Exclusive pictures: Family training session lifts Socceroos’ spirits

IF the Socceroos needed any sense of perspective after their team’s heartbreaking World Cup loss to France, it came from a very familiar source - their loved ones. Family paid a visit to the team’s training ground. EXCLUSIVE PICTURES

Socceroos captain Mile Jedinak pictured with his wife Natalie with their sons on the pitch. Picture: Toby Zerna

IF the Socceroos needed any sense of perspective after their team’s heartbreaking World Cup loss to France, it came from a very familiar source.

The morning after Mile Jedinak’s goal had been in vain in a 2-1 defeat, the Socceroos’ families paid a visit to the team’s training ground at the Stadion Trudovye Rezervy in the Russian city of Kazan.

Socceroos captain Mile Jedinak pictured with his wife Natalie with their sons on the pitch. Picture: Toby Zerna

Mile Jedinak picks up a relative. Picture: Toby Zerna

Family and friends descend on Socceroos training. Picture: Toby Zerna

It gave the players the chance to see their loved ones, before the team continued preparations to face Denmark on Thursday - a game they have to win, after conceding a late winner to the French.

“Morale is okay,” said Jedinak, who gathered his team in a huddle on the pitch after Saturday’s defeat.

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“The key thing I mentioned to the boys was that we shouldn’t be disappointed because we gave very good account of ourselves and pushed the French right to the limit, a team that’s being tipped to achieve great things.

“It wasn’t premeditated, just something we did. I just think it was the right thing: the atmosphere was fantastic and being away from home, with us all building for this, having heard the anthem and knowing we had the support, it just seemed appropriate.

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“It was disappointing (to lose) but I stressed to the players to make sure they use that disappointment as fuel to do the business in the coming games.”

Australia will also play Peru next Tuesday, hoping to become the first Socceroos team to qualify for the knockout stages of the World Cup since 2006.