BANGKOK: Australia coach Graham Arnold has called on his players to deliver one final stellar performance as the Olyroos prepare to face Uzbekistan in today’s AFC U-23 Championship third place play-off at Rajamangala Stadium in Bangkok.
The winner will join South Korea and Saudi Arabia, who will both face off in today’s final, at the Tokyo Olympics.
Given what is at stake, Arnold has, not surprisingly, wasted little time in asking his young charges to dig deep once more at a tournament where they claimed top spot in Group A before beating Syria in the last eight and losing to South Korea in the semi-finals.
“The squad are in good shape both mentally and physically and we are looking forward to the match. When you get to this stage of the competition there are no weak sides left and Uzbekistan are definitely a strong outfit.”
“We need to put in another energetic performance, one that will ensure that we do enough to qualify for the Olympics. We are heading into the match expecting to perform well.
“We have a game plan for both when we have the ball and when we don’t. We will aim to nullify Uzbekistan’s strengths and expose their weaknesses,” Arnold, who also oversees Australia’s senior team.
A veteran of three Olympics himself — one as a player and two in a coaching capacity — Arnold believes the lure of competing at the global extravaganza, something Australia have now not done for 12 years, will also provide an added incentive for his rising stars.
“I wanted to work with, and develop, the players to help push them through to the Socceroos,” he said.
“The coaching staff wanted to create a special journey for them to the Olympics, a competition which (for me) is up there in terms of importance with the World Cup.
“It’s a unique experience.”
Uzbekistan coach Ljubinko Drulovic said: “Motivation is very important for this game.
“I think we have big motivation because for us this game is a final. We have one more chance to play in the Olympic Games for the first time.
“Tomorrow (today) we will try to give our best and we have quality to play good football.
“They’re a very good opponent, but I think we have our chance to win the game if we play at a high level,” said Drulovic.