As he prepares to take on some of the best footballers in the world Garang Kuol has one simple message.
“There is no intimidation”.
The exciting Shepparton product spoke at a media conference on Friday, November 18 in Doha as the Socceroos shift their focus to this week’s first group stage encounter against France.
In the build-up to Australia’s opening Qatar World Cup match, Kuol — who is the second youngest player at this year’s tournament — said he was ready to test himself on the world stage.
“It's a very exciting, exciting experience for me,” Kuol, 18, said.
“Obviously, I've been watching the Socceroos for a long time. The World Cup is the biggest stage, so that’s where I want to prove myself.”
Although there is much speculation on how many minutes Australia’s youngest squad member will receive in Qatar, there is a guarantee that Kuol will offer plenty of spark and excitement if called upon by coach Graham Arnold.
And it could happen as early as the Socceroos’ opening contest against the reigning champions on Wednesday, 6am (AEDT).
The likes of France superstars Kylian Mbappe, Antoine Griezmann and Hugo Loris await the emerging Kuol.
But the Central Coast Mariners’ forward is unfazed.
“There is no intimidation,” he said.
“I find it more exciting to see what you can do against players of that calibre. You have to go into it with the right mindset and wanting to create something.
“I just want to play well, create something and make an impact.”
Which is exactly what the emerging household name is best known for on home soil.
Kuol’s most recent A-League Men’s appearance for the Mariners saw the wonderkid produce two goals and a player-of-the-match effort off the bench.
It’s those kind of highlight reel appearances that has Socceroos greats like Harry Kewell wanting to see the teenage phenom take to the pitch in Qatar.
And while the class and talent has undeniably been there from his early days running around for Shepparton Soccer Club and Goulburn Valley Suns — his shift to the Mariners has seen him become one of Australia’s next biggest stars.
“Before I went to the Central Coast Mariners I was playing NPL2 in Victoria, so I was training twice a week and it was a killer for me,” Kuol said.
“I wanted to be training every day, so as soon as I came into the Mariners I was training every day which is what I wanted to do my whole life.
“That's really where my journey really started in terms of being a proper footballer, so the impact it's had on me has been massive. I'm just thankful for those at the Mariners who brought me in and nurtured me on my way.”
Despite being the youngest Socceroo at a World Cup, Kuol said it’s ‘just a label’ and that he won’t be dictated to by what is said about him and he would let his performance in the green and gold do the talking.
“I don’t really pay attention to what's said around me and stuff. I'm mainly just focused on what I do on the field and trainings,” he said.
“If I'm not playing well, I'm not going to look at what's online to cheer me up. What I do on the field is what makes me happy and gives me the motivation to keep pushing forward.”