'Roos ready for Wembley 'performance of their lives'
Australia's Harry Souttar, centre, leads a training session at Wembley Stadium on Thursday evening. (AP PHOTO)
Socceroos boss Graham Arnold is confident his youthful brigade can deliver "the performance of their lives" to tame England's Three Lions in their celebrated Wembley den.
Not satisfied with overseeing Australia's most exhilarating men's World Cup assault, the coach believes they can now kick on in their most prestigious friendly since Qatar by becoming "the Shockeroos" Mark II.
Back in 2003, that's how the English press dubbed Frank Farina's team, who sensationally beat David Beckham and co 3-1 at Upton Park - but it remains the only Australian win in the seven meetings between the old sporting rivals.
But though the odds are once again stacked against his squad, which has a transitional feel, Arnold made the eve-of-match promise on Thursday: "I know they will run 'til they drop, the energy will be there and they'll put in the performance of their lives."
Asked what would constitute success, he offered the one-word riposte: "Win.
"And that's not being arrogant, it's just the mentality we have every time we go on the park. We're not going out there to try not to lose - you have to win the game.
"it's never been any different for me. From day one I've been in this job, it's always been about (creating) the greatest Socceroo team in history.
"We've achieved that - but I want more, otherwise I wouldn't have stayed on, I would have left."
Of course, it's a monstrously tall order. England, ranked four in the world with the Aussies at No.27, are prohibitive favourites on Friday as they warm up for their European Championship qualifier with Italy.
Jude Bellingham has been hailed by Socceroos midfielder Jackson Irvine as the best player in the world right now, while Harry Kane is just a goal away from equalling Bobby Charlton's record for England of 23 at Wembley.
Arnold knows he cannot expect the sort of English arrogance that, when he was assistant manager of those triumphant 2003 Socceroos, played right into indignant Aussie hands as Sven-Goran Eriksson fielded a completely different XI for the second half at Upton Park.
This time, it all feels rather different. Even the venue.
"We played at Upton Park then - and that was also was a bit of a lack of respect for us. Why didn't we play at Wembley?" reflected Arnold as he pondered the prospect of playing in front of 90,000 at one of soccer's great cathedrals.
"The respect is there now."
Arnold called in his two celebrated Socceroos' predecessors, Guus Hiddink and Ange Postecoglou, to address the team on Wednesday and reiterated the latter's words to them.
"Ange's speech was very similar to what we've been saying for years about doing it for the kids in Australia, and the nation, and your family and for the sport," said Arnold.
"And it's a great opportunity for these boys to be on a big stage, to show all the UK and Europe how good they are.
"It's a new generation we're bringing through, a very young squad, with 12 players with less than 10 caps, six with between 11 and 20 caps, and only five or six older players who are over 20 caps.
"It's a rebuild and regeneration of the squad, and it can enhance their own careers. It's going to be an exciting night."
