Ange Postecoglou is on fast-track mission to create some depth within the Socceroos set-up, just four months out from the Asian Cup.
With the 2014 World Cup behind us and Asia’s showpiece event on home soil just five months away, there is no time to waste. For friendlies against Belgium and Saudi Arabia in Europe coming up next month, Postecoglou has named a 20-man squad.
There was some experimentation with the team as the head coach seeks to cast his net far and wide.
The squad is: Terry Antonis (Sydney FC), Joshua Brillante (Acf Fiorentina), Tim Cahill (New York Red Bulls), Jason Davidson (West Bromwich Albion), Ben Halloran (Fortuna Dusseldorf), Chris Herd (Aston Villa FC), Mile Jedinak (Crystal Palace FC), Tomi Juric (Western Sydney Wanderers FC), Robbie Kruse (Tsv Bayer 04 Leverkusen), Mitchell Langerak (Gk B.v. Borussia 09 Dortmund), Matthew Leckie (FC Ingolstadt 04), Massimo Luongo (Swindon Town FC), Mark Milligan (Melbourne Victory FC), Tommy Oar (FC Utrecht), Mat Ryan (Gk Club Brugge Kv), Trent Sainsbury (Pec Zwolle), Brad Smith (Swindon Town FC), Carl Valeri (Melbourne Victory FC), Alex Wilkinson (Jeonbuk Hyundai FC), Bailey Wright (Preston North End FC).
There were a few surprises, a couple of players with injury clouds over them and also five players in line to make their Socceroos debuts. In a squad of 20, that’s a large number and creates some excitement.
Skipper Mile Jedinak and talisman Tim Cahill are the old heads, providing leadership and experience. With Mat Ryan and Mitchell Langerak in goals, World Cup squad members Alex Wilkinson, Tommy Oar, Mark Milligan, Massimo Luongo, Matthew Leckie, Ben Halloran and Jason Davidson are there to add some familiarity.
Carl Valeri, now with Melbourne Victory, gets a recall after a long absence from the national team and so does Robbie Kruse after his return to fitness. Those in line to make their debut include Wright, Trent Sainsbury, Brad Smith, Tomi Juric and Chris Herd.
Hopefully Herd, the player who has probably been called up to more Socceroos squads and never played than any other in the past, has sorted out his off-field issues and is ready to go. The Aston Villa utility is also eligible for Scotland and his versatility across several positions in midfield and defence is definitely needed by Australia.
Brad Smith is also eligible for another country, in his case England, and the speedy left back will add depth to that often troublesome left-side defensive area.
Sainsbury would have gone to the World Cup if it had not been for injury, the same as Kruse, while Brilliante just missed the cut. The bearded former Newcastle Jet has since moved to Italy and is doing well, by all accounts.
Juric has also impressed in the recent All Stars game and in the Wanderers Asian Champions League quarter-final win, and he brings a certain muscular presence to a lightweight attack.
Eli Babalj, now at AZ Alkmaar, is another forward who come into contention before the end of this year.
Only four A-League players out of 20 selected is not a surprise considering its long off-season. The European season has begun while Australia’s is another two months away.
With Smith at left back, Herd or Brilliante at right back, Sainsbury or Wright partnering Wilkinson in the middle, it will be a very different Socceroo defence than the one who shipped in nine goals in Brazil. With no Matt Spiranovic, Ivan Franjic, Curtis Good or Rhys Williams available now, depth is desperately needed in defence.
Belgium and Saudi Arabia will present good opposition in these matches, especially the Belgians who reached the quarter-final of the World Cup.
The Socceroos will also take on the UAE and Qatar in October, with another two games at home expected in November before the Asian Cup kicks off.
Six games is a few, but not a whole lot, to strengthen a squad that was light in Brazil. Postecoglou will want to build on the potential that was unearthed in South Africa and he is going to the Asian Cup to win it.
Competition for places is what needed and it is not too late for the likes of Cameron Burgess, James Meredith, Ryan Edwards, Adam Federici, Luke Brattan and others to force their way in come January.
Follow John Davidson on Twitter @johnnyddavidson
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