Vitõria, Brazil - Australia stars Jason Davidson and Matthew Spiranovic said Friday they were rapidly acclimatizing to Brazil after their marathon trip from Sydney and ready to tackle three daunting World Cup group rivals.
Bookies make Ange Postecoglou's team, the first to arrive in Brazil, rank outsiders as they face Chile in Cuiaba on June 13
before tackling 2010 runners up Holland on June 18 in Porto Alegre and then champions Spain in Curitiba five days later.
But the Aussies say the underdog tag could work in their favor.
“If the other teams under-estimate us or become complacent we can definitely take advantage of that,” said Spiranovic, who enjoyed a sterling season with Western Sydney Wanderers.
“It's been a good year for me personally and for my club Ä I can take that confidence into the World Cup,” said the 25-year-old.
Davidson meanwhile went on an early charm offensive as he put to good use Portuguese language skills learned from two seasons spent in Portugal before joining Dutch side Almelo.
“Ola boa tarde. Este cidade e muito bonita (good afternoon this city is very beautiful),” said Davidson as he addressed the media.
Bedding in as a regular under Postecoglou, Davidson said: “the training facilities are fantastic and the pitch is very good. We are very happy to have good facilities and now we can concentrate on training.
Asked if he felt he could cement his recent run in the side, Davidson said: “You're only as good as your last game. I'm just trying to work hard so I don't let anyone else take my position.
“It looks like I'm doing the right thing and hopefully, like I said, I'm going to work hard in training camp in Brazil and try to keep the position for the first game against Chile.”
His debut two years ago featured an own-goal against Scotland Ä but he has put that behind him.
“Obviously it wasn't the ideal debut, but I think I just tried to work hard at club level and with the national team as well and tried to earn my spot here.”
Davidson agreed with Spiranovic that the Socceroos plan to give as good as they get in Group B.
“We're going in as underdogs and it's up to us to work hard and try to prove a point. We can use that to our advantage and try to upset a couple of teams at the World Cup,” he insisted.
Sapa-AFP