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Socceroos should cash in on Brazilian connections

26th November, 2015
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Brisbane Roar's Brazilian, Henrique, is nationalised and ready to make his Socceroos debut.
Expert
26th November, 2015
17
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Football in Australia over the last week has emanated a depressing tale, so where better to draw happiness from than the home of jogo bonito, Brazil.

The South American powerhouse has produced too many superstars to name, so much so that many of their players have found international stardom through adopted countries.

Deco played for Portugal, Thiago Motta for Italy, and Marcos Senna was a crucial cog in Spain’s rise to the 2008 European Championship. One of the world’s most talented playmakers, Thiago Alcantara, is a naturalised Spaniard, as is Chelsea’s Diego Costa, while Real Madrid’s Pepe turns out for Portugal.

So what if Australia could naturalise a Brazilian – for the second time in history – capable of improving the current Socceroos squad?

Enter Brisbane Roar’s Henrique.

The 30-year-old forward may not seem like an obvious choice at first glance, but after contemplation a call-up starts to make a lot more sense for a player who was naturalised last month.

Henrique has scored 33 goals and laid on 15 assists in 114 A-League appearances, which is a pretty decent return once you factor in his injury troubles. He exploded into form during his 2009-10 debut season, contributing three goals and six assists in 18 appearances.

Though injuries prevented him consistently terrorising defenders, the Brazilian has proved his big-game composure during Brisbane Roar’s championship-winning years of 2010-11 and 2013-14.

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First he scored in the final against Central Coast to kickstart a remarkable comeback, and he then repeated the feat with an extra-time winner against Western Sydney. Both goals came off the bench.

And it is in that capacity that Henrique may give Ange Postecoglou and the Socceroos something they do not currently possess – a quality option off the bench that can change a game.

It is a skill not many players can boast, but one which Henrique undoubtedly possesses. In fact he has a fair few tricks that no current Socceroos forward currently boasts.

Tim Cahill is undoubtedly our main man, and he combines drive and determination with predatory skills and an aerial threat. Yet he cannot dink past defenders like Henrique can.

Mathew Leckie has pace and his outside-of-the-foot crosses have been honed to perfection. Yet the Ingolstadt flyer still needs to work on both his finishing and first touch, a skill Henrique will never lose.

Nathan Burns has been a valuable member of the Socceroos team, but most of his runs end with a collision. For all his quality he will never be a superstar goalscorer, certainly not a number nine.

And despite the hype, Tomi Juric has not delivered on his potential thus far, and needs a lot more work before you can consider him a replacement for Cahill up front. Henrique does most of his damage from out wide, but he can play as a centre forward.

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The Socceroos need goals outside Cahill, especially in games where a breakthrough is looking unlikely. Henrique has the potential to provide that boost from the bench, to provide passion, skill and composure.

His return after a long injury layoff has already started brightly, with two goals arriving in recent weeks in a substitute role.

The first was an emotional 74th minute winner over Perth Glory, Henrique using his pace and bravery to poke past Ante Covic after latching onto a lovely Javier Hervas flick. After such a long spell on the sidelines Henrique couldn’t help but let out a few tears – there is the passion.

His second was even more sublime, as he struck late on to equalise for Brisbane in a 1-1 draw with Melbourne City.

Thomas Broich deserved the majority of plaudits for his deft turn, vision, and chip to set Henrique through on goal, but the Brazilian-Australian’s first touch and finish were equally spellbinding – there is your composure and skill.

Henrique does not have to be a starter for the Socceroos, but he would be a worthy option off the bench. His enthusiasm and charisma would also make a fantastic addition to an already tight Socceroos group.

The Brisbane boy is extremely intelligent, a tough opponent to mark, has a canny ability to conjure something from nothing and he is still at a good age at only 30.

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The Roar’s Shane Stefanutto, despite sporting a man bun that isn’t even a man bun, made quite a lot of sense last weekend in his Brazilian teammate’s name forward. Mark Bosnich and John Kosmina have also supported Henrique’s international call-up.

Thirty years is not too late for Henrique, developing and blooding our youth is fantastic but only if there are quality options available.

Right now, there are no clear options that can realistically replace Cahill from the bench. The only young forward with a legitimate case is Jamie Maclaren, incidentally Henrique’s teammate at the Roar.

Maclaren is another who should be called up for a Socceroos training camp, but he also has time on his side. The 22-year-old’s immediate concern is ensuring the Olyroos qualify for the Rio Olympics after a barren period. Following his hopeful participation in a major international competition, Maclaren should be introduced to the Socceroos.

But the time for Henrique is now.

The Socceroos’ next competitive match is in March, but hopefully there are some friendlies upcoming between now and then. It would be a nice time to give Henrique a call-up, if he keeps his form going.

Before his injury last season Henrique was on fire. He had scored seven goals and assisted two more in a 10-game period. In his last 17 A-League games he has converted 10 times.

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It sounds like the form of a Socceroo contender.

The next few weeks will be pivotal for Henrique as he completes his return from serious injury. If he continues to bang in goals consistently it is going to be hard for Postecoglou to ignore handing out another debut. The Slippery Socceroo, it could work.

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