Paul Okon, the assistant coach of the Socceroos, has expressed his surprise that Prime Minister Anthony Albanese did not declare Friday a public holiday to allow Australians to watch the team's final World Cup group match against Paraguay. The match is scheduled to kick off at 12pm AEST.
Okon's comments from training camp
Speaking from the team's training facility in Oakland, California, Okon said: 'I was expecting our prime minister, Mr Albanese, to give everyone a day off so people didn't need to scramble to find a TV wherever they could to watch it.'
Fan support and team motivation
Okon acknowledged the strong support from fans in Australia who have been tuning in to watch the matches. 'We sincerely hope we can bring more joy,' he said, indicating the team's desire to reward that support with a good performance.
No truce for a draw
Despite the possibility of a draw being enough to advance, Okon confirmed the Socceroos are not planning to play for a stalemate. 'That doesn't seem right,' he stated, emphasizing the team's intention to go for victory against Paraguay.
