‘We don’t take s***’: US ready for Socceroos fight
Anna Harrington |
The United States have declared themselves up for the fight against the physical Socceroos, even with an injury cloud hovering over captain Christian Pulisic.
US players have had a tough time this week attempting to hose down the flames consistently lit by local pundits talking down Australia, but are talking up their own ability to get stuck in.
The Americans believe they have become more aggressive under coach Mauricio Pochettino, especially since last October’s feisty 2-1 win over Australia in Colorado.
“We’re American. We don’t take shit,” midfielder Sebastian Berhalter said on Tuesday (Wednesday AEST).
“I think that’s something that (Pochettino) really put in. Even though he’s Argentinian, he has that mindset of, like, ‘Look, this is what we do, and this is who we are and this is what America is about.’
“He really drilled that into us and I think that’s something that has helped us this last cycle.”
Pochettino’s charges are top of Group D, ahead of Australia, and gearing up for another fiery clash at Seattle Stadium on Friday (5am Saturday AEST).
“It’s going to be a physical game, but a fun game, and we’re excited,” Berhalter said.
“They’re going to fight. We like teams that have that brotherhood, you know? We like teams that you can see they’re hungry, they want to fight.”
Winger Tim Weah also believes the US are more aggressive since that October clash.
Like teammates Tyler Adams and Haji Wright, Weah isn’t buying into punditry from the likes of Mike Grella and Alexi Lalas talking down Australia.
“All the talk is nonsense to me,” Weah told reporters.
“When you look at the Australian team, they are a young team that have a lot of fight, a lot of grit and a lot of hunger, just like us.
“So we respect them in the same way that we would respect any other opponent.
“I don’t know what the media is trying to do, but we’re not really focused on that.”
For a second consecutive day, Pulisic trained away from his teammates and he has been described as a day-to-day proposition by US Soccer as he deals with a left calf injury.
Pulisic was withdrawn from the co-host’s opening 4-1 win over Paraguay at halftime.
“To me, he’s looked as he always has,” Weah said.
“He looks normal, he looks fit. He took a little bit of a knock, so he’s been with the trainers on the side, but I think he’ll be ready for the game.
“I’m just praying to God that he’ll be 100 per cent fit because he’ll be needed.”
– With AP
AAP