Socceroos chase creative response against Indonesia

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Socceroos chase creative response against Indonesia

With their backs to the wall, the Socceroos can find their creative spark against Indonesia and turn their World Cup qualifying campaign around, says defender Alessandro Circati.

Graham Arnold’s charges suffered the worst possible start to their round-three campaign, barely ******* a shot in a listless 1-0 upset loss to Bahrain on the Gold Coast last Thursday.

Circati was keen to quickly look ahead to Tuesday night’s away clash at Gelora Bung Karno Stadium in Jakarta.

“As someone mentioned in camp last around qualifiers, Japan actually lost their first two (and qualified directly). So look, I don’t think it’s a matter of life or ******,” Circati said.

“Things like this happen in football. Obviously, it’s not ideal. We’ve got to move on.

“There’s no point of dwelling on the situation and thinking, ‘oh, look, this, that.’ Nah, we’ve just got to move on.”

The Socceroos came under ***** for a dearth of creativity against Bahrain.

Against the world No.80, Australia had 70 per cent of the ball but created just four tame shots on goal.

“Against Indonesia, it’s a new game, it’s a different game. We have to go in with a free head,” Circati said.

“I’d like to think this game we can be a bit more creative, a bit more brave offensively, and maybe take half a risk to possibly get the half opportunity for a goal.

“We do have creative players, so we’re able to do that.

“We’ve just got to flick the switch to give them the confidence to take that half-risk, take that risk, to take a player on, take two players on, to possibly get an opportunity on goal.”

Australia will have to get to grips with a largely hostile sellout crowd of 78,000 cheering Indonesia on.

“I don’t think it’s hostile. I think it should be energy to fuel your *****,” Circati said.

“It should get you going, or at least myself, it pumps me up.

“It makes me want to even win a bit more – to go against all these fans who could be cheering against you, just to prove them wrong and to really show them ‘look, 70,000, you don’t make a difference to how I play.'”

Circati is also prepared for what Indonesia, who the Socceroos beat 4-0 at January’s ****** Cup, can bring.

“We’ve seen them set up in a 5-4-1, bit of a block,” he said.

“They’ve got some quick players that try hit us on the counter ******* and and be dangerous, going forward, catching us maybe not ready.

“But we’ll make sure that doesn’t happen tomorrow night.

“We’ve got to try find spaces, try drag them out and move them maybe into areas where they’re not comfortable to be playing and finding holes and being creative.”

Circati played at right-back against Bahrain, his first professional appearance in the wide role.

He could remain there or return to centre-back.

Australia will be without Kusini Yengi (suspension), with John Iredale called up, while Keanu Baccus is fit to return.

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