Socceroos prepare for super wet conditions in Newcastle 3:31
The Socceroos are preparing for wet conditions in Newcastle for tonight's semi final against the UAE with terrential rain predicted to play a role in the match.
- Fox Sports
- 27 Jan 2015
- Sport/Football/Asian Cup
Ange Postecoglou’s team is one win away from the Asian Cup final. Source: Getty Images
FOLLOW the live coverage of Australia’s Asian Cup semi-final against the United Arab Emirates.
The game starts at 8pm AEDT.
Scroll to the bottom of the page for blow-by-blow coverage.
6.30pm — ANGE’S PHILOSOPHICAL CHANGE
Will Tim Cahill deliver again tonight? Source: Getty Images
WHEN the Socceroos send crosses into the box against the United Arab Emirates in tonight’s Asian Cup semi-final, Ange Postecoglou might cringe inwardly.
“My one pet hate is putting the ball in dispute and usually that comes from when the ball’s in the air or a crossing situation. I just hate it, it goes against everything I believe in,” Postecoglou .
But in a perfect example of the flexibility it takes to be a good coach, Postecoglou will instruct his players to do something that normally makes his skin crawl.
The reason? The world-class heading ability of frontman Tim Cahill.
“I’m telling them to whip it in from anywhere because if it goes anywhere near him ... I still think in the penalty box he’s world-class,” Postecoglou said.
Cahill again looms as the key to Australia’s hopes of progressing to Saturday night’s final against South Korea in Sydney.
He scored twice in Australia’s 2-0 quarterfinal win against China to take his tally for the tournament to three — one behind UAE striker Ali Mabkhout.
Mabkhout and fro-wearing midfielder Omar Abdulrahman will have to be tightly marked but the Socceroos enter the game a $1.45 favourite to win the game.
Central defender Matthew Spiranovic and midfielder Mark Milligan have been included in Australia’s starting 11 for tonight’s game.
Spiranovic replaces Alex Wilkinson after serving a one-game suspension while Milligan comes in for Mark Bresciano.
It appears as though Postecoglou plans to play two holding midfielders — Milligan and Jedinak — in front of the back four in a slight shift in strategy from the formation he’s played so far in the tournament.
Mark Milligan starting alongside Jedinak in midfield suggests Ange is well and truly putting the clamp down on Omar Abdulrahman.
— Riley Beveridge (@RileyBev)
Zeljko Kalac is confident the Socceroos will win their semi 1:11
Former Socceroos goalkeeper Zeljko Kalac is confident the Socceroos will outshine the UAE in tonight's Asian Cup semi final, saying Australia will be too fresh and quick for their opponents.
- Fox Sports
- 27 Jan 2015
- Sport/Football/Asian Cup
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