The Socceroos’ stance against Qatar’s poor human rights record is going to be a talking point which follows the team throughout the World Cup if their first media conference is anything to go by.
Australian striker Mitch Duke was immediately asked by the international media at their training base about the video released last month in which the Socceroos voiced their concerns about the host nation’s human rights record and anti-homosexuality laws.
“To be honest, I think we timed things well with what we said,” Duke, who was one of the players who appeared in the video, said.
“We’ve done that purposefully before we all came into camp because our main priority now once we turned up was just focusing on the football side of things.”
“So what we said in that video was covered, what should be heard.
“Now we’re just really here to focus on football. It’s not really spoken about now. We’ve got a certain job at hand to represent Australia at a World Cup so that’s basically our main priority.”
Australia’s Group D opponents Denmark are also expressing their displeasure with Qatar hosting the showpiece event, last month unveiling an all black uniform to wear at the Cup to honour the estimated 6500 migrant workers who died during construction of the venues.
“The colour of mourning,” Denmark’s kit manufacturer Hummel said in a post on Instagram when announcing the black third-choice design alongside traditional red and white versions. “While we support the Danish national team all the way, this shouldn’t be confused with support for a tournament that has cost thousands of people their lives.”
English singer Dua Lipa has also weighed in on the storm of controversy about Qatar in an Instagram post, denying that she will be performing.
“There is currently a lot of speculation that I will be performing at the opening ceremony of the world cup in Qatar. I will not be performing and nor have I ever been involved in any negotiation to perform,” she wrote. “I will be cheering England on from afar.”
(Photo by Dan Mullan/Getty Images)
When he was able to steer the conversation to on-field matters, Duke talked up brilliant teenager Garang Kuol as a possible X-factor for their team.
Kuol has not even started an A-League Men game but Duke is convinced the wunderkind can prove a game-changer on football’s biggest stage.
He is the youngest member of Australia’s World Cup squad in Qatar and shapes as a tantalising option off the bench for Graham Arnold.
The 18-year-old dazzled with a wonderful two-goal cameo against Macarthur FC in his final game for the Central Coast Mariners before the World Cup, including a sublime finish from a tight angle.
Kuol, who will depart for English Premier League side Newcastle United in January, also has two assists this A-League Men season and has been involved in the build-up to several other goals for Central Coast.
Duke, Australia’s likely starting striker, expects the young winger to make an impact if given an opportunity in Qatar.
“Absolutely (he could). He’s a real X-factor, he’s an excitement machine,” former Mariners striker Duke told reporters in Doha.
“To see some of the stuff he’s doing at such a young age consistently, I know he’s not started a game, but he’s consistently doing his performances off the bench.
“And that’s all you can ask of him – when he plays, he does a job.
“So for us, against the teams that we’re playing against, to have that X-factor is a huge plus. He definitely can flip a game on its head.
“You see some of the Mariners games where they’re 2-0 down, he’s coming on, equalising the game with two goals or two assists, or he’s creating something and that’s going to be massive for us, especially in such a big tournament.”
Teammate Thomas Deng, who with winger Awer Mabil has been a mentor for Kuol, has delighted in the teenager’s rise.
“He’s just a wonderful kid,” Deng told reporters.
“Full of confidence and he’s come in here and everyone loves him, everyone gets along with him.
“For me and Awer, we’ve just tried to look after him and make his transition a lot easier. I’m just so happy that he’s got this opportunity.
“To experience a World Cup at 18 years old, it’s definitely going to better his career. He has a really bright future.”
For the first time in 17 years, Tim Cahill isn’t in Australia’s World Cup strike force but that hasn’t stopped the Socceroos great from helping out his successors.
Qatar-based Cahill has pulled on the boots at training, adding to the numbers given the Socceroos squad members gradually trickled in.
Advice from the four-time World Cup attendee particularly helped Mitchell Duke, one of the first Socceroos to arrive in Doha.
“He’s awesome to be able to actually work with – greatest goalscorer for the Australian national team,” Duke said.
“For me, being a striker myself, he’s given me some great pointers and helping me prepare.
“To get that kind of one-on-one time with such a legend is priceless, and I’m definitely soaking it all in and trying to learn as much as I can in a short period of time, because if it benefits me, it benefits the national team.”
The ever-enthusiastic Cahill hasn’t needed a nudge to offer valued advice.
“He’s very much a natural leader. He gives advice – it spills out of his mouth, I don’t think he can help it,” Duke said.
“He just loves it. He loves the game.
“He’s obviously a very proud Aussie himself, and he’s still fit enough to kick about as well which is awesome.”
Duke, an aggressive striker who is strong in the air, shapes as a likely starter against France.
The Fagiano Okayama marksman will be competing with Jamie Maclaren and relative newcomer Jason Cummings for the No.9.
“Everyone wants to put their hand up to play in that starting 11. I think I’ve got a good enough chance as anyone,” he said. “I’ll just keep trying to prove myself in training every day to try and get that spot against France and I think we’ve all got different attributes and different to the team.
“So if I get my chance I’ll make sure I (take) it.”
He will have plenty of family on hand for his first and likely only World Cup. The 31-year-old missed the cut under Ange Postecoglou in 2014 and was again overlooked by Bert van Marwijk four years later.
“It gave me aspirations to really give my all,” he said.
“Especially the 2018 one, I was like, ‘I’ve got one more chance for me personally’. That was my motivation afterwards.
“Speaking to some of the boys that have been to one or two before me now, they said there’s no experience like it, and I’m definitely very happy and privileged that I get my chance now.”
Perhaps the most famous American coach in world football circles is inspiring the US team in the lead-up to their Group B campaign against Wales, England and Iran.
Ted Lasso, the title character from the worldwide hit Apple TV show about an ill-qualified US coach taking over an English Premier League side, was called upon by national team officials to provide some motivational quotes for the players.
They have been placed on billboards in the home towns of the American players.
With a third season of the show due to be released in the coming months, it has been criticised as a publicity stunt but it has also gone viral on social media.
Adopting his catchphrase of “We believe”, the US team will be hoping to go on a dream run like Ted Lasso’s team, AFC Richmond, in season two of the series to get past the group stage.
Are you the ultimate team manager? Pick your own superstar team and go head to head with other football fans for glory and cash prizes on Draftstars. Imagine what you could be buying instead. Set a deposit limit.
Even though St.Pauli ultimately lost a high-scoring affair, Jackson Irvine was a standout, as well as scoring a late goal.
What if we celebrated all of the achievements big and small, and weeded out those hell-bent on bringing down a game that is doing a hell of a lot right?
A good performance from Michael Ruhs, scoring twice to beat Macarthur and doubling his season goal tally in the process.
Nestory Irankunda has sensationally rejected the chance to play at the Paris Olympics this June after a late bid from the Olyroos to include…
Mathew Ryan's tenure at AZ Alkmaar appears to be over, as the Eredivisie side are seemingly moving on from the 93-time Socceroo. The decision…
One down 49 to go. Socceroos striker Kusini Yengi raised some eyebrows this week when he declared himself to be the talisman striker the…
