Asian Cup 2015: Socceroos Robbie Kruse and Matthew Leckie back Ange Postecoglou’s rotation policy

ROBBIE Kruse and Mathew Leckie have declared the rotation gamble has paid off, after they were dropped for Australia’s final group match that ended in defeat.

Sunday Telegraph. L to R, Socceroo players Robbie Kruse and Mathew Leckie bside Newcastle Harbour outside the Crowne Plaza in Newcastle where they are staying before their semi-final game against UAE in Newcastle this Tuesday 27th Jan.

ROBBIE Kruse and Mathew Leckie have declared that the rotation gamble has paid off, after they were controversially dropped for Australia’s final group match that ended in defeat.

Kruse, Leckie and Tim Cahill were surprisingly benched in the 1-0 loss to South Korea, only coming on late, but were among seven inclusions for the quarter-final win over China.

The Germany-based duo pointed to the exhausted and eliminated Japanese as justification of Ange Postecoglou’s controversial rotation.

SINASBURY: ‘WE’LL TRY AND CHOKE THEM UNTIL THEY’RE BLUE’

KRUSE: JAPAN WEREN’T FAVOURITES — WE ARE!

HINDS: CUP CELEBRATES OUR DIVERSITY

SLATER: CAHILL OZ’S BEST EVER IN ANY CODE

Robbie Kruse and Mathew Leckie says Japan’s Asian Cup failure shows how important rotation is.

“The boss copped a lot of criticism after the Korea game for rotating players, but if one of us — including me — had taken our chances we’d be saying it was an excellent choice,’’ Kruse said.

“It’s a fine margin between success and failure, but now everyone’s feeling fresh and has had some game time.

“It’s difficult to keep playing every game in a tournament, especially in the style we are — me and Lecks were the two to miss out and maybe it was disappointing at the time.

“But now we’re feeling good and fresh.’’

Japan started the same XI for all four Asian Cup games and they suffered as Yuto Nagatomo and Gotoku Sakai could barely move in extra-time.

“Everyone’s critiques are different and a few said there was a mistake made with so many changes,’’ Leckie said.

“In extra-time of Japan’s game I saw their coach having to move players around because they physically couldn’t move any more.

“Nagatomo (a left-back) went into the No.10 role knowing that he wouldn’t have to move much as much.

“With the substitutions we made, we look a better off. We know we’ve got the depth and we’ve shared the load over the last four games.

“We’ll be well prepared and everyone will be back to almost 100 per cent.’’

Robbie Kruse has been praised for his work recovering from serious injury.

Kruse said his physically demanding schedule with Champions League side Bayer Leverkusen has held him in good stead.

“I feel really good — in Germany everyone in the squad is always match fit and the Germans are pretty rigid about the way they do things,’’ Kruse said.

“I’ve been a big beneficiary of that, and you see Lecks as well, we’re covering so much ground and pressing so much.

“It maybe doesn’t get noticed by everyone but the coaching staff take a lot of notice of that. It’s our game plan and so far it’s working. Our sports science is top notch, which is why we’ll be ready to go.

“At this point of the tournament it’s about keeping players mentally fresh and getting us ready for game day.”

Leckie said the extra day’s rest could be the difference.

“It’s definitely a big advantage. They played a day later and had to play 120 minutes,’’ he said.

“It’s mainly two days after the game you feel sorest.

“I remember sitting there in the meeting before the Oman thinking imagine we played 24 hours earlier, we were all pretty sore.

“An extra 24 hours can do a lot, I’m still a bit sore from the game, that’s why it’s so important and we’re lucky we get the extra day.’’

Originally published as Asian Cup 2015: Socceroos Robbie Kruse and Matthew Leckie back Ange Postecoglou’s rotation policy