Australia Want To Prove We Belong At The Finals - Brett Holman


Australia Want To Prove We Belong At The Finals - Brett Holman

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Joffa
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Australia Want To Prove We Belong At The Finals - Brett Holman

The attacking midfielder was reluctant to name a target for the Socceroos...

By Stefan Coerts
May 21, 2010

Australia will have to deal with Germany, Ghana and Serbia if they are to survive the group stage of the 2010 World Cup finals. Attacking midfielder Brett Holman prefers not to burden the team with too expectations though, and has said that the Socceroos just want to prove that they belong at the World Cup.

"Our opponents in the first round all have great attacks so we really need to understand the importance of keeping our defensive solidity and retaining the same team spirit we had during the qualifiers," said Holman to fifa.com.

"That will be the essential part of our work during our preparations. The foundations are there, but we still have room to improve.

"Our leaders are our captain Lucas Neill and the goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer. They’re the two main voices in the dressing room and they’re both defensive players – that’s not a coincidence.

"Having a target is good, but it mustn’t have a negative impact on us. Our only ambition is to prove that we deserve to be there and that we’re one of the top 20 teams in the world. Obviously, the elimination in 2006 is an added motivation for those who experienced it. We want to prove that we can do even better."

http://www.goal.com/en/news/1863/world-cup-2010/2010/05/21/1935960/world-cup-2010-australia-want-to-prove-we-belong-at-the

Tommycash
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Simply put.
We are going to win it.
Dan_The_Red
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Tommycash wrote:
Simply put.
We are going to win it.


Which should be the attitude for future WC's aswell, otherwise why go at all.
Joffa
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Holman: Asian path helps us
22/05/2010 10:48 AM
Bren O'Brien
Sportal

Australia's long journey to the 2010 World Cup could prove one of its greatest strengths with Socceroos midfielder Brett Holman saying the squad could not be closer heading towards South Africa.

The qualification path began back in February 2008 and involved 14 matches in seven countries. It was Australia's first-ever qualification path through Asia and Holman feels that the arduous campaign resulted in a great bond between the group.

"Asia has helped fantastically. You can't have 23 good mates, but we get along well. The atmosphere at lunch and dinner and in the dressing room, it's always a happy atmosphere," he said.

"I think its important going into such a big tournament that you don't have any problems. You can see that the boys always help each other out. If anybody is in need then, someone is always putting their hand up to help out."

With Pim Verbeek set to make a decision on his final 23-man squad on June 1, Holman is desperate to press his claims for a spot in the squad. He feels if he can make the cut, then he can start to push for consideration for first-team selection.
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"I'll be ecstatic if I just make the 23. Once I hear that, then you never know what will happen. Stranger things have happened. You saw with Luke Wilkshire four years ago, he was a dark horse and how fantastically he has progressed to now," he said.

"I'd like to think to myself, if I get a chance, I can fill in a role and show something that the Australian fans haven't seen."

His reference to the Australian fans is an indication of his 'whipping boy' status among some fans, including a Facebook page which questions why he is in the national set-up at all.

Holman said that sort of thing doesn't concern him greatly and said he is in the national team to fill a role.

"You always know what you do bad and do well, if you have a bad game or miss an easy chance, you know it yourself. You go back to work and you try to improve on those things," he said.

"I think you are there as an attacking sort of player anyway so you still have to pop in and score goals. On the other hand, some people don't score goals, it's not as if I'm a regular goalscorer for Australia, I think I've only scored once," he said.

"If I looked over the qualifying phase, then a lot of the times I did come on were for 15 or 10 minutes max, it's a difficult thing to come on and try and make an impact and do things. It's difficult, but you have to make the most of it and do what you can."

Holman said those who say he can't score goals have clearly not taken into account his performances at club level.

"If you look at club level, I've always scored with most of the teams that I've played in, it's not a problem or a factor I have issues with," he said.

And he sees himself as particularly useful to Verbeek given that he has an intrinsic understanding of the Dutch method of football.

"I think the fact I know the system and maybe the way Dutch coaches think. I've been there for eight years now, I think you get a certain amount of knowledge and you see a lot more. You see a lot of the Holland style. I think it’s a positive," he said.

http://sportal.co.nz/football-news-display/asian-path-helps-roos-91736/page/2

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