t matter who we play. It’s three points for us or it might feel like a loss.”
“It’s going to be a very tough game, both teams have had to do a lot of travel leading up to that game,” the Jiangsu Suning defender added.
“It’s not going to be easy, especially in the weather that they’re predicting over there. But we’ll be prepared just as well as we can be.”
One of Australia’s goalscorers against Iraq, Massimo Luongo, echoed Sainsbury’s sentiments.
“I don’t think anyone thinks [a draw is enough],” the QPR man said.
“It will be tough over there with the conditions. They are used to it and away games are so difficult at this stage.
“Whether we approach it different I doubt it. Again the boss will brief us and we’ll analyse how we approach it, but every game is a game that’s there for the win.
“We’re going there to get three points, to play well and to show we’re a good side.”
