Not much has been made about the shock announcement of Mark Schwarzer’s sudden retirement from international football.
The 41-year-old custodian flew the flag for the Socceroos on 109 occasions and was expected to play on until the World Cup.
While Schwarzer in his prime was one of the best in the English top flight, it was noticeable that his reactions were beginning to do him injustices that his 748 match career does not deserve.
The Sydney born keeper will look to play out his career at Premier League big boys, Chelsea, where he will serve as a cover for club hero Petr Cech.
The reason why commentators have not been quick to cry out the perils of the Socceroos is because there is a promising crop of keepers doing the business in Europe and in the A-League and while Schwarzer would rarely be to blame for any poor Socceroos performance, many would say some of these names should have been given starts for a number of years now.
Ange Postecoglou has a number of headaches in regards which players will make his 23-man squad. The goalkeeping department is no different for the for A-League super coach, who will have to narrow down the list of gloveman to three.
Of course it is extremely rare for any goalkeeper other than the first choice to be seeing an action at major tournaments, but who Ange takes will leave a bearing on who is Australia’s top three glove man.
Here are the goalkeepers that Ange will have in mind for this year’s World Cup.
Mitchell Langerak
The former Melbourne Victory keeper is second fiddle to club vice captain, Roman Weidenfeller at last seasons Champions League finalists, Borussia Dortmund.
He has 16 appearances for the Rhine-based club and by all reports Jurgen Klopp is a massive fan of Langerak who he says “adds a great atmosphere to the team”.
Langerak featured in the notorious friendly against France which finished in a six goal thumping however many saw Langerak as a victim of average defending rather than poor keeping.
The 25-year-old will look to nail down a spot in the Australian squad ahead of the World Cup in order to be first on the team sheet against Chile.
Eugene Galekovic
Adelaide United’s captain has been consistent for many years now without being outstanding. This is something very much in favour of a goalkeeper who bare the brunt of the criticism if they were to concede a “soft” goal.
At 32 with over 170 games in the A-League, Galekovic has experience on his side and could be a safe option for Ange to lock into one of his three goalkeeping allocations.
The Melbourne-born shot stopper who has eight Socceroos caps to his name was a late inclusion in the 2010 World Cup squad due to Brad Jones withdrawing from the squad due to family illness.
Danny Vukovic
A very solid presence in the Perth Glory goal, Vukovic as only 28 still has his best years ahead of him. Born in Sydney, Vukovic featured significantly in the international youth set up but is yet to earn a full Socceroo cap despite a handful of squad inclusions.
A certain outsider to making the cut however if he was to get the call up, it wouldn’t be a total surprise as he still has higher aspirations and the ability to play at a higher level.
Adam Federici
Long touted as the successor to Mark Schwarzer’s throne, Federici has gone off the boil at Championship side Reading with only a handful of matches this campaign.
The four seasons prior he was a big part of Reading’s plans and seen as one of the top keepers in the English Football League though some high profile errors in the club’s return to the top flight saw him replaced by youngster, Alex Mccarthy.
Second choice in the 2010 World Cup, the 29-year-old won’t be too far from Postecoglou’s reckoning as he scouts for the Socceroos next number 1.
Mat Ryan
What an exciting prospect. At only 21, Ryan has three seasons of A-League football under his belt and has started his European career in exceptional fashion for Belgium outfit, Club Brugge with 20 consecutive league starts in his 25 appearances for the club.
The club has already offered the Socceroo a lucrative contract extension as a clear sign that they know they have a goalkeeping gem in their ranks.
Akin to Tottenham and France keeper Hugo Lloris, as he is a goalkeeper not afraid to come of his line to clear the play, something that shows confidence in a keeper’s game.
Ryan has four caps for the Socceroos and is one of the favourites to pull on the number one jersey in Brazil.
Brad Jones
The 31-year-old is the second choice keeper at Premier League giants, Liverpool and while he isn’t challenging for selection, when called upon he does a solid job.
Jones has three caps for the Socceroos and was a part of the 2010 World Cup squad only to be forced to withdraw due to family illness. Theoretically picking a second choice keeper wouldn’t be the worst move for Ange Postecoglou.
The mentality to a second string keeper to be able to adjust his mind and slot into the game may be a plus that could increase Jones chances of selection.
Mark Schwarzer
You just never know, the Socceroos could do worse than the Premier League leader’s second best goalkeeper.
My selection for the World Cup in no particular order is Mat Ryan, Adam Federici and Mitchell Langerak.
It will be interesting to see who Ange goes with as his three keepers and even then the battle for the number one jersey is sure to be interesting. Who do you think will be Postecoglou’s number 1?
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