Bert van Marwijk has backed Australia to stay the course and overcome Peru, while also trusting France to hold nothing back against Denmark, as the Socceroos bid to reach the World Cup knockout stage for just the second time. Australia face an “emotional” Peru in Sochi on Tuesday, knowing they must win to have any chance of advancing to the last 16.
Coach Van Marwijk has been heartened by the Socceroos’ two showings to date — against France and Denmark — and believes a similar performance against the South Americans will earn the Socceroos their first World Cup win in eight years.
“We have to reward ourselves for the work we do and the way we play, what we’ve showed the world,” he said. “Everybody is positive.”Now we have to reward ourselves.” The 66-year-old said Australia would resist a change in style for the win-or-bust occasion against a Peruvian outfit already out of knockout contention, keeping faith in his defence-first game plan.
“We have to trust our way of playing,” he said. “It’s very important [in] all the games that you are yourself. I think against this opponent it’s even more so. “The opponent is an emotional team so you can expect everything. “I think that’s the key so there is nothing to do with forcing some things. “I don’t think you must force something from the beginning. We must first get our natural rhythm that we play.”
Australia must also rely on France if they are to reach the knockout phase.