News Focus
- Tim Weah rolls his eyes at former US players who called Australia an easy opponent
- Ex-internationals Landon Donovan, Alexi Lalas and Mike Grella described the match as a ‘layup’ for the USA
- Weah insists the Socceroos have ‘grit and hunger’ and deserve full respect
- Australian midfielder Metcalfe says he is ‘sick’ of the pre-match criticism
- Tyler Adams warns the game will be tough, citing a fiery 2-1 friendly win in Colorado
United States winger Tim Weah has strongly rejected harsh criticism aimed at Australia from former national team stars. The comments were made ahead of the two sides’ World Cup group match this Friday.
Former players Landon Donovan, Alexi Lalas and Mike Grella mocked the Socceroos after the USA beat Paraguay 4-1 in their opening game. They labelled Australia an ‘average’ team. They also claimed the upcoming clash would be a simple ‘layup’ for the American squad.
Weah responded to these remarks during a press event on Tuesday. He rolled his eyes and called the talk ‘nonsense’. ‘Australia are a young side with lots of fight,’ he explained. ‘We respect them like any other opponent. It is going to be a lovely game.’
The Australian camp has reacted with frustration. Midfielder Metcalfe stated he is tired of the noise. ‘I am sick of it,’ he said. ‘Let us just wait for the game.’
US midfielder Tyler Adams attempted to reduce the tension. He stressed that the fixture will be challenging. ‘This commentary helps nobody,’ Adams noted. ‘It will be one of our most difficult matches.’
The teams met recently in a friendly match in Colorado. The US secured a 2-1 victory in a bad-tempered game that featured several scuffles. Weah played for 64 minutes in that encounter. ‘That match was aggressive,’ he recalled. ‘We know what to expect. We have become more aggressive too.’