Since Ange Postecoglou took over the Socceroos, they have been attempting to play an uptempo, more exciting brand of football.
So far that has been achieved when compared to the ‘sit back and bore your opposition into submission’ football of predecessor Holger Osieck, but the Achilles heel of recent results has been the finishing touch.
Tim Cahill aside, the Socceroos have struggled to find a consistent source of goals. Captain Mile Jedinak has chipped in, but whenever Cahill is missing, the Socceroos become almost toothless.
Plenty of names have been thrown up as possible solutions to the Roo’s woes in front of goal.
Mathew Leckie showed great promise in Brazil, Josh Kennedy’s game is up there, while many believe Cahill has the years left in him to lead the national side at the AFC Asian Cup.
Enter the hero whose goal ultimately secured the Asian Champions League trophy for his side, the Western Sydney Wanderers, on the weekend. Enter Tomi Juric.
The 23-year-old striker is the man I consider our best bet to lead us into January next year, and well and truly beyond.
His goal, coming off the bench, in the first leg of the Wanderers Asian Championship final was brilliantly taken, but his overall performance was match winning.
The fact he won man of the match despite coming on halfway through the second half shows just how much he dominated the game.
His presence was enough to worry the largely untested Al Hilal defence from the get go. He won a foul that allowed the Wanderers their first real opportunity to break the deadlock.
The run he made to beat both the defence and keeper to the ball to poke it home was every bit as brilliant as a major cup winning goal should be.
He almost had a second, after singlehandedly tearing the Al Hilal defence to pieces, only to be denied by the woodwork.
Although Ante Covic will be remembered, and rightfully so, as the player of the tournament, the Wanderers would not have been able to lift that trophy if it had not been for Tomi’s striking instinct.
Juric has featured five times for his country, and already has an international goal. At just 23, Juric still has more than 10 years of football ahead of him, and I strongly believe the best is yet to come.
After spending the majority of his early career playing in Croatia, since his return to Australia it has been his starring performances in the A-League that have put him firmly in Socceroos contention.
It was his goal against Al Hilal that broadcast his name across the continent. Unfortunately for fans of the Wanderers, it may only be a matter of time before Juric heads back overseas.
For now though, Juric will be the main target of a Wanderers midfield hoping to lift the A-League trophy in the same year as they lifted the Champions League crown.
If he continues to boss defences as he did at times last season, there is absolutely no doubt in my mind he will be in the squad come January.
The Socceroos need to find goals from somewhere other than the head of Tim Cahill, and in Tomi Juric they have just that source.
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