Socceroos defender Alessandro Circati has offered a blunt reply to USA midfielder Sebastian Berhalter’s comments ahead of the World Cup clash between the two sides.
In the build-up to Saturday’s 5am AEST match in Seattle, Berhalter stirred the pot when he declared: “We’re American. We don’t take s***.”
Berhalter was speaking about the mental toughness coach Mauricio Pochettino had instilled in their squad.
The Americans thrashed Paraguay 4-1 in their opening match in Los Angeles and sit ahead of Australia on top of Group D.
Circati said the Socceroos were unfazed by Berhalter’s comments.
“I’ve got no response to that,” Circati told reporters at the Socceroos’ base in Oakland.
“We don’t take it either. We’re just out there to play a game of football, to win and to do our best. It doesn’t matter what he [Berhalter] said.”
While enjoying their stunning 2-0 win over Türkiye in Vancouver last Sunday AEST the Socceroos are firmly focused on their next assignment.
Circati said he expected the match to be a similarly physical affair to last October’s 2-1 defeat to team USA in Colorado.
“We’re a very big team, very physical team,” Circati said.
“Even players, which maybe you look at and they’re not the biggest players, I think they’re very, very physical. People go into challenges giving 100 per cent.
“If anything, I wouldn’t see it any less physical than the last game because now there’s big stakes on the line.”
Circati said he was frustrated with the Socceroos being considered “underdogs”.
He said he wanted the Socceroos to shed the tag during their World Cup campaign.
“I hope we’re starting to gain a little bit more respect,” Circati said.
“I don’t want to be the underdogs for the rest of my life. I want to be a team that everyone faces like, ‘Oh, we’ve got to play Australia.’
“That will come with time, and I’m sure many boys will go to great clubs, and then once that happens it will become reality.”
AAP
ABC Sport will be live blogging all the action from Australia’s clash with the US on Saturday morning. Join the team at abc.net.au/news/sport
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