Asian Cup 2015: Socceroos star Robbie Kruse ready to make up for World Cup heartbreak

ROBBIE Kruse has revealed that he was too “distressed” to watch the Socceroos’ World Cup matches, but boldly declared he’ll “explode” at the Asian Cup.

Socceroo Robbie Kruse beside the Yarra. Picture: Brendan Francis.

WINGER Robbie Kruse has revealed that he was too “distressed” to watch the Socceroos’ World Cup matches, but boldly declared he’ll “explode” at the Asian Cup.

A knee reconstruction shattered Kruse’s Brazil 2014 dreams, but he’s set himself the target of winning the Asian Cup and claiming the player of the tournament award.

Kruse, 26, had looked a shadow of the player that blitzed the World Cup qualifiers, but recent game time for German side Bayer Leverkusen has him primed.

Socceroo Robbie Kruse keen to make big impression at Asian Cup.

“I feel I’m ready to explode and I’m confident in myself and confident I’ll do it,’’ Kruse told the Herald Sun.

“I want to win the player of the tournament and want to be that player to really drive the team forward. I’m confident and I’m sure I can do it.

“My (club) trainer said, ‘If you have a good tournament you’ll be a completely different player when you return’.

“I’ve put off all my Leverkusen thoughts and transfers, I’m firmly focused on winning this tournament.’’

Kruse revealed that he deliberately booked a US holiday to coincide with Australia’s opener against Chile as he couldn’t bring himself to watch it.

Robbie Kruse is only just now approaching 100 per cent fitness.

“It was quite distressing for me, I couldn’t watch it properly,’’ he said.

“I didn’t want to sit at home to watch the game. I watched replays afterwards.

“I supported the team 100 per cent but it was difficult to sit there and watch the game.

“The first game, I’d just landed in America and was walking through the airport and caught a glimpse on the screens, it was 1-0 after 10 minutes.

“It was bittersweet because I felt I did so much to get the team to the World Cup and I felt like I was one of the main players in the team, and to miss out on that and watch someone else take your spot.

“I was proud of how the team went but I hope I can make the Asian Cup my tournament and take off from here.’’

After clocking up just 46 Bundesliga minutes for Bayer Leverkusen this season, Kruse said his injection of confidence came on December 10, when coach Roger Schmidt gave him his first start of the season.

“The big indicator for me was starting against Benfica in that last Champions League game,’’ Kruse said.

“We had to win and he made one change, putting me in, and said it was because of the way I trained and performed when I came off the bench.

“It proved to me I was ready and this is the biggest (club) competition in the world and I did all right, that was big for me, gave me a lot of confidence.

“Mentally I’m 100 per cent, the surgeon says you get back to 95 per cent quick but to get that last 5 per cent takes maybe a year of games.

“But I’ll be ready for these games, I’m fit, all my testing is really good.’’

Originally published as Asian Cup 2015: Socceroos star Robbie Kruse ready to make up for World Cup heartbreak