Asian Cup 2015: Socceroo Luongo urges Socceroos to glory

SENSING “something special” is brewing, Massimo Luongo has urged his fellow Socceroo young guns to make the most of the Asian Cup chance that awaits them.

BRISBANE, AUSTRALIA - JANUARY 22: Massimo Luongo of Australia and Zheng Zhi of China compete for the ball during the 2015 Asian Cup match between China PR and the Australian Socceroos at Suncorp Stadium on January 22, 2015 in Brisbane, Australia. (Photo by Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images)

SENSING “something special” is brewing, midfielder Massimo Luongo has urged his fellow Socceroo young guns to make the most of the Asian Cup chance that awaits them.

One of only four Socceroos to have started in Australia’s four matches in the tournament, 22-year-old Luongo is fast establishing himself as a permanent fixture in the national line-up after debuting in March last year.

Part of Socceroos coach Ange Postecoglou’s new breed, the Swindon Town midfielder is excited about the future of the national team.

And Luongo is just as thrilled about the opportunity on offer right now Asian Cup glory.

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Massimo Luongo believes the Socceroos are on the brink of ‘something special’.

Having beaten China 2-0 at Suncorp Stadium on Thursday night, the Socceroos are just one win away from next Saturday’s final in Sydney.

“We’re on the brink of something special,” Luongo said ahead of the Socceroos’ semi-final on Tuesday in Newcastle.

“A semi-final, for a lot of the boys, it’s probably one of the biggest moments of their career.

“It’ll be an unbelievable experience, whoever we play.

“Especially with the younger boys coming through, myself just being brought into the system, it’s massive and it could set up a long thing for us.”

Luongo paid tribute to Socceroos coach Ange Postecoglou, describing him as “the best thing for my career”.

“He’s put the belief in us and expressed that we have to have our belief in ourselves, and with the home support and playing (the Asian Cup) on home soil it comes out naturally,” said Luongo, who isn’t about to give up his starting berth without a fight.

“Having come this far, I want to play every game now and I feel like I can.”

Ivan Franjic and Massimo Luongo celebrate Tim Cahill’s stunning brace.

Fullback Ivan Franjic has also started in Australia’s four tournament matches, and like Luongo, won’t be satisfied with anything less than victory in the final.

That’s despite the common school of thought that reaching the semi-finals would be an acceptable achievement for a Socceroos team that has struggled for results since Postecoglou’s appointment in October 2013.

“The pass mark for us is winning it,” Franjic said on Friday.

“We set out to win it at the start and nothing’s changed since. We’re going to try to go all the way.

“To get to the final you have to beat one of the best four teams and we’re ready to do that.”

Franjic also paid homage to Postecoglou.

“He’s always looking to improve and that’s always what a good coach and a good player does,” Franjic said of the man who coached him to two of three A-League titles he won with Brisbane Roar.

Originally published as Asian Cup 2015: Socceroo Luongo urges Socceroos to glory