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Lucas Neill believes he has the backing of the Socceroos squad to remain captain but says the proof will be in how the players perform against Canada in London.
Australia takes on 106th-ranked Canada on Tuesday night (Wednesday morning AEDT) at Craven Cottage, just four days after coach Holger Osieck was sacked following successive 6-0 defeats to Brazil and France.
Neill has been forced to defend his place in the team after Mark Bosnich said he was a big part of the problem and should quit.
The 35-year-old thinks he has the support of the entire playing group and hasn’t heard any dissent.
“But I suppose evidence will be shown on Tuesday when I ask the team to come out and show the kind of spirit we need,” Neill told reporters in London.
“Let’s see if we get the reaction that I’m looking for and Australia needs.”
Caretaker coach Aurelio Vidmar has a host of injury concerns to contend with.
It appears likely young and inexperienced players including Mathew Leckie, Oliver Bozanic and Jason Davidson could start the match.
In good news, Dario Vidosic and Sasa Ognenovski trained on Monday – only Tim Cahill missed the session – and are possible inclusions.
“We still need to find out which players are available to play,” Neill said.
“We’ve got a few clouds hanging over people. But whoever goes out there has to wear the shirt with the kind of pride that it’s been worn with for a number of years.”
The captain said it was crucial Australia, ranked 53, made a good start at Craven Cottage.
“If we concede a goal early to Canada the obvious reaction from everybody will be ‘Oh no we’ve just gone a goal down’.
“So we have to be resilient. We have to show the kind of spirit that Australia has become famous for and we have to find confidence quickly to be able to get a passing game going.”
Striker Josh Kennedy believes the Canada match is a chance to prove team spirit remains alive and well.
It’s also an opportunity to impress whoever will lead the team into next year’s World Cup.
“As far as a new coach coming in, it doesn’t matter if you are young or old, experienced or not, everybody will want to put their best foot forward and make a good impression because everybody wants to go to Brazil,” Kennedy told reporters.
“Tomorrow could be the start of things.”
Kennedy echoed Neill’s comments regarding the team’s injury woes.
“It’s a game where we probably make three or four substitutions and that will be it,” he said.
Some commentators have suggested the Australian public expects too much from the current crop of Socceroos.
Neill doesn’t agree.
“It’s the nature of the beast – you become a victim of your own success,” he said.
“But we’ve set a standard and if we don’t reach it people have a right to be upset.”
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