Socceroos midfielder Aiden O'Neill strode confidently to the podium for Australia's final pre-tournament press conference in Vancouver, revealing he has been sleeping nine and a half hours each night ahead of their daunting World Cup opener against Turkey.
'They've been checking out the pillows, the sheets, everything, so every detail has been gone over,' O'Neill said of Australia's preparation. 'Yeah, I think we're all ready.'
Beside him, coach Tony Popovic's red-rimmed eyes betrayed the intense effort he and his staff have invested in recent weeks as the Socceroos fine-tune for the tournament.
'Not quite that,' Popovic replied when asked if his sleep matched O'Neill's. 'But enough. Definitely enough.'
For Popovic, rest may be elusive given the challenge ahead. Australia's first opponents Turkey boast a squad packed with seasoned professionals and two of the world's most exciting young attacking talents.
Though Turkey haven't reached a World Cup in 24 years, they are ranked higher than the Socceroos and are clear favourites for Saturday evening's clash in Vancouver—the tournament's first fixture in a city that, unlike the San Francisco Bay Area where Australia are based, has fully embraced the World Cup spirit.
Turkey's Confidence on Display
Turkey's perceived superiority became a key theme on match eve. Captain Hakan Calhanoglu described his side as 'more talented' than Australia during an afternoon press conference, predicting they would 'dominate' the game.
Coach Vincenzo Montella was more diplomatic in his evening media session, declining to expand on his captain's comments and instead praising the Socceroos. 'Australia is actually a team that has a very strong mentality, they're very resilient and they know what to do on the pitch,' Montella said. 'It is a very balanced team, very well disciplined, they are not ashamed to defend to the last 30 metres in a line of five or four.'
By then, Popovic had already seized on Calhanoglu's remark—perceived or actual—and run with it. 'I respect his comment. You ask a question and he has the right to answer it any way he likes,' Popovic said.
'They expect to win, but so do most people expect Turkey to beat Australia tomorrow, so that's no different. What we can do is try and spoil the party, and that's our challenge tomorrow, and that's what we aim to do.'
Youthful Talent on Both Sides
While Australia boast promising youngsters like defender Alessandro Circati, fullback Jordy Bos, and striker Mo Touré, none carry the reputation of Turkey's brilliant young duo. Playmaker Arda Güler, 21, is already established at Real Madrid, while winger Kenan Yildiz, also 21, has been linked to Arsenal after another fine season at Juventus.
Yildiz enters the tournament under an injury cloud. Montella declined to address his fitness directly one day out from the match, though he admitted he had 'a few doubts' about whether some squad members could play 100 minutes.
Australia's main injury concern has been around Touré. The 22-year-old missed a training session on Wednesday (Thursday AEST)—though he was present for a team photo—before rejoining the team the following day. 'He just had a runny nose and just couldn't train,' Popovic said, without elaborating on a player vital to Australia's chances.
Popovic's Tactical Approach
Popovic has employed a consistent structure in Australia's two warm-up games, using three central defenders, two wing-backs, two defensive midfielders, two inverted wingers, and one striker. The lineup appears largely settled, though questions remain about whether 18-year-old Lucas Herrington will earn a starting spot, which would make him Australia's youngest World Cup starter.
The composition of the front three is also uncertain, given Touré's fitness, the absence of Middlesbrough's Riley McGree—tragically injured in the Championship's final match last month—and the impressive form of Nestory Irankunda, named player of the match against Switzerland last week.
Perhaps more important than formation and selection will be Popovic's instructions. How high will they press and for how long? Can they win transition moments? Will they show enough composure and invention to prevent possession from tilting Turkey's way?
Then there's the issue of Australia's slow starts. Against both Mexico and Switzerland in warm-up matches, the Socceroos needed much of the first half to find their rhythm. 'It's obviously something we've spoken about, improving from the start,' O'Neill said. 'I need to take more charge of that in terms of dominating the ball from the get go.'
After the USA's 4-1 thrashing of Paraguay, the path through the group appears clearer for the Socceroos. But for Popovic, this World Cup is about more than permutations and progression.
'That's our aim … to be extremely competitive,' he said. 'To show that we are a strong nation and that we deserve to be respected.'
