Asian Cup 2019: Palestine expect Socceroos to ‘come out flying’

Syria coach Bernd Stange described Palestine’s defence as akin to ‘running against a wall’.

Syria coach Bernd Stange. Picture: AFP

Syria coach Bernd Stange described Palestine’s defence as akin to “running against a wall”.

And the unheralded football side will aim “not to lose” against an Australian opponent they predict could prove vulnerable on the counter-attack.

But they also expect the defending champions to arrive more alert to the challenge after being shaken by Jordan.

Palestine claimed their first point in Asian Cup history against Syria, holding the near-World Cup qualifiers to a goalless draw despite playing out the last 20 minutes with 10 men.

They’ll subsequently be without suspended defender Mohammed Saleh, and US-born midfielder Nazmi Albadawi expected Australia to be just as difficult as Syria, if not more so.

“We know they have a very good team, we know coming in they’re the defending champions and one of the favourites to win it again this year,” Albadawi said.

“Jordan upsetting them in the first game probably has its pros and cons. One, it shows they’re beatable and that anything can happen in football. It also kind of wakes up Australia a little bit and tells them ‘we’ve got to get our stuff together before we get eliminated from this tournament essentially’.

“We know they’ll come out flying because they have to get a result — they can’t afford anything else. They need this probably more than we do, to be honest.

“But I think that kind of works in our favour as well because if they come out and really try to go for a result it provides some gaps in the game.

“Australia are a good team, but we’re not afraid of anybody. In football anything can happen. Crazier things have happened.”

In Asian Cup matches yesterday Lebanon had a goal disallowed before going down to Qatar 2-0.

Uzbekistan defeated Oman 2-1 while 2011 champions Japan came from a goal down to pip Turkmenistan 3-2.

Additional reporting: AFP