Arnold expects professional performance

Socceroos coach Graham Arnold is disappointed but isn’t too concerned about Bahrain supposedly bringing it’s Olympic team to play against Australia on Wednesday night at Aussie Stadium and expects a very professional performance from his side.

Socceroos coach Graham Arnold is disappointed but isn-t too concerned about Bahrain supposedly bringing it-s Olympic team to play against Australia on Wednesday night at Aussie Stadium and expects a very professional performance from his side.

It was revealed yesterday and confirmed by the Bahrain Olympic Team coach Senad Kreso, immediately after the Arnold press conference that all but two players that have arrived in Australia for Wednesday-s game are players that have been recently brought together in preparation for the Olympic qualifiers that start early next year.

“Is it true,” said Arnold, when asked about whether he was disappointed that Bahrain has brought the Olympic team out to Australia. “It-s not about them, it-s about us; it-s about what we have shown.

“I don-t care what-s on the other side of the field. I expect from our players a 100% professional performance.

“These guys have set their own standards and they-re very proud of these standards and it will be exactly the same (on Wednesday).

“Bahrain will come here and do everything possible to get a good result. If they want to do that (bring their Olympic team) and mess with their own future, that-s not my problem.”

No matter what team Bahrain puts out against the Socceroos, Arnold has challenged the team that this game provides the barometer with which they can measure where they are at in Asia.

“Tomorrow night is more a game for us mentally. I have given the challenge to the team, we are playing against the 5th best nation in Asia, a nation that missed out by one goal against Trinidad and Tobago on making it to the World Cup.

“This is a great leveller to see where we are at in Asia because we are new to Asia; these players don-t know any of the Bahrain players; they don-t know a lot about Asian countries, so this is a good barometer to see where we are at in Asia and into the future.

He also has no doubts about what tactics that Bahrain will employ, but is more concerned that his players play to the plan set down and to keep patient and discipline.

“I-m pretty sure they will play five at the back, four across the midfield and just one lone striker and try and frustrate us and play a defensive game like Kuwait did when they came out here.

“I will be stressing the matter that we keep our discipline in the team, don-t get carried away; the guys at the back do their jobs defensively and we get ready structurally for that at training tonight.

“I will be making sure we keep a high tempo in the game, because I think if we play with a high tempo physically at the back end of the game, they may have trouble.

Arnold said that everyone in camp is fit and healthy and have trained well and looking for another good session when they train at Aussie Stadium tonight.

The Socceroos are expected to be at full strength for the match, with FC Basel pair Scott Chipperfield and Mile Sterjovski likely inclusions after missing the Paraguay match because of club commitments. Also expected to come in are Michael Beauchamp, who will be looking to atone for his unfortunate own goal on Saturday night; Mark Schwarzer will be back in goals, while World Cup regular Jason Culina is likely to slot back in after looking sharp when he came on as a second half substitute.

The match can be seen live on SBS, while there will be a live match update on the website.