Dapto junior Matt Jurman admits Australia’s blockbuster clash against Honduras on Saturday morning (AEDT) will be the biggest match of his career.
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The talented defender is in line to retain his spot in the Socceroos starting line-up for the first leg of the national team’s World Cup qualifying showdown with Los Catrachos in San Pedro Sula.
The match is set to be played at a sold-out Estadio Olimpico, with a parochial 40,000-strong Honduran crowd expected.
It’s a challenge Jurman is looking forward to.
“Bring it on,” Jurman said.
“I think it will be good. It is sold out so it will definitely be the biggest games of my life. The biggest actually.
“It will be a good atmosphere and I think everyone needs to take it in and go along with it.
“Why not? It’s a massive occasion and I think we need to go with it.”
A draw or a win in the opening leg will put the Socceroos in a strong position to qualify for the World Cup, with the return fixture set to be played at ANZ Stadium next Wednesday.
While Australia are marginal favourites to progress, Jurman knows the Socceroos still have a massive task in front of them against a dangerous Honduras side.
“They have some players that can hurt us. They are going to be a team that we need to be concentrating 100% of the time,” he said.
“We have to be ready for what they are going to throw at us. They might throw something different, you never know.
“We have to be ready.”
Jurman started and put in a pair of superb displays in Australia’s two-leg AFC playoff victory over Syria last month.
The two matches were the Suwon Samsung Bluewings defender’s first appearances for the national team.
It has him the box seat to retain his spot in the Australian squad should the Socceroos qualify for the Russia 2018.
“At times I have to pinch myself to feel like I am here with all the boys in this situation,” Jurman said.
“It is a bit crazy. But I have to realise I am here and I have to do a job for my team and my country.
“It is pretty sureal sometimes but it is exciting.
“I have worked all my life to be here.”