Brazil is just around the corner and our qualification is done. We now must look to a squad which we can take to that World Cup in order to challenge at the group stage and beyond.
1 – Mark Schwarzer
There is no way you can’t include this man. He’ll be 41 when the tournament comes around and although he wont be able to beat Roger Milla’s record, the way he’s going Schwarzer may even be there for the 2018 tournament. He is unbeatable this man and has seldom been away from the Australian goalposts for almost 20 years.
2 – Lucas Neill
The captain of the team, Neill has proved his consistency in the middle for the national side and his partnership with Ognenovski in recent games has proved extremely effective. A natural leader, Neill has to find a club sometime soon, but with his recent form, it shouldn’t be too hard.
3 – Ryan McGowan
Young and versatile across the back line, McGowan is not your usual starting player, but a great player to have in the squad. He has played every single match in the Chinese Super League so far, even getting a goal in. He is very effective and his youthfulness means he is only going to grow further.
4 – Tim Cahill
One of the best jumpers and headers in the game, he rises above them all and gets a lot of goals for Australia. When used as a striker he is effective and when he is positioned as a supporting striker or attacking midfielder he is a beast. There is no way you cannot have this man in the squad. Arguably the best outfield player of his generation.
5 – Mark Milligan
Versatile as well, he has played well recently, down the middle of the pitch. Partnering up with Jedinak, Holland or Bresciano, he works well both protecting the defence and pushing the ball forward. It is a big role to take on in the team, but Milligan is the man for the role.
6 – Sasa Ognenovski
Extremely impressive during the latter part of Australia’s qualifying campaign, his last ditch tackles and blocks, have saved Australia on more than one occasion. A senior member of the squad he has become the main offset of Lucas Neill, the two developing a firm partnership down the middle of Australia’s defence.
7 – Terry Antonis
The former Sydney FC wonder kid has what it takes to be a solid Socceroos player in the future. A contract with Parma, will give him the chance to play alongside Antonio Cassano and against some of the best defenders in the world in the form of Chiellini and Bonucci. He should grow from where he is now at an incredible rate. Watch this space.
8 – Luke Wilkshire
A reliable right back for Australia in the past few years now, he gets forward as well, defends well but also has an incredible free kick hitting ability that has given Australia quite a few good goals on more than one occasion. One of the unsung heroes of the squad, he has racked up more than 100 appearances for Dinamo Moscow and more than 70 for Australia.
9 – Josh Kennedy
He saved Australia’s skin during the qualifiers and hopefully it is a sign of a surge in form. He is one of the only strikers that Australia can effectively use with Archie Thompson proving inconsistent and Robbie Kruse dominating the wing. He has a good eye for goal and Australia may need him to step up for them.
10 – Robbie Kruse
A powerhouse down the wing, he has proved to be a pivotal part of Australia’s new found pace up and down the wings. Playing on the right hand side, he has had several great chances and has an impressive dribbling ability which could see him getting on the score-sheet very regularly.
11 – Tommy Oar
Oar has seldom had a chance to prove himself on the big stage but was given that opportunity recently and didn’t he deliver. Normally a super sub, he has cemented himself a position in Australia’s starting line-up scoring a beautiful cross-come-goal. He will continue to blossom and at only 21, he has so quite a lot of growing to do.
12 – Mitchell Langerak
On three occasions last season, he was given the reigns of the Borussia Dortmund goal. During the Champions League Final, were something to happen to Weidenfeller, Langerak would have been in the goal for Dortmund. He is so close to playing a massive game and every game he featured in last season, Dortmund won. He deserves a Socceroos cap and between him, Ryan and Izzo, the future of Australia’s goalkeeping is in safe gloves.
13 – Jade North
If Neill or Ognenovski were to somehow become unavailable for a game, North is the ideal player to replace them. He is solid and would form a great partnership with either Neill or Ognenovski. Another older player, he certainly has the ability to be a senior player in the squad.
14 – Brett Holman
No longer playing for Aston Villa, he played well for Australia recently and is a good substitute for a miss firing Cahill or an off-form winger. He loves taking a long shot and they normally work out well, he is a true force for Australia.
15 – Mile Jedinak
One of the best players in the current generation of Socceroos, his recent own goal was incredibly unfortunate given how well he dominated the midfield, protecting and distributing with an incredible amount of energy and vigour. He should be starting for Australia at the World Cup and this season will hopefully prove himself playing Premier League Football.
16 – James Holland
Playing almost every game in domestic competitions for Austria Wien, he and Jedinak partner well together, each complimenting the other’s style of play. He was another unsung hero of Australia’s recent campaign and should dominate the midfield well in games to come.
17 – Matt McKay
What Luke Wilkshire can do on the right, Matt McKay can do on the left. He and Oar play very well together and this makes the transition from defence to attack far smoother and much more deadly. He is normally a midfielder but plays very well at left back, his versatility giving him a certain edge over others.
18 – Eli Babalj
A young striker, Babalj is ready for bigger things. He has two goals in two appearances for Australia and although they both came during the 9-0 victory over Guam, he has played well for Australia in the youth ranks. His height gives him a considerable advantage and it’s time to give him more chances.
19 – Rhys Williams
Another great versatile player who can step up in the defence or seek a start in the midfield. He has played well for Middlesbrough and racked up over 100 appearances in the process. Another young player, ready for bigger things, Williams deserves to be in the squad almost without question.
20 – Tom Rogic
“Where did this guy come from?” Rogic is now at Celtic and has just shot his way through the football world. In 2011, he was just another kid, vying for a spot in the Nike Football Academy and in two years, he was winning Man of the Match awards with Scottish giants Celtic, the same team that toppled Barcelona 2-0 during a Champions League game. He will be a superstar in the years to come.
21 – Aaron Mooy
Solid domestically, he was one of the stars of Western Sydney’s campaign, and with a call-up certain for the next Socceroos squad, he should look to become a bigger part of the Australian squad for whom he has scored two goals in two matches.
22 – Matt Ryan
Destined for greater things, he is something special and is incredibly solid but must prove himself against greater opposition. He commands his box well and I look forward to hearing great things about this guy.
23 – Mark Bresciano
Bresciano is just solid. He is a fan favourite and the amount of noise the fans make for him, lifts the entire team. He has been there since 2006 and is still delivering strong performances. Whilst the rest of the team may be being overrun by a younger generation of Socceroos, Bresciano still plays with such an ability, that it is impossible not to include him in the squad.
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