Source :- PERTH NOW NEWS
American football shock jock Mike Grella has doubled down on his trolling of the Socceroos, with a former AFL player getting himself caught in the crosshairs this time.
Grella, who had a long Major League Soccer career but never represented his country drew the ire of Australia when he dismissed the Socceroos as “the weakest team” in Group D at the World Cup, which also includes the USA, Turkey and Paraguay. He also called the Aussie fixture “a layup” for the host nation.
That was before Australia stunned former semi-finalists Turkey with a 2-0 win in Vancouver on Sunday.
In the aftermath of the Aussies’ upset victory, Grella’s CBS colleagues tried to distance themselves from his comments. Former US goalkeeper Tony Meola said he is “most worried” about the matchup with Australia, while Jimmy Conrad added the Socceroos had been criminally underrated.
“Everybody just keeps discounting Australia and it seems to be not the right thing to do. So thanks, Grella, we appreciate that,” Conrad said.
But Grella has gone the other way, apparently more confident than ever that Australia stands no chance against the USA.
Former AFL player-turned podcaster and social media influencer Dan Gorringe was one of the many Australians to mock Grella’s assessment of the Aussies, posting a video saying “we’re going to f*** you up”.
That caught the attention of Grella, who re-posted the video with the response: “Yo this s***’s hilarious”, with a set of laughing emojis.
“See you Friday,” Grella added.
Australia plays the USA on Saturday morning at 5am AEST for a chance to shoot to the top of Group D.
The two sides met in a friendly last October, with the US winning that clash 2-1.
Former US midfielder Benny Feilhaber says that result means little now.
“I just think it’s a different competition, of course. In the World Cup, every little thing matters,” he said.
“And we saw this team now with Australia, to me, their biggest strength is they know who they are.
“It might not be always the most attractive, but it’s extremely effective, and I think that that’s going to be a difficulty that the US finds to break down.”
Tony Meola added: “I think they’re (Australia) the best pressing team where they want to press. I think athletically they’re really, really good. And I think they’ll be the most disruptive.
“And I know we got this whole thing with Grella and Australia, you know, what (word) did he use, ‘layup’? He called them a layup, whatever it is — I never saw it that way because I don’t think anything is going to be easy.”
Ahead of the Turkey clash, Grella indicated it said something about Australia’s quality that Nestory Irankunda was their best player.
Irankunda then scored a wonderful goal and dazzled in that win.
“I did see it,” Irankunda said of Grella’s comments.
“But at the end of the day, you’ve got to let these people talk – and it was the same with these lot here (Turkey).
“They came, they did their talking, but they couldn’t back it up on the field and we got the win.
“People can talk all they want but if they’re not going to put a performance out there on the pitch, then there’s no point in talking.
“We fight for each other, we play for each other and if these people want to keep talking, we’re just gonna play our best, we’re gonna stay focused and just try to win the game.”
Defender Aziz Behich said the Socceroos weren’t worrying about “fluff talk”.
“Whoever wants to talk, if they want to write us off – it’s not the first time,” Behich said.
If US pundits are happy to write off Australia, their players certainly aren’t.
“I don’t think any commentary helps anybody and no, it’s not gonna be a lay-up,” midfielder Tyler Adams said.
“If anything, it’s gonna be one of the most difficult games that we play.”
Forward Haji Wright added: “I think Turkey came into the game a bit overconfident, and I think we won’t make that same mistake.”
Adams described the Socceroos as “combative” and tactically sound while Wright pointed out Australia were tough to break down and dangerous on the counter.
Back in October, Wright scored a brace in a feisty 2-1 win over a physical and under-strength Socceroos in Colorado.
“I remember going to halftime, the coach wasn’t too happy with us letting them punch us in a way without punching back,” Wright said.
“I don’t think they take it too far. I think they’re aggressive and they’re competitive.
“They’re a lot like us actually – they’re not going to back down to anybody and we’ll respect that in the game coming, but I don’t think we’ll back down to them.”
With AAP
