Socceroos Seek 13th Unbeaten Game Against US
US coach Mauricio Pochettino to rejig lineup against Australia as Socceroos aim to extend 12-game unbeaten run.
“We want to win every game. It's always easy to say, when you don't get a result, that the result doesn't matter because it's a friendly...”
Tony Popovic anticipates challenging conditions in Denver's high altitude as his Socceroos take on the United States in a friendly match. The Australian coach plans to make adjustments to his lineup due to the tight turnaround after their match against Canada. Popovic welcomes the physical test, saying it will help his team gauge their progress.
Meanwhile, US coach Mauricio Pochettino will also shake up his lineup, resting players who struggled with fatigue after a 1-1 draw with Ecuador in Austin. Pochettino is cautious about risking his tired players in the high-altitude match in Denver, which sits over 5,200 feet above sea level. Australia, on the other hand, is looking to extend its 12-game unbeaten run under Popovic.
“We need to pay attention that we change from Austin to Denver. The conditions are completely different,” the Argentine told reporters after training on Monday.
“You saw, we suffered.
“It’s a good opportunity also to keep improving and showing, maybe, different approaches to the game ... For sure, there are going to be changes, and maybe change the shape.”
Christian Pulisic, a key player for the US team, received limited minutes against Ecuador due to ankle swelling but has recovered and trained fully on Monday. He's now available for selection. On the other hand, Antonee Robinson, the talented left back from Fulham, will not be able to play due to ongoing knee issues that have been bothering him.
Coach Mauricio Pochettino mentioned that Robinson has been experiencing pain in his surgically repaired right to knee surgery on May 27. Despite being called up for the October international window, Robinson is still in the recovery phase and isn't expected to participate in the upcoming friendly match against Australia.
“Hope that it’s not an important thing but (that) he’ll go back to his club in a normal way there training and competing,” said Pochettino.
The Australian team, under Tony Popovic's guidance, is looking to extend its 12-game unbeaten run as they take on the USA. They've been on a roll since Popovic took over, with a notable win against Canada, a World Cup co-host, and are well-prepared for the World Cup after qualifying mid-year. Popovic emphasizes the importance of every friendly match, saying his team is focused on winning and building momentum. In contrast, US coach Mauricio Pochettino is taking a slightly different approach, downplaying the significance of results before the World Cup.
“We want to win every game. It's always easy to say, when you don't get a result, that the result doesn't matter because it's a friendly,” he told reporters.
“We want to keep our run going. We know it will be difficult and that's why we've taken on this game.”
Australia's Tony Popovic is preparing his team for a challenging match against the United States, playing at high altitude in Denver's Dick's Sporting Goods Park, which stands over 5,200 feet above sea level. Given the short turnaround after their match against Canada, Popovic plans to make some lineup adjustments to ensure his players are fit for the physical test ahead.
“We welcome that (physical) test and we'll learn a bit about the players,” he added.
“We learned a lot the other night where we know that they were struggling, a lot of them, physically to get through at the level we wanted.
“But they showed another side of their personality and character that helped them get through.
“So if we can match those two (aspects) together come June next year, we'll be in a good position.”
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