Adelaide United Captain, Craig Goodwin, has said nothing will stop him from kitting-up to face Melbourne Victory at Coopers Stadium on Friday night.
Despite being selected in the Socceroos World Cup squad, the Reds’ talisman will go into the clash with United’s biggest rivals ready to give his all for his hometown team.
World Cup represent:
“I was sitting at home and I was waiting for a phone call and it go to about 10:30pm and I still was waiting, so I figured I’d just go to sleep and see what happened overnight.
“I woke up in the morning to the text message from the team manager that I was in the squad and (there was) a lot of joy from that.
“Then I spoke to Graham Arnold that night.
“It’s a really proud moment (for me).
“I’m really excited for the World Cup and (it’s) my first so to fulfil a childhood dream is going to be an amazing experience for me.
“But first and foremost, there’s one more game to go until that World Cup and it’s the biggest game in our calendar.”
Graham Arnold’s words:
“(He said) congratulations (and) his big message is that we don’t want to be just (participating) in this World Cup.
“We want to be able to go there and try and do something special.
“He really believes that and so does the team.
“It’s about doing the business for (my) club and then getting over there and going with the mindset that we’re not just there to make up the numbers.
“We’re there to really push and make something special happen.”
Resting against Victory to be fresh for Qatar?:
“Absolutely not.
“There is no chance you would take me out of this fixture.
“Victory is the one fixture that I look at at the start of the season and go: ‘Right, when do we play Melbourne Victory at home?’.
“It’s a (Friday) night game (and the) stage is set for a massive performance from us in a really good atmosphere and a really good crowd.
“As a young boy, I grew up dreaming of being in these scenarios and these situations, but the thing for me is I try and ground myself and think: ‘How do I picture these situations when I’m a kid?’.
“I didn’t picture just being there, I pictured actually doing something there and making a real impact.
“Every time I step out onto the field wearing an Adelaide United jersey, I give my absolute best and try to do my best for the team and for the fans and this Club.”
