Jordan coach looking to surprise Australia

Jordan coach Vital Borkelmans believes that his men can surprise Australia in the opening game of the 2019 AFC Asian Cup on Sunday.

Former Belgium assistant coach Vital Borkelmans Source: Getty Images

The Belgian is familiar with the Socceroos, not least during the four years he spent as number two with the Belgium national team from 2012 to 2016. The Red Devils defeated Australia 2-0 in a friendly in September 2014.

Against the defending champions in Al Ain Borkelmans understands that he is going to need all his experience and knowledge if the men from Amman are going to get a good start to the continental competition.

“The big teams went home quickly from Russia and I told this many times to my players that there are always surprises in a tournament,” Borkelmans told The World Game. “Maybe this year is a special year for Jordan.

“I know Australia very well. I have faced them many times. They have good skill and are strong physically and mentally. I will look to my system and my players and on this day I will see how we will play.”

“I am positive and give positive vibes to my players. I give them a lot of belief. The first game is a special one for both countries. Why can’t we win or take a point? I am open and I believe in my players.”

Borkelmans, appointed last August, is looking to try and take a national team that has long struggled with consistency to the next level. One main ingredient is the installation of a patient possession game.

“I have changed a lot of things. I have given positive vibes to my players. They must think always positively. I have to give a lot of compliments to my players.

"They see how we are working and that is football with the ball, always. I was a player before a coach, I was an attacker and believe in attacking and I give this to my players.”

Preparations have been pretty good, with an encouraging 2-1 defeat against 2018 FIFA World Cup finalist Croatia in October as well as victory over India. Draws against Albania, Saudi Arabia and China suggest that Jordan will be tricky opponents.

“We have been very happy with the build-up. We focused on the physical and mental side so the players would be ready for the Asian Cup," Borkelmans added.

"We have had a good camp in Qatar and now we are ready. The games against Albania and Croatia were my first two games and I made a lot of tactical changes and a new system. I can choose what system I will play.

"The players learnt a lot and it was good to play against these two teams. It was a good experience for the players.

“India and Saudi Arabia were special.These were the last games in Jordan. I tried a lot of things with my players. In the last game was very good and they showed they can play at a high level. You could see the experience from Albania and Croatia.”

Borkelmans has also shown that he is not scared to make tough decisions. His axing of Hamza Al Dardour, the national team’s top scorer and their biggest name, was a controversial one though he believes it was the right thing to do.

“When you make a selection, then you have 30-35 players and then you look at those who can do it and for those who feel good in the group and can live together for seven to eight weeks. Fans have their favourite players and he is a good player but I have other strikers who are very good," he said.

The group does not depend on what happens in the opening clash. 

“It is nice you can play against good teams. The first game against Australia is a tough game but we don’t forget about Syria and Palestine. Everything is possible.”