Share

Aussie starlet Arzani ready to answer World Cup call

Kazan - Australia teenager Daniel Arzani is ready to go into battle for the Socceroos as they seek to rescue their Soccer World Cup campaign against Denmark.

READ: Twitter lights up for rival '#WordCup'

Bert van Marwijk's team are playing catch-up in Group C after defeat against France and a win for the Danes against Peru.

The 19-year-old Arzani made his World Cup debut on Saturday when he came off the bench late in the 2-1 loss to France in Kazan.

Australia's performance in that game helped change perceptions that the Socceroos are simply a physical side lacking technical talent and attacking ambition, said defender Trent Sainsbury.

But despite the positives, Van Marwijk's men desperately need a win against Denmark in Samara on Thursday and Arzani's highly rated skills could add zest to their attack.

Although not expected to start, expectations are growing that the Iranian-born teenager - who scored his debut goal in this month's 2-1 friendly win against Hungary - could be given a bigger chance to showcase his skills.

"I feel like I'm ready, especially given the intensive training camp we had in Antalya, where we were training two times a day most days," said Arzani, mentored by 38-year-old Socceroo Tim Cahill.

"I think I've given myself the best opportunity. I've tried my hardest and that's all you can do. It's just up to the boss now."

Despite a solid defensive display against France, the Socceroos need to find a way to sharpen their attack and Arzani could offer the solution.

"If you're going into the game and it's a must-win, the only logical solution is to make sure you're attacking more and creating more chances," he said.

Sainsbury said the Socceroos remain upbeat after the France match despite their defeat.

"Honestly, coming away from the France game it's sort of refuelled us knowing we can tango with the best," he said.

He said Australia had "moved on" from conceding the World Cup's first Video Assistant Referee-assisted goal, but hoped there would be less controversy in the games to come.

We live in a world where facts and fiction get blurred
Who we choose to trust can have a profound impact on our lives. Join thousands of devoted South Africans who look to News24 to bring them news they can trust every day. As we celebrate 25 years, become a News24 subscriber as we strive to keep you informed, inspired and empowered.
Join News24 today
heading
description
username
Show Comments ()
Voting Booth
How much would you be prepared to pay for a ticket to watch the Springboks play against the All Blacks at Ellis Park or Cape Town Stadium this year?
Please select an option Oops! Something went wrong, please try again later.
Results
R0 - R200
32% - 1831 votes
R200 - R500
32% - 1802 votes
R500 - R800
19% - 1095 votes
R800 - R1500
8% - 465 votes
R1500 - R2500
3% - 192 votes
I'd pay anything! It's the Boks v All Blacks!
5% - 258 votes
Vote
Editorial feedback and complaints

Contact the public editor with feedback for our journalists, complaints, queries or suggestions about articles on News24.

LEARN MORE