Craig Goodwin delighted to be back with Socceroos and determined to start strongly
Craig Goodwin spoke to the media on the Gold Coast ahead of the Subway Socceroos' FIFA World Cup 2026™ Qualifier against Bahrain on Thursday night at Robina Stadium.
- READ MORE: How to watch Australia vs Bahrain
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The experienced forward admitted he was excited to be playing on home soil again and hopes they can use the partisan crowd to their advantage and commence the Round 3 phase of qualifying strongly.
Goodwin also discussed his form in Saudi Arabia with Al Wehda FC, returning from injury, and shared his thoughts on former club teammate Nestory Irankunda's start to life in Germany at Bayern Munich. The pair played together while at Adelaide united.
On the Socceroos playing on the Gold Coast for the first time...
Really happy (to be here). I think we've seen from the game in Canberra. It's been nice to hit different parts of Australia and you know, this is the first time we've ever played on the Gold Coast as Socceroos. So it's going to be fantastic to have a packed out crowd.
On speaking to Kye Rowles about playing in front of a home crowd...
I haven't spoken to him as yet, but if he feels anything like I do about playing in Adelaide next month, it's going to be fantastic for him. As I've said before, it's just great to be able to hit different areas of the country, because there's a lot of football supporters around Australia that are sometimes starved of national team football. So I think it's a great thing that we're here and it's going to be a packed out stadium, and hopefully we can get off to a great start.
On his scintillating form to start the new Saudi Pro League season...
We've played two games. First game I had three goal involvements. Second game was a win and involved in the goals as well. So really happy to start the season well and for me, just to have a really strong pre-season as well. It's probably been a couple of years since I've had as good a pre-season due to having injuries and this was the same at the back end of last year. I broke my rib. I had an issue with my foot as well. So it's been good to obviously recover from that, but put in a good foundation this pre-season, and hit the ground running in the first few games.
On the need to start the Third Round of FIFA World Cup qualifiying strongly...
It's about taking it game by game and this is a perfect start. I think, for us playing our first game on home soil, in front of our fans. It's World Cup qualifying, so the motivation is there. The atmosphere is going to be great and I think it's going to be a very good first game.
On seeing Nestory Irankunda make a positive start to life at Bayern Munich...
It's nice to see him do really well in the pre-season and obviously be involved in those games. I think he's gone over there with a great attitude and great work ethic, and it's good to see him doing really well. I think the way that he's gone within the pre-season, it'll only be a matter of time I hope, before he gets his first game in, first minutes in the Bundesliga, and then hopefully he can kick on from there.
I'm not surprised by the start he's made, because he especially has that physicality to be able to match it at any level. He's got the power, he's got the speed and I think for him, it just comes down to probably the fitness side in general. And then the technical side and adapting to the way that Bayern want to play. But we know Nestor is a special talent, and I hope that he can get the minutes this season to be able to lift his game to a new level.
On the number of wingers in the squad...
I think we've experimented with having more strikers and obviously (Arnie's) identified with the teams that we're going to play against, with more wingers. And perhaps some more people that are, I guess, adept in those 1v1 scenarios in wide areas and that sort of thing. So it's obviously nice to get here and get around the boys and obviously first training session today, and I think we've got a very strong squad going into these games.
On his fitness and desire to help Australia qualify for the next World Cup...
Absolutely, I think I've been in my best form of my career over the last probably four years, you know, contributing heavily to goals and assists, no matter whether it's been at club level or international. But having said that, I've also, over the last three or four years, battled with a few different niggling injuries. I think it's again, breaking the rib at the end of last season wasn't what I wanted. It wasn't the ideal way to finish and was thinking again, 'okay here we go, another injury I've picked up from unluckiness'. But it's given me a good chance to refresh, a good chance to get in the gym and try and just strengthen up everything around that and I'm feeling really good. And like I said, I've hit the ground running at my club level. I feel physically very good, very strong and I'm committed to this campaign and trying to obviously get the Socceroos to the World Cup again.
MATCH DETAILS
Subway Socceroos v Bahrain
Thursday, 5 September 2024
Robina Stadium, Gold Coast
Kick-off: 8.00pm AEST
Tickets: Start from $15 Child, $20 Concession, $29 Adult, and $58 Family. Tickets from Ticketmaster.
Broadcast: 10 (Bold in Perth), 10 Play and Paramount+
Indonesia v Subway Socceroos
Tuesday 10 September 2024
Gelora Bung Karno Stadium, Jakarta
Kick-off: 7.00pm local / 10.00pm AEST
Broadcast: Paramount+