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Australian Socceroos' new coach Holger Osieck. AAP Image/Dean Lewins
We knew it was coming, but when Tommy Oar wasn’t named in the Socceroos squad for the Asian Cup, it didn’t make it any less annoying. Instead, while the Aussies are in camp in Qatar next month, Oar will be in the middle of the Eredevisie’s winter break.
FC Utrecht’s last game was a Europa League group stage tie, on December 15, against Liverpool at Anfield. They’re not back in action until the 19th of January.
His absence is both entirely necessary and completely avoidable.
When Qatar won the right to host the 2011 Asian Cup it took full advantage of a FIFA ruling allowing confederation events to be hosted in either January or July. January was predictably chosen due to the fact that your thongs stick to the sidewalk in Qatar in July (unless the sidewalk is air-conditioned).
Add that to the long list of things FIFA need to change immediately.
What sense does it make for a confederation event to be staged in the middle of the season for the majority of the leagues in the world?
This isn’t a continuance of the anti-Qatar campaign.
Half of Chelsea’s squad goes missing when the Africa Cup of Nations is held. It’s ridiculous.
Oar has fallen victim to poor scheduling.
The left-winger has produced some impressive displays for Utrecht and he has a bright future in Europe ahead of him. But leaving in the middle of their season is career suicide, and Socceroos coach Holger Osieck has done the right thing by leaving him out.
Tim Cahill can afford to leave Everton in the lurch because manager David Moyes would get the sack if he ever tried to transfer him. The Toffees faithful would riot in Stanley Park.
But the 19-year-old Oar is fighting for first team football and isn’t as fortunate as his compatriot.
If Oar left for a month or more, his manager Ton du Chatinier would no doubt find another youngster and focus on him. It’s harsh, but that is the way the football world works.
We haven’t seen enough of the former Brisbane Roar star in the green and gold. He should’ve played at the World Cup, but that was one of many mistakes Pim Verbeek made while in charge.
Sooner or later the cotton wool will have to come off and Oar will have to deal with the Harry Kewell-like hype.
Now, unfortunately, is not that time.
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