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Australia’s latest football export Adam Taggart rates signing for English Championship side Fulham a great opportunity and says the Socceroos proved the doubters wrong at the World Cup.
Striker Taggart, who started Australia’s final group match against Spain, arrived in Sydney on Thursday along with a few fellow members of the squad.
The 21-year-old forward won’t spend much time back home, as he will shortly link up with recently relegated Fulham.
Last season’s A-League leading scorer and Young Footballer of the Year, Taggart has joined the Cottagers on a three-year contract from the Newcastle Jets.
“The opportunity came to me and I jumped at it straight away,” Taggart told the media at Sydney Airport.
“It’s a great opportunity and it’s the next challenge and it’s the next step for me.
“I’ll be looking forward to improve and develop.”
Taggart said getting through the group stage was a must if Australia qualified for the next World Cup in Russia in four years.
Drawn in a devilishly difficult group in Brazil, alongside Spain and the Netherlands, who finished first and second respectively at the last World Cup, and rising South American side Chile, Australia lost all three matches.
Taggart was adamant a relatively youthful Australian side had answered their critics with their bold style.
He said coach Ange Postecoglou had given the players confidence and belief.
“There was a lot of people doubting us when we went over there,” Taggart said.
“I think we proved them wrong in terms of the way we wanted to play and surprised those top teams.
“Especially against Holland, it was some of the best football Australia has played.
“It goes to show the direction the country is going in and we’re pleased with our progression.
“But at the same time we want to be a winning country.
“We want to go over there and compete with the top sides in terns of results. And getting through that group stage needs to be a must for the next time.”
He was confident of a strong Socceroos showing at the Asian Cup on home soil next January.
“I think we’ve competed against some great countries. And in a couple of those games we had long periods of time where we were dominating the game,” Taggart said.
“So going into the Asian Cup it gives us a lot of confidence.
“In our own country it would be nice to walk away with a few more wins and maybe some silverware.”
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