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Kuwaiti players say they’re not scared of the Socceroos, believing anything is possible in the Asian Cup opener on Friday night.
Kuwait are plotting to crash Australia’s house warming party in Melbourne, despite entering the fixture as rank outsiders.
“Kuwait don’t be scared of any team,” midfielder Abdullah Al Buraiki said on Monday in Melbourne.
“Kuwait respects all teams that play against us. Australia are a very good team … (but) we will do our best in the game to win.”
Kuwait, ranked 124th in the world and 15th of the 16 Asian Cup nations, sacked Brazilian Jorvan Vieire as coach just a month ago.
And new boss Nabil Maaloul’s preparations were thrown into chaos when a planned friendly against United Arab Emirates on the Gold Coast was scrapped on Saturday night.
Maaloul, who previously coached Qatari club El-Jaish, wanted to video the match. But the UAE refused, fearing he would forward the tape to Qatar, a Group C rival of the Emirates.
“Our coach was in Qatar. And Qatar and the UAE are in the same group – they think our coach will give Qatar the video,” Kuwaiti defender Khaled Ebrahim said on Monday.
Kuwait’s players conceded the cancellation disrupted their preparations to take on Australia but they believe history is on their side against the Socceroos.
In 10 meetings, Australia have beaten Kuwait just three times, with five losses and two draws – and the visitors believe they can log another victory on Friday night.
“It is not impossible,” midfielder Khalid Alqahtani said on Monday.
“We can attack, no problem, against Australia.”
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