<\/p>\n
US-based Socceroos duo Kai Trewin and Aiden O\u2019Neill are chomping at the bit ahead of a \u201cvery heated\u201d chance to claim bragging rights over the majority of their club teammates, including US goalkeeper Matt Freese.<\/p>\n
Australia take on World Cup co-hosts the United States of America at 5am on Saturday morning AEST with the New York City FC pair expecting fireworks after a \u201cfeisty\u201d friendly meeting between the two nations last year.<\/p>\n
Paro v Crocker | Wednesday June 24 from 7pm AEST | Liam Paro gets his long awaited title shot against IBF welterweight champion, Lewis Crocker. | Order Now with Main Event on Kayo Sports.<\/a><\/b><\/i><\/p>\n \u201cI have never wanted to win a game more than this one, I can tell you that for free,\u201d Trewin told reporters at Australia\u2019s Oakland training base this morning.<\/p>\n The defender was an unused substitute in the Socceroos\u2019 tournament opening 2-0 victory against Turkiye on Sunday, but is ready to go if called upon by manager Tony Popovic.<\/p>\n If Trewin does get on the pitch, he and O\u2019Neill are likely to be at the centre of any argy-bargy.<\/p>\n The pair clashed with former Crystal Palace star Wilfred Zaha after an MLS game earlier this year.<\/p>\n At CitiField, the home of baseball\u2019s the New York Mets, Zaha expressed his displeasure with the Australian duo as they headed towards the tunnel.<\/p>\n Trewin eventually ended the exchange by pushing Zaha away<\/a>.<\/p>\n It is safe to say he does mind confrontation and Australia\u2019s meeting with the United States in Denver, Colorado last October got Trewin\u2019s blood boiling.<\/p>\n \u201cI expect it to be very heated,\u201d Trewin said.<\/p>\n \u201cBoth teams need to win to progress from the group.<\/p>\n \u201cI didn\u2019t play in that game last year, but I did watch it on TV and it was good to watch as an Aussie.<\/p>\n \u201cIt was quite feisty, a lot of big tackles. Obviously, you\u2019ve got to be careful. No one wants to do anything silly, but I\u2019m sure there\u2019ll be lots of big moments and strong tackles from both sides.<\/p>\n \u201cI don\u2019t think anyone will be leaving anything out there.\u201d<\/p>\n O\u2019Neill, who started in midfield alongside rising star Paul Okon-Engstler against Turkiye, did feature in that friendly, which the Americans won 2-1<\/a>.<\/p>\n Jordan Bos\u2019 early strike gave the Socceroos the lead, but Haji Wright scored either side of half time to give the hosts victory.<\/p>\n There were five changes from the starting XI that night compared to against Turkiye with the Australians leaving a few scares despite being on the wrong side on the scoreboard.<\/p>\n USA defender Chris Richards made it clear that he did not take kindly to the Australians\u2019 physicality by talking tough post game.<\/p>\n \u201cThey\u2019re lucky it was a friendly. I was ready to go. And if (the ref) didn\u2019t give me a s*** yellow in the corner, I probably would\u2019ve killed somebody,\u201d Richards told reporters post-game.<\/p>\n O\u2019Neill believes those words showed how the Australians caught them off guard.<\/p>\n \u201cI think maybe they didn\u2019t expect us to be as aggressive and on the front foot as we were,\u201d he recalled to reporters at Australia\u2019s Oakland training base this morning.<\/p>\n \u201cAnd that might have just surprised them a little bit and they didn\u2019t quite like it.\u201d<\/p>\n One aspect that will be massively different this time around is the conditions the game will be played in.<\/p>\n Denver sits 1,609 metres above sea level – hence the nickname \u2018the Mile High City\u2019.<\/p>\n Whereas Seattle is only 45m above sea level, making the conditions far friendlier for the Australians.<\/p>\n They also entered this World Cup off the back of the longest pre-tournament camp of any team, leading to claims of being the fittest team.<\/p>\n \u201cWe were there for only a couple of days so with the altitude that was hard,\u201d O\u2019Neill said.<\/p>\n \u201cAnd our preparation for this tournament has been unbelievable and I think you\u2019ve seen that already.\u201d<\/p>\n READ MORE<\/b><\/p>\n WC LIVE \u2014 Controversy rocks England\u2019s opener; late winner sparks epic scenes<\/a><\/i><\/b><\/p>\n WC DAILY \u2014 Drone shot down in fresh spying scandal; striker arrested for alleged fixing incident<\/a><\/i><\/b><\/p>\n \u2018Best football I\u2019ve seen\u2019: $213m debate over as England fire huge World Cup warning<\/a><\/i><\/b><\/p>\n England put 4 past Croatia in Dallas | 01:27<\/p>\n \ufeff\u2018CAPTAIN AMERICA\u2019 IN DOUBT<\/b><\/p>\n Despite the USA\u2019s impressive display against Paraguay to begin their campaign with a 4-1 victory, the co-hosts were nervous afterwards as star winger Cristian Pulisic was subbed off at half time.<\/p>\n USA coach Mauricio Pochettino insisted post-game that it was precautionary as Pulisic received a kick in the calf and his team led 3-0 at the point.<\/p>\n But doubt has grown in the days leading up to the USA\u2019s clash with the Socceroos with Pulisic\u2019s teammates revealing that the AC Milan attacker has been limited in what he can do on the training pitch.<\/p>\n \u201cHe has not been training fully with the group yet, but we\u2019ve got a couple of days to see where he\u2019s at,\u201d defender Antonee Robinson said.<\/p>\n \u201cThankfully we\u2019ve got a lot of boys on the bench \u2060who are eager and ready to get involved in helping the team and \u200ca lot of quality.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s a long tournament. If we don\u2019t have him back for the game, we\u2019re going to make sure we have him back \u200cfor the rest of the way because we\u2019re going to need him.\u201d<\/p>\n Attacking midfielder Brenden Aaronson is a potential replacement for Pulisic, but insisted that he was in the dark about whether he may get a start. <\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019re really hoping Christian is going to be back for the game of course,\u201d Aaronson said.<\/p>\n \u201cI don\u2019t really know what is going on in particular, but we know that he is going to give us \u200chis all to get \u200cback into the \u2060team and be there for the game.\u201d<\/p>\n Pulisic played a key hand in all three of the USA\u2019s first half goals against Paraguay in Los Angeles.<\/p>\n In Seattle, fans have been eagerly awaiting a potential battle with Socceroo Jacob Italiano after his impressive display against Turkiye.<\/p>\n The Australians are also hoping Pulisic is passed fit so that contest can take place.<\/p>\n \u201cI hope he plays to be honest, you want to play against their best XI,\u201d Trewin said.<\/p>\n READ MORE<\/b><\/p>\n \u2018Not you!\u2019: Legend blasts Ronaldo; Aussie hater\u2019s \u2018liability\u2019 claim after \u2018embarrassingly weak\u2019 call<\/a><\/i><\/b><\/p>\n \u2018I was angry\u2019: Socceroos great opens up on \u2018heartbreaking\u2019 World Cup incident<\/a><\/i><\/b><\/p>\n