Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
London: Mile Jedinak has expressed his hope that Australia’s AFC Asian Cup 2015 success will help take the game Down Under to even greater heights.
The Australia national team skipper used his “Captain’s Column” in Crystal Palace’s match-day programme against Newcastle United earlier this week to explain his feelings about the Socceroos' January title success in their own backyard, something which he believes will have far reaching and distinctly beneficial knock-on effects for his country.
“Just participating in the Asian Cup in my home country was a brilliant experience, but to win it makes it even more special,” wrote Jedinak.
“Being at home and seeing how much everyone got behind not only us, but the whole tournament in itself, was really something special. When the final whistle blew after 120 exhausting minutes in the final against Korea Republic I was overwhelmed about what we had achieved.
“I’m trying to compare it to the play-off final and finding a lot of similarities in how I felt - it was something really special. It’s got to be right up there in all the things I've achieved in my career and to be a part of history achieving something for our country is really amazing.
“With it being on home soil, in Sydney, in front of a lot of our family and friends, it goes right to the top of that list. Hopefully we can use this success to take interest in football up to the next level in Australia where it needs to be and where it deserves to go.
"Hopefully we can use it as a springboard to help us grow the game over there.”
Despite an ankle injury suffered in Australia’s opening game of the tournament against Kuwait, Jedinak played a key role in the Socceroos’ historic win.
The seasoned captain returned for the knockout stages to help Ange Postecoglou’s side defeat China 2-0 before downing the UAE by the same score-line in the semi-final.
In the final, Jedinak’s team beat Korea Republic 2-1 in extra time, but he has not featured for Palace since due to the recurring ankle problem.
“After playing so many games in a short space of time I feel OK, there’s a slight bit of fatigue so I’m just managing that and seeing when I’ll be re-introduced to the squad,” he said.
“I picked up an ankle injury in the opening game of the tournament and it’s a little bit of a slight issue but we’ll try and work through that.”
Photo: WSG