Arnold wants ‘siege mentality’
Portsmouth striker Kusini Yengi earned his first Australia call-up on Thursday as Socceroos coach Graham Arnold looks to make a fast start to qualifying for the 2026 World Cup.
Arnold named a largely unchanged 23-man squad for matches against Bangladesh next Thursday in Melbourne before facing Palestine in Kuwait on November 21.
The 24-year-old Yengi comes in to add firepower, having scored five times in nine appearances for Portsmouth, who play in England's third tier.
Charlton Athletic goalkeeper Ashley Maynard-Brewer, another uncapped player, also got the nod.
"We've got to go out with that siege mentality to win every game," said Arnold, who took Australia to the last 16 of the Qatar World Cup, where they lost 2-1 to eventual champions Argentina.
"It's about taking that energy out on the pitch and getting the job done," he added.
Arnold said he wanted to bolster his attacking options for games against opponents that should pose relatively little threat, at least on paper.
The pacy Yengi stands 189 centimetres (six feet two inches) and has impressed since moving to Portsmouth in the summer from Western Sydney Wanderers.
"Yengi is doing exceptionally well at Portsmouth," said Arnold, whose side gave England a scare in a 1-0 friendly defeat at Wembley last month.
"He gives us something completely different in size and speed, and I think that's important for these two games."
As well as the start of World Cup qualifying, the Asian Cup in Qatar is also just two months away.
"Experimenting is over," said Arnold.
"Now it's all about getting the tactics right and getting the players on the pitch and their performance right, and winning those games at all costs."
Lebanon are the other team in Group I of the second round of Asian qualifying for the World Cup in the United States, Canada and Mexico.
The campaign doubles up as qualifying for the 2027 Asian Cup in Saudi Arabia.
(责任编辑:资讯)
- Yoon touts pension reform drive amid stagnant popularity rating
- Kim calls for communication, unity with China against 'hostile forces' all
- Why Trump trying to fire Mueller might not help an obstruction case.
- S. Korea not to co
- How to watch 'Kinds of Kindness': When is it streaming?
- Tesla's big software update includes something called 'Night Curfew'
- Djokovic stuns Nadal in French Open epic
- US to be 'tested soon' on nuclear talks with North Korea
- 把好油烟治理关 深入推进环保工作
- 特写|在农事定向大赛遇见和美乡村
- Killer Mike apologized after the NRA used his words to bash the March for Our Lives
- Former FBI chief Comey blasts Republicans over Nunes memo: “That’s it?”
- “爱在雅安,红动校园”全市无偿献血走进校园公益海报作品获奖名单公示
-
10 Places to Get to Know Paul Bunyan
Paul Bunyan, a larger-than-life lumberjack with super-human strength, was a character created by Can ...[详细] -
Djokovic, Nadal close in on French Open blockbuster
PARIS:Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal can set up a blockbuster French Open semi-final clash on Wedne ...[详细] -
雅安日报/北纬网讯 近日,记者从中国工商银行雅安分行了解到,中国工商银行正式发布智能风控的最新成果——“工银智能卫士”账户安全服务。该服务将与工行现有的“监控云”平台一起,形成完整的“云+端”智能防控 ...[详细]
-
Why Trump trying to fire Mueller might not help an obstruction case.
On Thursday night, the New York Times reported that President Trump attempted to fire the special co ...[详细] -
Best Labor Day headphones deals: Apple, Bose, Beats, and more on sale
These are the best headphones deals ahead of Labor Day:Best Labor Day Headphone DealsBest Headphones ...[详细] -
Facebook adds Boomerangs, portrait mode, AR stickers to Messenger
Facebook is adding three new dynamic camera features to Messenger, it announced Monday. Users will b ...[详细] -
[News Focus] Foreign workers still face COVID
Foreign workers are in line last week at a temporary testing center in Ansan, Gyeonggi Province, to ...[详细] -
Alito denies Pennsylvania Republicans‘ request to preserve partisan gerrymander.
On Monday, Justice Samuel Alito rejected Pennsylvania Republicans’ last-ditch effort to preserve the ...[详细] -
Apple iPod: The First 10 Years of the Ubiquitous Media Player
#ThrowbackThursday: The iPod is one of the most iconic devices of the 21st century and the product t ...[详细] -
North Korea says denuclearization 'gone out of negotiation table' with US
North Korean ambassador to the United Nations Kim Song speaks during a news conference in New York, ...[详细]