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By loading the World Cup squad with twenty-somethings, Ange Postecoglou has confirmed that a key priority of next month’s tournament is giving experience to a core of players in readiness for the Asian Cup in 2015 and Russia in 2018.
Twenty-four of the thirty players are aged in their twenties, and are therefore of the age profile to be around in 2018.
Of the six elder statesmen included, Eugene Galekovic is a reserve goalkeeper and Matt McKay, Luke Wilkshire and Josh Kennedy could all struggle to make the reduced 23, let alone be on the pitch for kick-off against Chile in Cuiaba.
Postecoglou has chosen a squad based on form and match fitness rather than past deeds. Interestingly, of the fourteen players used in the critical win over Iraq that sealed qualification, six aren’t even in the thirty for Brazil.
They are Lucas Neill, Mark Schwarzer, Sasa Ognenovski, Brett Holman, Archie Thompson and Robbie Kruse. Only one of those – Kruse – misses through injury. Even the identity of coach has changed.
Will any side in Brazil be more different to the one that got it there, than Australia?
As Postecoglou stated today, “We needed to regenerate the team and we that started that process pretty much from the day I was appointed.” That is a good thing.
Nineteen of the thirty have yet to reach double-figures in caps. Twelve of the preliminary squad are aged 23 and under. For Group B comparison, the Netherlands selected thirteen under-24s, Chile selected three and reigning champion Spain selected five.
With Guus Hiddink at the helm in 2006, Australia had one of the fittest teams at the tournament. Our best hope in 2014 is to be in the similar condition. Postecoglou has selected a group of young, match-fit players who will need to do plenty of running without the ball in the South American warmth, as our opponents will surely dominate possession.
Many of the names are new to the ears of casual football observers. Aside from those in the A-League, only Mile Jedinak appears regularly on Australian TV.
The excellent Mat Ryan (aged 22) is likely to be the number one keeper and will be a key player at the busy end of the pitch. He is one of many who will have up to 270 minutes to put themselves firmly in the shop window of top European clubs.
It’s difficult to pinpoint which seven will be culled when the final squad is announced. Josh Brillante will probably be one, and Mark Birighitti stands out as the fourth keeper, therefore surplus to final requirements. Then again, a trait of Postecoglou’s coaching is a habit of surprising, and he knows a lot more about the condition of these players than we do.
It will be fascinating to see what happens next.
Squad: Mark Birighitti, Oliver Bozanic, Mark Bresciano, Josh Brillante, Tim Cahill, Jason Davidson, Ivan Franjić, Eugene Galeković, Curtis Good, Ben Halloran, James Holland, Mile Jedinak, Josh Kennedy, Mitchell Langerak, Mathew Leckie, Massimo Luongo, Ryan McGowan, Matt McKay, Mark Milligan, Tommy Oar, Tom Rogic, Mat Ryan, Adam Sarota, Matthew Špiranović, Adam Taggart, James Troisi, Dario Vidošić, Alex Wilkinson, Luke Wilkshire, Bailey Wright.
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