The value of foreign-developed players: What Football Australia can learn from Morocco for Socceroos success
Morocco is not the only nation to find success with a large contingent of foreign-developed players - and the Socceroos can join that list.
Captain Lucas Neill says the Socceroos have acclimatised to the hot conditions in Muscat in time for Friday’s World Cup qualifier against Oman.
Australia completed their final preparations for the clash starting at 5pm (2300 AEST) by training at the Sultan Qaboos Sports Complex on Thursday evening.
The Socceroos arrived in Oman from Denmark on Monday morning, allowing themselves four days to adjust to the conditions.
The temperatures are expected to hover in the mid 30s on Friday.
“The weather is the same for both teams,” Neill said.
“If anything Oman should be more prepared having lived in this climate but we have been here long enough to get used to it now.
“We don’t feel it is going to be a deciding factor in the game.”
Australia lost 1-0 to Oman in Muscat in November last year and Socceroos coach Holger Osieck said his team would not be taking them likely.
That is despite many players in the home team actually not being professional players.
“To play in Europe does not give you the edge over a team like Oman,” Osieck said.
“As Lucas said we know your players, we know the quality of them and how good they are.
“It does not matter where you play and how old you are.
“It is how good you play. Oman is very good, we know that.”
There was confusion on Friday morning following a change of scheduling for the pre-match press conferences.
A FIFA official at one stage said that Australia would not be conducting a press conference before Osieck and Neill turned up a few minutes late for the media call.
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Morocco is not the only nation to find success with a large contingent of foreign-developed players - and the Socceroos can join that list.
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