Where to now for those who missed out?
Columnist
By Ben Somerford, 23 Dec 2009 Ben Somerford is a Roar Expert
January’s Asian Cup qualifier against Kuwait is not only an opportunity for Australia to seal qualification, it’s also a chance for fringe players to push their cases for World Cup selection.
And with the squad now announced, those who missed out will be shattered.
Australia boss Pim Verbeek’s announcement of the 23-man squad which will assemble in Dubai for a seven-day training camp before the January 6 match in Kuwait City, brought with it the usual talking points.
Of course, there’s the debutants like youngster Tommy Oar or those getting another run like Archie Thompson which attract attention, but the stories we shouldn’t forget are those who missed out.
And the absence of several names from Verbeek’s list could be interpreted as something quite significant. Perhaps it is the nail in the coffin for several fringe players’ World Cup hopes.
Arguably the biggest story is Perth Glory’s Chris Coyne, who has been overlooked yet again since his move back to Australia despite some decent form in the A-League.
Coyne’s snub is a damning advertisement for A-League clubs trying to lure home Socceroos playing abroad.
Verbeek insisted yesterday he has two options for each position in the squad, so Coyne’s non-selection suggests Matthew Spiranovic and Simon Colosimo are ahead of him in the Dutchman’s mind, along with Craig Moore, Lucas Neill and Patrick Kisnorbo.
It makes you wonder if Coyne will bother seeking a loan deal in January anymore.
But he won’t be the only Australian defender feeling a tad upset today.
Asian-based pair Jade North and Mark Milligan missed out, although it should be noted Verbeek opted not to use any players plying their trade in Asia.
In the case of Japan-based frontman Josh Kennedy, the Dutchman revealed he was given a reprieve after a hectic schedule in the last 18 months following his move from Karlsruhe.
And a similar situation may apply to Milligan, but surely not North, who barely played a game for his Korean club Incheon United in the last six months.
Over in Europe, given the winter breaks for leagues in Germany, the Netherlands, Turkey, Denmark, Croatia and Romania, Verbeek had plenty more names to choose from but opted to continue to ignore a few.
James Troisi, who plays his football with high-flying Kayserispor in Turkey’s Super Lig, hasn’t been selected by Verbeek since 2008’s June World Cup qualifiers and he remains out of favour with the Dutchman.
There are a few other curious Europe-based absentees, such as AZ Alkmaar’s James Holland who appears to have been overlooked in favour of Perth Glory’s defensive midfielder Jacob Burns along with Mile Jedinak and Jason Culina.
It was only in August that Holland made an appearance for the Socceroos against Ireland, yet his lack of first-team action at AZ seems to have cost him.
And I can assure you he is injury-free, having played a full game for Jong AZ last week against a Jong Twente side featuring called-up Nikita Rukavytsya, who too is struggling for first-team games.
Speaking of injuries, there are a few who’ve been ruled out with complaints such as David Carney (shoulder) and Brett Holman (calf), while Turkey-based goalkeeper Michael Petkovic strangely missed Sivasspor’s weekend win at Ankaragucu despite being their regular number one (I should note, I haven’t been able to receive confirmation on his injury status).
Indeed, the race to be one of Mark Schwarzer’s two understudies at South Africa is an interesting one and Verbeek has opted to give three A-League stoppers a chance in Kuwait, ignoring Sweden-based veteran Ante Covic who is currently in off-season.
Danny Vukovic or Eugene Galekovic will certainly get a chance to lay their claim on a seat on the plane to South Africa with their performances in Kuwait.
Nevertheless, speaking to the press yesterday, Verbeek strongly suggested what players do in the next 5-6 months at club level will have a lot to do with his selections.
It puts A-League players at an obvious disadvantage.
But the latest squad announcement and imminent get-together should offer all Socceroos hopefuls an insight into their chances of joining the squad to head to South Africa next year, however positive or negative that may be.
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kordova said | December 23rd 2009 @ 7:06am | Report comment
morning somerford…
its hard to understand the chris coyne situation… when he was called up during the qualifiers he was one of our best players, especially in uzbekistan… jacob burns is a waste of time… how many defensive midfielders can you fit in one team? as for jade north he is very ordinary and doesn’t deserve to be in the national squad…
Mick of Newie said | December 23rd 2009 @ 7:17am | Report comment
This game would have been of value to see one or two fringe players get a start (such as Spiranovic and Vidosic) but only if the rest of the starting team has been involved in the whole campaign.
Unfortunately the absence of Kennedy, Holman and Carney means there will be too many newer players starting (including 2 or 3 with next to no chance of going to SA) for this to be a meaningful world cup trial.
As for what Pim is thinking on his goalkeepers it is anyone’s guess.
