City stars hungry to make their Socceroos mark
Fresh off winning silverware with Melbourne City, Marco Tilio is determined to get on the pitch for the Socceroos for the first time in more than a year and help them seize direct World Cup qualification.
Tilio, Kai Trewin and Aziz Behich were called up and on a 10am flight to Perth on Sunday morning, missing City's trophy celebration's at AAMI Park after beating Melbourne Victory the night before.
Dynamic winger Tilio was called into camp under Tony Popovic for the first time in March but didn't take the field - and hasn't had minutes since January 2024.
But after being selected for next Thursday's World Cup qualifier with Japan in Perth and the June 11 game against Saudi Arabia in Jeddah, the 23-year-old has a point to prove.
"I want to do everything I can to help the team qualify for another World Cup," Tilio said.
"I took everything in from last camp and put myself in the position now where I feel I'm better for it.
"I just want to execute everything that I know that I can, and put myself in the position to hopefully be in the squad and play ... It's been a while since I've actually stepped on the field for the national team.
"So I think it's at that time now that I put myself in a position to play well, get an opportunity to do well, and hopefully, sort of cement a spot in there."
Central defender Trewin, 24, has also had a taste of camp, but is yet to make his debut.
"It will be the same thing as last time - go in there and try and put my best foot forward, and however the boss wants to use me, if it's in a training capacity, or however it is, I'm ready to go in there and give my all," Trewin said.
"He wouldn't be picking me in teams if he didn't think I could do a job."
Trewin was among City's best performers on Saturday night, calm and assured in defence in front of a hostile crowd, and feels ready to step up in big games.
"I feel confident at the moment. I feel like my game's in a really good position and if I am called upon to play in either of those games, I think I am ready," he said.
"Obviously, (the grand final is) a big game, but qualifying for a World Cup's probably a little bit bigger than that, I would say - pretty nerve-wracking.
"But if I am called upon, I'm ready, and if not, then I'm also ready to help the team however I can."
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