With only four months to go until Jan Versleijan’s Young Socceroos take on Brazil, Costa Rica and the Czech Republic at the Under-20s World Cup in Egypt, it was great to see the team in action and doing so well over the weekend.
The team competed in a Terborg Toernooi in Holland, a modified (20 minutes a half) ten-team tournament featuring some of the best youth sides in Holland (Ajax, Feyenoord, PSV and De Graafschap) and Brazil (Gremio and Atletico Mineiro), as well as some big names from Europe (Liverpool and Valencia) and two national youth teams, the Young Socceroos and the team that will host this year’s World Cup.
After topping their five team group with two wins, a draw and loss, Versleijan’s men then lost 2-0 to eventual champions Ajax in semi final, before knocking off Liverpool 4-2 on penalties in the 3rd/4th play-off after there were no goals in normal time.
But what was even more refreshing than the results was the announcement of Bolton Wanderers midfielder Aaron Mooy as the player of the tournament, or the Beste Speler as the Dutch described him.
After not being involved in the qualifiers, the former Westfield Sports High student and cousin of Newcastle Jets attacker Brodie was drafted into the squad for the current European tour and has clearly grabbed his chance, scoring two of the team’s four tournament goals, both with his left peg.
While there is plenty of competition for a spot in Versleijan’s Egypt squad, Mooy certainly appears to have pushed himself up the pecking order with his MVP effort.
Looking at the 24-man squad for this European tour, ten are overseas-based; James Holland, Peter Cvetanovski, Rocco Visconte, Mitch Nicholson, Oliver Bozanic, Rob Stambolziev, Brent McGrath, Dylan and Ryan McGowan, and Mooy.
Of the A-League players, there is plenty of talent, including Mitch Nichols, Mark Birighitti, Tahj Minniecon, Ryan Grant, Kofi Danning, Luke De Vere, Tommy Oar and Daniel Mullen.
Throw Ben Kantarovski and possibly Sebastian Ryall into the mix and there’s a bit of talent around.
Refreshingly, based on recent comments, it seems Versleijan will keep an open mind and give players their chance. And for those who have been clamouring, rightly, for the Dutch to leave a legacy for Australian coaches, it’s great to see Sydney United’s Ante Milicic get a gig as an assistant for this tour.
While the Egypt squad will eventually sort itself out, the currency at the minute appears to be games, games and more games, and after the six abbreviated matches here, they will play a full game against Egypt in Terborg tonight, before moving on to another Dutch tournament in Utigeest next weekend where they play PSV, Ajax, Celtic, Utigeest and Vitesse.
The idea of the European tour, according to Versleijan, is to not only sort out his pecking order and get the team conditioned to the style he expects, but, with the Czech Republic World Cup game in mind, to give them valuable European opposition.
Next, in July, is a trip to Venezuela, where the idea is to simulate what he expects to see against Brazil and Costa Rica. Later, in August, there’s a three-game trip to Vietnam.
After a lack of success in youth ranks in recent years and the disastrous Olympics effort, it’s great to see this squad given every chance to succeed in late September-early October.
It’s one thing for the funds to be pumped into the money-making Socceroos, but for the sake of future Socceroos campaigns, standards and expectations must remain high at youth level, and, after focussing on the pointy-end in recent years, one senses the governing body is warming to the need to deliver at youth level.
With much ongoing debate about the development of Australian players, performances will be eagerly scrutinised, but Versleijan has hitherto impressed with the little he has said.
Soon after coming on board and having over-seen friendlies against Japan and Argentina in August last year, he identified the strengths and weaknesses;
“It was a good test and we found that we can compete with these teams to a certain level, especially in terms of defence and organisation, but we need to do more work on playing with the ball.”
In the ensuing months, we’ll get the chance to assess just how effective that work is, but some good signs over the weekend.
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May 26th 2009 @ 5:44pm
tifosi said | May 26th 2009 @ 5:44pm | Report comment
Pippinu,
just an extract from Steven Gerrard’s profile from Liverpool’s webpage.
http://www.liverpoolfc.tv/team/squad/gerrard/
Gerrard’s LFC love affair began when he was spotted playing for Whiston Juniors aged nine. Eight years later, after a period as a trainee, he signed his first professional contract.
As you can see talent is spotted in england at a very early age, i guess we have to be looking at the 9 year olds if we are to match it on the world stage.
I believe in your coaching abilities, you can still produce the next Stevie G !!!!!
May 26th 2009 @ 8:10pm
Midfielder said | May 26th 2009 @ 8:10pm | Report comment
2014 & 2018 is starting to look good
May 27th 2009 @ 12:59am
andrew2 said | May 27th 2009 @ 12:59am | Report comment
I think we also have to note the fundamental shift we will see in the Australian sporting landscape as a result of football identifying talent at an earlier age. We all remember from school that there were those annoying people who were good at absolutely every sport they played. Then at about the age of 16, they usually picked one sport and if they were good enough, went professional. If the current player identification and development continues as it looks like it will. The Steve Waughs of tomorrow are more likely to end up playing football because they were snapped up between 9-14 rather than at 16. I can’t wait for tomorrow!!!
