Tue, 30 Nov, -0001
Vitoria: Australia defender Alex Wilkinson has said that while the Socceroos won't be afraid to 'get stuck in' when they face Chile's star-studded attack in their Group B curtain raiser on Friday they will also be disciplined in defence as coach Ange Postecoglou looks for brains as well as brawn from his side in Cuiaba.
"I think the Australian mentality is that we're a physical nation and we like getting stuck in but that's not to say that's all we're going to do," the Jeonbuk Motors central defender told the Sydney Morning Herald.
"Ange's philosophy is that while they're expecting us to be physical, and we will be physical, we also want to show them that we can play football as well. We want to be attacking and keep the ball as much as we can. That might be something they're not expecting."
While the Socceroos' starting 11 for Friday's crucial clash at the Arena Pantanal is yet to be revealed Wilkinson has started Australia's last two matches, most recently partnering Matthew Spiranovic is the narrow 1-0 loss to Croatia.
"That was our first 90 minutes together, so there's going to be a few times where we're not quite sure what the other is doing but that will come and we'll get better and better," continued Wilkinson, who was full a praise for the 25-year-old Western Sydney Wanderers defender.
"But Spira is a great player, he's strong in the air, he's great when the ball is on the deck and I thought he was very good considering he hadn't played a game in a few weeks, so that's good for him to get 90 minutes."
Photo: AFP