We are ready to perform again in Qatar, asserts Graham Arnold before India game in AFC Asian Cup 2023

Graham Arnold’s Australia are favourites to qualify for the AFC Asian Cup knockouts.

The Australian football team are set to commence their 2023 AFC Asian Cup campaign tomorrow. Their first match will be against the Indian football team at the Ahmed Bin Ali Stadium. Alongside these two teams, there are also Uzbekistan and Syria in Group B. India and Australia’s next two fixtures after the inaugural match are scheduled for the 18th and 23rd of January, where they will face Syria and Uzbekistan, respectively.

Ahead of the upcoming match, the head coach of the Australian team, Graham Arnold, along with player Jackson Irvine, graced the pre-match press conference. They eloquently addressed the media’s inquiries, infusing their responses with a sense of optimism.

Preparations for 2023 AFC Cup 

Preparations play a pivotal role prior to any tournament of this stature. It is imperative that each team is thoroughly equipped to confront their adversaries and adeptly navigate their gameplay in order to secure victory.

“The preparations have been going well and we are excited to play our first game tomorrow. We also have the experience of being here in Qatar before. They have great facilities along with great stadiums,” Graham Arnold appreciated the facilities for preparations available in Qatar. 

“We are ready to perform again in Qatar, a place we know very well. We have spent a lot of time here. Now we are just looking forward to the start of the tournament,” Jackson Irvine added. 

Losing Mathew Leckie 

Mathew Leckie has been a key player for Australia in recent years. His absence ahead of such a significant tournament could have an impact on their performance.

On a question regarding it, Arnold replied, “The most important thing is that we should focus on one game at a time. Everyone else in the team is fit and ready to face India tomorrow. Obviously, we know what India can do, technically they have some very good players. But, the focus shall be on ourselves and we should get our performance right.”

Having ‘favorites’ tag in the group

Undoubtedly, the Australian team is considered the favorite in the group and is likely to progress to the next round. Therefore, any stroke of misfortune could significantly impact the team’s prospects.

“Playing against any nation is a privilege and an honor. And talking about the performance, we have some of the players in the squad who have won the 2015 AFC Asian Cup. They bring inspiration to the camp from which the youngsters are benefitted,” coach Graham Arnold, stated at the end.     

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