Australian midfielder Matt McKay has warned fans not to expect a cricket score when Australia meet Bangladesh at Perth on Thursday, reports Fox sports.
Australia plays its first World Cup qualifier on home soil, after opening their roads to Russia 2018 with an arduous 2-1 win away to Kyrgyzstan last June.The Bangladesh clash at Perth Glory’s home venue nib Stadium is the Socceroos’ first visit to Perth since 2005, before Postecoglou’s side plays Tajikistan away on Tuesday week.
Despite Bangladesh being ranked 170 and better known for their cricketing exploits, McKay said the Socceroos must set the tone for their whole campaign and said there would be no return to some of the massive scorelines from the Oceania days.
‘It’s not always like that, we saw that with Kyrgyzstan game, where we thought — (they’re ranked) 100-and-something in the world — international football is never easy and we won’t be taking Bangladesh lightly,’ McKay said.
‘Then it’s a tough game away to Tajikistan.
‘We’re on our game, we’re ready, this qualification phase will be testing and these two games will go a long way to making sure we’re focused for the rest of the campaign.
‘I don’t know too much (about Bangladesh) yet, we’ve got a bit of footage. We had staff that have gone and watched their previous game and I’m sure they’ve done their homework.’
Meanwhile, Reuters reported that Australia’s first choice goalkeeper Mathew Ryan will miss the match against Bangladesh and subsequent qualifiers against Tajikistan after suffering a knee injury while playing for Spanish club Valencia.
‘It’s a blow for Mat to miss these games but he picked up a knock in Spain overnight and with the travel distance and the lateness of his club game we have decided to bring in Eugene Galekovic,’ Australia coach Ange Postecoglou said on Monday.
‘Eugene is more than capable replacement and he will join us in Perth and we will move ahead without Mat.’
Adelaide United stopper Galekovic, 34, has won eight caps for his country but none since 2013.
Bangladesh national football team underwent a two-hour long intense training session at the Perth Soccer Club, Dorrein on Monday having reached the country a day before.
According to a press release from Bangladesh Football Federation, all the players were in good shape.
Bangladesh assistant coach Saiful Bari Titu also joined with the team in Perth on Monday after he guided the Under-19 team to the semi-finals of the just-concluded SAFF Under-19 Championship in Nepal.
The national team will also have their training session today at the same ground while the Australia national team had a one hour long training session at NIB Stadium Ground, Pier Street in Perth on Monday.
-With New Age input
