Asian Cup: Socceroos star Massimo Luongo adjusting to life in spotlight after international breakthrough
IT was a performance that spoke volumes, and gave the clearest indication that Massimo Luongo will take the gilt-edged opportunity handed to him at the Asian Cup.
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IT was a performance that spoke volumes, and gave the clearest indication that Massimo Luongo will take the gilt-edged opportunity handed to him at the Asian Cup.
Hours after being told by Tim Cahill that consistency was the key to his future, Luongo was again one of the Socceroos’ key playmakers in Tuesday night’s 4-0 over Oman — involved in creating the first three goals and creating more chances besides.
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Having scored and created in his side’s 4-1 win over Kuwait last week Luongo was withdrawn after 50 minutes on Tuesday by Ange Postecoglou — a sign that he has become a key part of the Asian Cup mission at just 22, and was being saved for the rigours of a long tournament.
Crestfallen to finish “a lovely game” early, Luongo had the honesty to admit to finding the focus on him a bewildering process.
“This is all new to me, especially at such a high level,” Luongo said.
“It’s difficult; my mind’s always wondering about will I be good this game, especially after all the attention I got in the last game.
“But if anything it’s given me more confidence and the boys are helping me along the way. They’re helping me keep my head down, stay mellow and not worry about all that.
“I really wanted to play as much as I could, I was really enjoying myself. It was a lovely game for me but the manager had different plans. But I contributed quite a bit and the boys who came on did well as well.
“With Bresc [Mark Bresciano] coming in it made sense if that’s the plan [be saved], but I’d have loved to have stayed out there, I was enjoying it so much.”
Luongo’s ability to take the ball in dangerous areas and create angles for his teammates is one of the major reasons he has prospered in Postecoglou’s system, and he admitted to seeking out “risky” areas with an eye on opening up their opponents.
“When I get on the ball, it’s my natural game to try to make something happen,” he said.
“I worry about where my positioning is and how I can affect the strikers. I don’t really want to get the ball off the centrebacks and make an easy pass, just to get myself into the game.
“I’d rather play in a riskier area but one that would be more effective if we pull things off. I’ve got a good relationship with Kruse, Leckie and Franjic on that right side, they help me out a lot. We haven’t had the most positive lead up to this campaign but we all have the belief.
“The way we play is so positive that if we always feel there’s other goals in the game, no matter what the score is.”
Originally published as Asian Cup: Socceroos star Massimo Luongo adjusting to life in spotlight after international breakthrough
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