Ned Zelic says Socceroos can win Asian Cup if they ‘combine our strengths from past’

NED Zelic said the current crop of Socceroos can claim Asian glory if they revert to some old habits - and that means playing to their mental strength.

Celebrity All-Star match after the Asian Cup trophy launch at Bondi Beach , Bondi.Picture Gregg Porteous

FORMER Socceroo Ned Zelic said the current crop can claim Asian glory if they revert to some old habits.

Zelic admitted a touch of envy and said Australia would’ve qualified for most World Cups had they have joined the Asian confederation earlier.

The crafty sweeper/midfielder was involved in the heartbreaking loss to Iran at the MCG in 1997, when Australia faced two-legged playoffs after advancing past the relatively easy Oceania group.

But the Fox Sports commentator said a balance of old and new could bring Ange Postecoglou side success next month.

“Our chances are good if we can combine our strengths in the past and use that,’’ Zelic said.

“Particularly mental strength. Japan has all the technical ability.

THE ASIAN CUP ON FOX SPORTS

- All 32 matches live in HD on Fox Sports, with no ad breaks during play

- Opening match: Australia v Kuwait, Friday 9 January (8pm EDT kick off)

- Dedicated football channel (FOX SPORTS 505) and hosting studio

- Nightly 30-minute Asian Cup highlights show hosted by Tara Rushton

- Santo, Sam & Ed’s Asian Cup Fever on Saturday nights

“If we had this situation that we have now, qualifying for a group phase, we would’ve qualified every single time.

“We had some really great teams then and played some great football.

“But the toughness of getting through and being unlucky, a combination of both.

“It came down to home and away and one little mistake is punished and you don’t get another chance a few weeks later to rectify it.’’

Less than 10,000 tickets remain for the Socceroos’ Asian Cup opener against Kuwait on January 9 at AAMI Park.

The celebrity All-Star match after Fox Sports’ Asian Cup trophy launch at Bondi Beach.

Tournament organisers are confident that the local Asian communities will embrace the three-week event.

“The opening match is on track to sell out, there’s less than 10,000 tickets left,’’ Asian Cup chief operating officer Mark Falvo said.

“We’re aiming for 500,000 total ticket sales, that would be very healthy.

“Some of the other matches involving Japanese and Iranian communities are also selling really well.

“We’ve done a lot of work with connecting with the local communities and once the teams start to arrive and squads are named interest levels will rise.

“There’s also a big football community here and a population that loves sport.’’

The final will be played at Sydney’s ANZ Stadium on January 31.

Originally published as Ned Zelic says Socceroos can win Asian Cup if they ‘combine our strengths from past’