Olyroos coach Graham Arnold is refusing to panic despite his side winning just one of their past six lead-up games and the security scare at the venue which will host Australia’s first two Olympic soccer matches.
A 3-2 win over New Zealand and a 1-1 draw against Chile are the best recent results for the Australian under 23s as they prepare for Beijing - with their latest two hitouts a 1-0 loss to China and 2-1 defeat by Japan.
But on the eve of tomorrow’s friendly against South Korea in Seoul, Arnold said he had got what he wanted from his team’s trial matches, with his entire focus on the side’s opening group match against Serbia in Shanghai on August 7.
“It’s all about getting players on the field and getting them used to the conditions,” Arnold said from Seoul today.
“I’m not concerned at all. It’s about getting us prepared physically and tactically for the first game against Serbia.”
News late last week that Chinese police had cracked a terrorist cell threatening to attack Shanghai Stadium, where the Socceroos will play Serbia and reigning Olympic champions Argentina, is also not a concern to Arnold.
The players head to China for the Olympics on Friday, but the Olyroos coach said he was confident security would not be a worry for his team.
“The mood in the camp’s fantastic. We’ve got the right people in security, they’re looking after us and we’re just concentrating on the football side of it,” he said.
Arnold confirmed today he would rest two of his overage players - Jade North and Archie Thompson - for the South Korea match.
Both picked up minor injuries in the past week but Arnold said both would be fit and ready for the Olympic Games opener.
The other overage player, Socceroos regular David Carney, will play against the Koreans in an attacking left-sided role after joining the squad yesterday.
Arnold is set to give Reading goalkeeper Adam Federici the starting custodian’s role tomorrow.