May 27th 2009 @ 8:30am
tifosi said | May 27th 2009 @ 8:30am | Report comment
andrew2,
I agree with what you are saying, the really talented youngsters are good at any sports and if football can enlist them at an early stage then it will be great for the sport.
This is what i think the AFL fears the most about football, that the really talented juniors will flow towards the round ball game, especially now considering that the socceroos, a-league and professional football overseas are a big incentive to stay in the sport.
May 27th 2009 @ 9:13am
Towser said | May 27th 2009 @ 9:13am | Report comment
I’m beginning to wonder if football fans ,comprehend what makes Football or indeed any sport(each of which has its own specialities)tick.
Tifosi you stated that “”really talented youngsters are good at any sports”. Firstly what does really talented mean? Fast,Strong, agile, stamina to burn,brilliant peripheral vision, able to read the next move almost telephathically & react accordingly. I dont know what you mean by talented but for a team sport the above are excellent credentials. I wont speak for other sports ,but having been a lifelong football fan & junior coach a young potential footballer can have all the above,but if he cannot obtain “mastery of the ball” he is as useful as “tits on a bull” & will never be a world class professional footballer. That is why we are bringing in overseas coaches & overhauling the whole coaching system. So that ball artists are recognised early,and we dont end up with players who have all the attributes I first mentioned,but cant control the football for the life of them.
So you mention AFL. I dont follow it & dont proclaim to know the “Specialities ” that make it tick.
So lets assume we have 2 youngsters with all of the above favourable attributes. I throw one a Football (for me that is a round object). I assess by their ability to naturally control that football by doing “Keep Ups” a simple but effective means of testing whether a child has the balance on one leg needed ,at the same time as controlling the football with a steady controlled rythm on his other foot. There are others ,but this is simple. One child can perform this easily, the other struggles to keep his balance. A no brainer who I pick who has the most potential to be a professional footballer. This is the reason that the whole football coaching system is being overhauled. So that the talented ball players can be spotted early & be encouraged. So we dont end up with footballers that have all the attributes mentioned ,but cant control a football. I’m sure a qualified AFL person could do the same, or a Cricket ,Hockey ,Rugby,Tennis person equally qualified to recognise the special talents needed to play their particular sport.
May 27th 2009 @ 9:31am
Midfielder said | May 27th 2009 @ 9:31am | Report comment
Tow
Could not agree more .. but would this I have seen the, big, fast, strong, can run all day type player who has had crap coaches and what he may need is the ball and shape coaching you speak of..
Also boys balance comes at different ages and sometimes the very big boys are very clumsy until they hit a certain age.
Like we have discussed its improving coaches that is hugely important ..
May 27th 2009 @ 9:32am
Midfielder said | May 27th 2009 @ 9:32am | Report comment
Tow (got the wording right this time)
Could not agree more .. I have seen the, big, fast, strong, can run all day type player who has had crap coaches and what he may need is the ball and shape coaching you speak of..
Also boys balance comes at different ages and sometimes the very big boys are very clumsy until they hit a certain age.
Like we have discussed its improving coaches that is hugely important ..
May 27th 2009 @ 9:57am
Towser said | May 27th 2009 @ 9:57am | Report comment
Midfielder from a personal perspective I know this to be true.(You wouldnt see it now of course).
I had most of the attributes I first mentioned.when a lad. However what I didnt have was the ball control(As shown below). It was adequate but compared with a young Maradona I was a “Clog foot”. Whereas some kids had the “ball mastery” but were no more than ball jugglers,because they were lacking in the physical areas.
Now if this kid above had all the Physical attributes I mentioned, plus his ball skills on display, I’d be keeping a close eye on him as a coach.
Same goes for this basketball kid below . Height would also have to be added for him to succeed.
May 27th 2009 @ 10:02am
whiskeymac said | May 27th 2009 @ 10:02am | Report comment
some players develop later than others though – Walcott for example who i understand didn’t play until 13 or something freaky. and i agree that kids can be good at several sports, but towsers right, footballs unique use of the feet requires some different attributes to make the player rise above good to great, if great is the entry level to be a professional at a given sport. in any event the overhaul of the system looks like it will mould those players it realises/ identifies as promising nto players who could, if all the other factors are there like determination, professionalism and no injuries or scandal etc, play at a decent level.
as an aside and IMO, and i dont epect support here, but i am glad the Waughs and Johns played their respective sports because, quite frankly, they were brilliant at them and unless they were going to be the next kewell or Pele then overall, for the greater good of Aussie sport, they did the right thing. that’s not to say i dont want youngsters being lost to football, but at the same time quite like it when we win the Ashes or beat the Windies. and i dont think i am alone – in my defence isn’t western Sydney’s greatest export (Christian Vieri) a massive Alan Border fan and i think in J Warren’s book he also harped on abot cricket legends inspiring him?
May 27th 2009 @ 10:06am
Pippinu said | May 27th 2009 @ 10:06am | Report comment
Re Vieri – remember that time he was accused of throwing his drink bottle a little bit to close to the gaffer, and he said in a press conference something along the lines: cricket is my favourite game, and if I had wanted to hit him, I would have.