Last week Ange Postecoglou named his preliminary 30-man squad for next month’s FIFA World Cup.
In doing so, he stated, “(it) has been selected with form and fitness as key indicators as well as having one eye on the future.”
Adding to this he admitted, “We face a formidable challenge in Brazil but it is also a big opportunity and we head to the World Cup with no barriers as we look to write a new chapter in our rich football history.”
It is important to remain realistic about Australia’s chances in Brazil, without too great a compromise to positivity and support. Yet the fact remains that the tournament’s group stage presents immense challenges in both of 2010’s finalists and a very good Chilean squad.
It is a task I’m willing to suggest is, though exciting, simply too great.
While the Socceroos could very possibly leave the tournament without a win, the true measure of their success I believe will be how well this young team come together as a playing group.
With the limited opportunities that national teams have to play together, the tournament in Brazil is the perfect opportunity for this young bunch to prepare themselves for the 2015 AFC Asian Cup.
After placing runner up to Japan at the 2011 tournament, the Australians must believe that they are a genuine chance to take the title on home soil next January.
If the Socceroos can approach Brazil ‘with no barriers’, as Postecoglou is urging them to do, and the players can adopt the plans that he has in place for them, then victory at the Asian Cup is a real possibility.
And if that were to become a reality, with the current average age of the team at 25.5 and certain to drop once the likes of Tim Cahill, Mark Bresciano and Josh Kennedy hang up the boots, who knows what successes a young, confident and cohesive Socceroos squad could go on to achieve?
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Even though St.Pauli ultimately lost a high-scoring affair, Jackson Irvine was a standout, as well as scoring a late goal.
What if we celebrated all of the achievements big and small, and weeded out those hell-bent on bringing down a game that is doing a hell of a lot right?
A good performance from Michael Ruhs, scoring twice to beat Macarthur and doubling his season goal tally in the process.
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