Asian Cup 2015: Trent Sainsbury reveals Socceroos to adopt high-octane approach

DEFENDER Trent Sainsbury has revealed that the Socceroos will try and maul the UAE when in possession in Tuesday night’s Asian Cup semi-final.

Socceroos-Newcastle

DEFENDER Trent Sainsbury has revealed that the Socceroos will try and maul the UAE when in possession in Tuesday night’s Asian Cup semi-final.

But the young defender, who only made his international debut four months ago, warned about the threat posed by Emirati attacker Omar Abdulrahman.

Dutch-based Sainsbury had a hamstring issue on the eve of the Asian Cup, but is just one of just three Socceroos to have played every minute, along with keeper Mat Ryan and right-back Ivan Franjic.

He said the Socceroos will adopt a high-octane approach to the sudden-death Hunter Stadium clash.

“It is just going to be quick ball movement, player movement and as soon as we lose the ball try and win it back, try and choke them until they’re blue,’’ Sainsbury said.

“I don’t think the UAE has got the legs and the stamina to go with us for 90 minutes.

“They will probably go in with the same game plan but in saying that you never know what is going to happen in these kind of games, they might come out and try and sneak an early goal like they did against Japan.

Omar Abdulrahman has been one of the stars of the tournament.

“We don’t know, we have just got to adapt to the game as it goes on.’’

Abdulrahman, who pulled up gingerly after the quarter-final penalty shoot-out win over Japan, has been involved in most of the UAE’s goals.

But Sainsbury said the Socceroos could exploit his deficiencies.

“Very tidy on the ball. Not the hardest worker and I think we can exploit that,’’ he said.

“At the same time if we have got the ball we have also got to keep one eye on him defensively, that is going to be the biggest thing for us as a defence.

“I don’t think I have been around that long to compare him to anyone but he has just got that arrogance about him, he has got the cheekiness to chuck in a nutmeg here and there.

Trent Sainsbury is wary of the threat posed by Omar Abdulrahman.

“He’s a very quick thinker on the ball so if we can counteract that and get in his face and not let him get his head up, hopefully we can stop him.

“If we can keep him facing his goal then he’s not going to be able to face forward and play that killer ball so to keep him playing backwards would be a good plan for us.’’

Originally published as Asian Cup 2015: Trent Sainsbury reveals Socceroos to adopt high-octane approach