Asian Cup 2015: Lucas Neill urges Socceroos to make the most of hosting tournament
FORMER Socceroos captain Lucas Neill has broken his silence to urge the country to back Australia at the Asian Cup – though he insists he will never retire.
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FORMER Socceroos captain Lucas Neill has broken his silence to urge the country to back Australia at the Asian Cup – though he insists he will never retire.
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Enjoying his first summer in Australia for 18 years, Neill spoke out on the eve of a tournament for which he has been an ambassador since 2013, insisting the Socceroos should be targeting a win on home soil.
Warning that Ange Postecoglou’s side had to be “physically, mentally and tactically prepared” or be exposed, Neill said he would like nothing more than to see a new “Golden Generation” emerge from the Asian Cup.
Dropped from the national team before the last World Cup, Neill said those brought in by Postecoglou had an unparalleled opportunity to win silverware, backed by the support of playing a tournament on home soil.
“I believe in the boys and they have to make the most of a stage like this,” he said.
“Over the past year a lot of guys have come in, a lot I’m not familiar with, and the results and performances have been inconsistent – but that’s all in the past, and now it’s about this tournament.
“For this young team, what better way to set a new standard than by success in the Asian Cup? It’s a fine line between having potential and suddenly becoming a player who didn’t kick on, and these guys have such an opportunity here.
“For me it’s about us all cheering the team on, the home crowd acting as the proverbial 12th man, because the gap in Asia is very small and the games will be hard for every team.
“Our group is tough but I genuinely believe we should qualify – and then, given the way the draw is, should be aiming to win it.
“Having played all of the Asian teams, we know that if we’re not physically, mentally and tactically prepared we’ll be exposed. But like the rest of Australia, I live in hope we get to the final.”
Neill hasn’t played since being released by Watford at the end of last season, but said he would never formally retire “from a game I’ve been involved in since I was six years old, and hope to continue to be involved in.
“I’ll never officially retire from the Socceroos, and I’ll always serve my country in any capacity. That might sound a bit cheesy but it’s how I feel.
“Domestically I’ve had a few opportunities over the last six months but it didn’t feel like the right one was there and I’ve been enjoying some quality family time.
“I’ve been happy to work on a few grassroots projects, so playing hasn’t been my priority – though that’s not to say if something came up I wouldn’t take it.
“But I have to be honest, I’m really enjoying the down time of being in Australia at this time of year, and I’m even more excited to be watching the boys at the Asian Cup.
“We set the benchmark in 2011 (losing in the final) and I’d love to see them go one better.”
Originally published as Asian Cup 2015: Lucas Neill urges Socceroos to make the most of hosting tournament
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