Ageless Socceroo Aziz Behich has no plans to pull the pin with the side on the rise, buoyed by a performance against Brazil they are keen to do better than in Brisbane.
Australia conceded a goal with the final play of their Townsville clash on Friday to walk away with a 1-1 draw that, tellingly, left them disappointed.
A Brazilian backlash is expected at Lang Park on Tuesday night, and the A-League’s only player in the 26-man squad is primed to counter it.
“We’ve set the bar high for ourselves … it was good, but we need to be better,” the 35-year-old said.
“How brave we were on the ball … we trusted each other and took the game on.
“When you do that against an opponent like that, you earn their respect and we need to do that again, that’s for sure.”
Incredibly Behich’s 88th national appearance was his first game since the World Cup, but the veteran was able to display his trademark pace and work rate despite being in preseason mode with Melbourne City.
There is optimism the next generation of talent will take the Socceroos to new heights and, with the Asian Cup on the horizon in January, Behich plans to do more than stick around.
“I wouldn’t call it hanging on … I’m still playing at a high level … it’s exciting times,” he said.
“I feel great. I’m a player that’s always honest with myself. I know when I’m not at a level I should be. But I have a lot in the tank to give.”
The Socceroos took the lead against Brazil, and deserved it as well. (Getty Images: Albert Perez)
Coach Tony Popovic echoed Behich’s sentiment ahead of the Brisbane rematch.
“Being confident, being brave … we’ve clearly seen a difference in the players’ demeanour since the World Cup,” he said.
He said the challenge would be to back-up that performance on a short-turnaround.
“We don’t have players playing regular Champions League, or in the top leagues, 60 games a year,” he said.
“It’s a great test.”
The Brisbane fixture serves as a homecoming for rising defender Lucas Herrington.
The 19-year-old played his last game for the Roar in January this year, before using the World Cup to springboard from Colorado in the MLS to Hull in the Premier League.
“We’ve seen against Brazil a confident young man, defending against the very best,” Popovic said.
“Now he’s got the challenge of doing something he maybe hasn’t done in a while, against that calibre, backing up three, four days later.
“Can the body do it and are you ready to play at that level once more?”
AAP
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