For mine the starting line up should be:
Galecovic, Jamieson, Moore, Spiranovic, Wilkshire, Jedinak, Burns, Culina, Vidosic, Sterjovski and Djite
Lu said | December 23rd 2009 @ 7:33am | Report comment
Outside the core 13 or so players in the socceroos, everyone else will be fighting for a squad place. The starting 11 will probably never be rotated so barring injury or suspension fringe players will remain just that, fringe.
A-league players can only hope for Asian Cup places at best and even then they’ll have to be very lucky.. .
It’s a tough situation for all players and coach..
But this is a headache that Australia only has now that we’ve come from the football wilderness. How many decent players around the world never get/got to play for their country at the highest level because they didn’t fit in the national teams mould or just better players a head of them.. Cantona and David Ginola to name a couple.
Eamonn Flanagan said | December 23rd 2009 @ 8:05am | Report comment
Carl Valeri also missing….and the Italians have a break in January. Maybe Jedinak now has the nod.
Eamonn Flanagan said | December 23rd 2009 @ 8:06am | Report comment
Ben it also makes me wonder who would take all these players on loan…no-one seems to be asking that question. Is anyone really out there waiting to take a Brosque or Coyne on loan?
Would we be taking J-League, K-League or Chinese players on loan????..or any other country come to think of it.
AndyRoo said | December 23rd 2009 @ 8:49am | Report comment
People like Michael Bridges were able to get loans to Chinese clubs last year so I think anyone with a Socceroo cap would be a good chance of gettign a guernsy becasue of the plus 1 rule.
Denis Sims said | December 23rd 2009 @ 9:11am | Report comment
Hey Ben, good article but why is it “Coyne’s snub is a damning advertisement for A-League clubs trying to lure home Socceroos playing abroad.”
When clearly there are three others that have come from abroad on the plane.
Especially that his team mate has been picked.
Given Moore has been back for a couple of years he is still on the plane.
So i don’t see how it can be a snub to the A-League clubs??
AndyRoo said | December 23rd 2009 @ 9:36am | Report comment
The fact that Colosimo will be on the plane instead of Coyne because he has been performing better in the A league is a good thing for mine. As is Matthew Kemp getting in by playing well.
A bit disappointed not too see Milligan involved and I guess Lowry is taken as a left back so no room for Zullo… that would have been my bolter.
I hope Tommy Oar gets on the pitch along with Vidosic and Carle he is one of the most entertaining players in the squad.
KB said | December 23rd 2009 @ 9:13am | Report comment
I can’t see that any of our home based Roo-players going on loan deals to overseas clubs working out… I would imagine if they did find a club they would only be bench warmers until the end of the European season or wherever they end up… A better option would be to finish the HAL season in Australia up to March and find a state premier league club anywhere in Australia to go on training and paly until the end of May/June on a free loan deal if necessary, it would only be for a few months in the end in any case…
~~~~~~
KB
Rob said | December 23rd 2009 @ 9:33am | Report comment
Except that the higher the level, the more likely Verbeek will pick you. He has already said that training with the first team in the Bundesliga is better than playing in the A-League. How does that stack up to the State league? Seriously, anyone with serious ambitions to play in the World Cup HAS to go abroad either in January or have a loan deal stitched up for when the A-League ends. Otherwise they are just kissing their World Cup ambitions goodbye.
Con Stamocostas said | December 23rd 2009 @ 9:53am | Report comment
Hey Ben,
This situation with A League players wanting to go on loan is a situation loaded with big if’s!
Does this latest Socceroo selection mean that 15 A League players are now searching for loan moves to overseas clubs?
My question is if it’s so easy for these players to go on loan to overseas clubs why aren’t they there already?
There is a reason they play in the A League.
StrikerX said | December 23rd 2009 @ 9:58am | Report comment
Can I ask, what does Nathan Burns have to do to be spoken about? Is he available? If he isn’t, what does Pim think of him? He has been on loan in Corfu for some time now, playing regular games and scoring consistently. What more does he have to do to be on the radar?
Nathan Burns is without a doubt the best young creative/attacking talent to come through the A-League in its first five years. Have we seen a better performance by an Australian player over that time than his game-changing exploits for Adelaide v Binh Duong in the ACL: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h3u4a5eVb4A
To quote Simon Hill in that clip: “Ladies and gentlemen, you are watching a very special talent”.
Reporters need to start asking serious questions about why more isn’t been done to develop him as a future national team player. His exclusion from the Beijing Olympic squad (in favour of many players who failed to shine or have not gone on to make any sort of mark) was hugely disappointing. Now it seems he is behind many inexperienced A-League players in terms of national team calculations – very undeservedly in my opinion.
On behalf of the Australian football community, I want answers. Now.