Socceroos arrive in Thailand
The Socceroos have arrived safely at their plush Thailand hotel ahead of their opening Asian Cup group game against Oman on Sunday.
The team jetted in from their intensive 10-day training camp in Singapore confident they have acclimatised well enough to the expected steamy weather conditions to be a force in the tournament.
Key defender Lucas Neill said those who thought Australia were near-certainties to win the tournament were wrong, despite their warm favouritism to win at their first attempt at the Asian Cup finals.
"We've got no right to think we can walk through the tournament and get to the final," Neill said.
"Definitely the physical and mental preparation (is important), and being able to handle the conditions.
"Every team we come up against is going to pose threats and be difficult. We've got to do our homework and play to our ability."
The Socceroos' only injury concern ahead of the Oman match is midfielder Mark Bresciano, who was noticeably limping as he left the team bus at the hotel.
Bresciano came off early in an intra-squad practice match on Tuesday night with a foot injury, though officials are saying he should be fit enough to be considered for selection for the Oman match.
The Australians play Oman, followed by Iraq on July 13 and one of the four tournament co-hosts Thailand on July 16 in their group games.
All their group games will be played at Bangkok's Rajamangala National Stadium.
The top two teams from each of the four groups progress to the quarter-finals.
Socceroos team members will be guests of honour at a function at the Australian Embassy in Bangkok on Wednesday night.
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