Mark Viduka was appointed Australian captain for the Asian Cup yesterday and immediately stressed the team must forget about last year's World Cup and focus on moving forward.
The Newcastle striker, on the verge of international retirement ahead of the tournament before changing his mind, said he was excited about taking on the best of Asia for the first time.
"I'm excited personally and looking forward to it," the 31-year-old said ahead of the Socceroos' final warm-up game against Singapore today. "It is our first time in Asia and it will be a good tournament to see where we are at."
PHOTO: AP
"The World Cup was a massive thing for us last year but we have to move on from that and start to assert ourselves in Asia," he said.
Viduka was torn between his commitment to new club Newcastle United and playing for Australia, and only shelved international retirement plans at the 11th hour because representing his country meant too much.
"Obviously playing for Australia is very important to me or I wouldn't be here, but moving to a new club, you have to assert yourself there," he said at a press conference.
"Newcastle is a big club with good strikers and players and obviously an advantage would be to start off with a pre-season with the whole team," he said.
"Playing in the Asian Cup from a club perspective is a disadvantage so there were a lot of things to weigh up. But in the end, playing for Australia was too important for me to give up," Viduka said.
He said he would likely make a decision on his long-term international future after the tournament.
Viduka is a key part of coach Graham Arnold's tactics for the Asian Cup with his ability to hold the ball and play as a lone striker supported by a fast-moving midfield.
Arnold said he felt the squad now has more depth than the one Australia took to the World Cup in Germany, where they reached the knockout rounds before bowing out to a disputed penalty by eventual champions Italy.
"I think the young boys have made the older boys step up even more," he said. "The young boys are pushing the older boys. The younger guys have freshened the group up and there's some good young talent there."
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