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Ange Postecoglou’s 30-man squad is set to be named next week, and with Lucas Neill reportedly left out, that leaves up to between seven and ten defensive positions open for the taking.
The problem is, though, no-one has taken them.
Matthew Špiranović, Australia’s supposed bright light in a gloomy Brazil campaign, has proven better in central midfield than in defence.
His mistakes in the final against Brisbane Roar were costly, and ultimately it was he responsible for marking Besart Berisha when the Albanian struck in extra time.
Špiranović is a good defender, but every striker that he will come up against in Brazil is twice as lethal as Berisha – a scary thought as we near the World Cup.
Ivan Franjić can sometimes struggle with his defensive duties, though loves to get forward and attack.
Curtis Good hasn’t played since the Ecuador match due to injury, though is apparently now fit. Ryan McGowan has been deployed at left-back when he has played in recent weeks, and Trent Sainsbury is still struggling to recover from his freak knee injury.
Bailey Wright, Tomislav Mrčela and Alexander Jovanovic all sound like great defenders playing week-in, week-out for their clubs, but they have no international experience at all.
In fact, Jason Davidson and Alex Wilkinson are the only regular starters in recent weeks from Postecoglou’s first-choice defenders. Good luck to him indeed.
Perhaps Davidson – who started his career as a centre-back – would be the best choice for now in the centre, with Ryan McGowan or Micahel Zullo coming in at left-back.
Whatever the case, a list of 30 names will be released next week – 23 of which will go to Brazil.
My list looks like this:
Goalkeepers
M. Ryan, M. Langerak, B. Jones, E. Galekovic
Defence
C. Good, M. Špiranović, I. Franjić, J. Davidson, M. Zullo, L Wilkshire, Alexsander Jovanovic, Alex Wilkinson, Ryan McGowan, J. Brillante
Midfield
M. Jedinak, M. Milligan, J. Holland, M. Bresciano, L. Brattan, J. Troisi, T. Rogic, O. Bozanic, M. Luongo
Attack
T. Cahill, J. Kennedy, M. Leckie, B. Halloran, T. Oar, D. Vidosic, A. Taggart
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