Asian Cup 2015: Socceroos aiming to become first host nation to win opening night since 1968

THE Socceroos are going to have to overcome almost 50 years of history if they are to defeat Kuwait at AAMI Park on Friday night.

Socceroos training at Lakeside oval, South Melbourne Australia. 7th January. Australia's Mark Bresciano. Picture : George Salpigtidis

THE Socceroos are going to have to overcome almost 50 years of history if they are to defeat Kuwait at AAMI Park on Friday night.

Not since Iran in 1968 has the host nation won on the Asian Cup’s opening night.

The Iranians went on to win that year’s tournament, but seven hosts have since tried and failed.

Attacking midfielder James Troisi insisted on Wednesday though that a “relaxed” Aussie camp was not feeling the burden of expectation ahead of their first game.

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James Troisi believes the Socceroos can handle the weight of expectation.

“There was always going to be pressure,” Troisi said.

“But I think in the last couple of months, or pretty much just after the World Cup, (coach) Ange (Postecoglou) has put us in really difficult situations, which is the way he wanted it.

“Now we’re at home and everyone’s pretty relaxed to be honest. We’re just really looking forward to getting underway and starting off with a great performance.”

Iran defeated Hong Kong on May 10 of 1968 and won that tournament, a five-team round robin, without dropping a point.

But host nations that have since played on the Asian Cup’s opening day — Kuwait (1980), Qatar (1988 and 2011), UAE (1996), Lebanon (2000), China (2004) and Thailand (2007) — have combined for just four draws and three losses.

Four Asian Cup nations since 1968 have successfully negotiated their first group games, but each was benefited by not having had the additional pressure of opening the tournament.

Two of those teams, Vietnam and Indonesia, were among four co-hosts of the 2007 Asian Cup.

The Fox Football Podcast returns for 2015 with a bumper edition to preview the Asian Cup. Adam Peacock is joined in the studio by Simon Hill, Michael Cockerill and Asian football expert Michael Church, while Richard Bayliss phones in from Socceroos camp in Melbourne, while 2011 Asian Cup squad member Sasa Ognenovski gives his expert views as well. A must listen ahead of the tournament.

Originally published as Asian Cup 2015: Socceroos aiming to become first host nation to win opening night since 1968