» Australia vow to go into Asia with all guns blazing

Australia vow to go into Asia with all guns blazing

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Australia vow to go into Asia with all guns blazing

Australia have vowed to go on the attack in their opening Asian Cup qualifier in Bahrain next week.

The Australians will be without most of their top European-based players, including forwards Harry Kewell and Mark Viduka, because of their Champions League and UEFA Cup commitments.

But assistant coach Johan Neeskens said the absence of leading players would not change Australia’s approach to their first Asian Cup qualifier since ditching the Oceania Football Confederation.

“A lot of people overseas don’t expect much from this team because all the big stars cannot come because of other commitments but I think for the players here it is an opportunity and I believe in it,” Neeskens told reporters in Australia in a teleconference.

“It’s good when you play away to go with good organisation but I think also you have to play forward to try to score goals and not only defend.

“It’s also a risk, if you try to defend for 90 minutes and you keep that up for 85 minutes and you have a goal against you, then it is not a good result.”

More: today.reuters.co.uk

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