Western Sydney cannot compete with Mexican football giants Cruz Azul when it comes to experience, history and bank balance but the Wanderers hold no fear as they attempt to defy the odds at the Club World Cup.
“We are very used to that (being the underdogs),” midfielder Mateo Poljak said ahead of Saturday’s (Sunday morning AEDT) quarter-final in Rabat.
“That picture has been with us from day one so it doesn’t change anything for us.”
In their 87-year history, Cruz Azul have amassed nine league titles and been crowned North American champions six times.
They boast a wealth of international talent and are strong favourites to overcome and out-of-form Wanderers side in Morocco but ‘La Maquina’ head in to the tournament having shown plenty of recent vulnerability themselves.
After qualifying for the Club World Cup by winning the CONCACAF title in April, Cruz Azul finished 13th of 18 clubs in the recently-concluded Mexican season and failed to produce in the big games.
Head coach Luis Fernando Tena responded by taking his squad on a pre-tournament training camp to Spain in a sign of the resources available to the powerful club.
Tony Popovic and his players have spent recent days studying their opponents in video sessions and the coach is under no illusions as to the challenge facing the A-League’s youngest side.
“We’ve watched several of their games and they’re a very good team,” Popovic said.
“Like us they’ve struggled a bit in the league, but we know that they’re preparing well.
“They went to Spain and played a few friendly games so they’re taking this competition seriously, as you’d expect.”
Cruz Azul’s squad features a host of current and former Mexico internationals, including goalkeeper Jose Corona, centre back Francisco Rodriguez and captain Gerardo Torrado, capped 146 times for his country.
In attack they boast former Blackburn midfielder Mauro Formica, Ecudorian international winger Joao Rojas and prolific, albeit hot-and-cold, Argentine striker Mariano Pavone.
“They have some very good players in attack and a lot of experience. In terms of age, their squad has an average age of 28 or 29, with a lot of experience in big games,” Popovic said.
“We don’t have that, but we have a lot of confidence from winning a major competition only recently.”
The Wanderers are no stranger to making history and would become the first Australian team to reach the last four at the prestigious tournament if they can spring an upset to set up a semi-final against Real Madrid.
HISTORY OF AUSTRALIAN SIDES AT THE FIFA CLUB WORLD CUP
SOUTH MELBOURNE (2000)
The NSL champions qualified by winning the 1999 Oceania Club Championship under then-coach Ange Postecoglou. However they found the going tough in Brazil, losing all three group games including a 2-0 defeat to Manchester United.
SYDNEY FC (2005)
Reached the tournament in Tokyo after winning the inaugural A-League title and 2004-05 Oceania Club Championships. Under German coach Pierre Littbarski, the Sky Blues lost 1-0 to Costa Rican side Saprissa before clinching fifth spot with a 2-1 victory over Egypt’s Al-Ahly.
ADELAIDE UNITED (2009)
The first Australian side to qualify for the tournament through Asia, Adelaide United earned a spot as runner-up in the 2008 ACL. Aurelio Vidmar’s team defeated New Zealand’s Waitakere United before falling 1-0 to Gamba Osaka in the quarter-finals, denying them a dream last-four showdown with Manchester United.
Towser
Guest
I think the referee and the pitch probably did the Wanderers a favour,seeing as Real Madrid cruised so to speak to a 4-0 win over Cruz Azul.
Bondy
Guest
Wii Realistically New Zealand haven't beaten Australia at football in thirty odd years , being competitive once in a drawn match in a friendly just prior to the World Cup in South Africa, its hardly any solid form line historically . .
Wii
Guest
Then sat time NZ played Australia it was a draw, NZ are very competitive given their lack of match play on the international stage, Arrogance in its highest order here especially given Australia's results. If NZ ws playing against the quality of teams in the Asian zone regularly I would guarantee they would be competitive as they would become more cohesive playing together more often. Like I said the last time we played NZ it was a draw and NZ were very much the better team on that day and we had our top team playing and playing at home.
Bondy
Guest
Wii Just in general how many Australians can really relate to Baseball ,Volleyball ,Badminton and Softball do those sports resonate with the psyche of Australians on a regular basis. To the best of my recollection none of those have broadcast agreements either and compare those to Football ...
Cantab
Guest
Lol, I hope nz joins asia as it would result in playing more competitive and meaningful games. But your dreaming if you think it would be easier to get through than their current draw.
punter
Guest
Wii, you think NZ would beat Australia, Japan, Korea, Saudi Arabia, Iran, China, Ubekistan & Iraq on a regular base to qualify for the football WC, a country of 3 million people, obsessed with Rugby?
Wii
Guest
Basketball, Tennis, Volleyball, Baseball, Softball, Badminton, Tennis all of which Australia is part of Oceania and Australasia none of whch make sense as you say it's "soccer" not geography. The reality is Australia will participate in any geographical competition that gives them the easiest route to qualifying for WCs and Olympic Games. If NZ went through Asia I would expect them to qualify more often than not also.
cantab
Guest
What...? because Australia is physically located in Oceania and not Asia... (I don't mean travel time ect) But like I said, its totally fine, I have no issue with it, I even support it. The geographical labels mean little/nothing, PNG has always played in Asia ect.
Bondy
Guest
Cantab Why doesn't it make sense for Australia geographically to play in Asia ?, Uzbekistan play in the Asian Football Confederation how Asian are they geographically are they for you. What is your criteria based on or around ...
Cantab
Guest
Honestly I don't see it as an issue Australia being part of asia, sure it makes no geographical sense, but so what it's soccer not geography. To me the most logical thing would be for Asia and Oceania to join together to form one conference. It would be in the best intersts of all involved.
Bondy
Guest
Wii You may have to remember we can't really play anyone else outside of the Pacific or in particular New Zealand for what you see as the usual sports because nobody else really plays them apart from RugbyUnion . Realistically New Zealand is the only other nation we play against in sport because those sports are largely Commonwealth based/bound and in general we as a nation even struggle to beat them. Football is played by about 30 other nations throughout Asia it makes complete sense to participate against Asia otherwise its the Cook Islands and Vanuatu , we dont need that . Football is not trapped in the Pacific ...
Wii
Guest
I still don't get how Australia can even justify being in Asia when we play Oceania or Australasia in absolutely every single other sporting code of note. Australia is as Asian as Vegemite
Josh
Guest
Terry's brain is part time.
Ginger71
Guest
agreed, the pitch condition suited WSW, park the bus and long ball, whereas Cruz Azul play a passing game which doesnt work in those conditions, they had to change the way they played, and when they did they showed they were better. But agree the game should never have been played on a pitch in that condition.
Ginger71
Guest
everybody says it was but have they checked the referee report to see what it was for? It could have been for dissent, he does have a habit of mouthing of to referees, and in this case you could see him yelling and waving his arms.
AZ_RBB
Guest
Yeah no surprises there. Real Madrid have power hundred fold of all the other clubs combined. I'm just glad none of our boys got injured.
Bondy
Guest
Double standards at play ( http://www.espnfc.com/fifa-club-world-cup/story/2198370/real-madrids-club-world-cup-clash-switched-from-rabat-due-to-waterlogged-pitch) .
RBBAnonymous
Guest
I originally thought the card should have been for Spiranovic but if you look at the replay that yellow card should have been for Adeleke.
Australia Football King
Guest
Liga MX is not a part time league. Its clubs are very rich.
Cantab
Guest
Yeah Fifa still hate it, though I'm not sure why. Maybe because it weekens the OCL