Socceroos coach Pim Verbeek has set some young A-League players an intriguing challenge, including them in a provisional 35-man squad for the World Cup qualifier against Qatar. But he has warned they could be cut if they don’t perform this weekend.
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The Dutchman has named 13 A-League players, with first time call-ups for Adelaide United’s Eugene Galekovic, Robert Cornthwaite, Scott Jamieson and Paul Reid on the back of their Asian Champions League quarter-final success.
Sydney FC’s Shannon Cole is the bolter, earning his first call-up after just six A-League matches.
The 24-year-old dead ball king was still playing in the NSW state league with Sydney Olympic two months ago.
He had spent years travelling around the world looking for an opportunity — from Israel to America to New Zealand — but had no luck.
Then Sydney FC caught wind of his extraordinary set-piece abilities, as well as his solid all-round game, and eventually offered him his first professional contract.
The versatile defender/midfielder has taken the opportunity with both hands, already scoring twice in the league — his first a trademark, curling free kick.
Today’s announcement continues his meteoric rise.
“It definitely came as a shock, as much to me as it was to everyone else I think,” Cole said.
“If you’d asked me — or anyone else in the country — a couple of months ago if I would ever play for the Socceroos, I think you know what the answer would have been.
“It’s still all sinking in. It is very strange how much has happened in such a short time.”
Verbeek is likely to cut players from the squad even before it assembles for the first time in Brisbane next Wednesday, saying this weekend’s matches could serve as a final audition.
“I had to make up my mind and I decided to make quite a big squad at the moment because so many things can happen and I will reduce the selection after the weekend,” said Verbeek.
“It depends how many players are fit and my impression of, especially, the A-League players because I will be here.
“Those guys I have on the list now have to show what they can do under pressure and the pressure is that they know now that they are in the spotlight. We will see how they handle that.”
Cole welcomed the challenge ahead of Saturday’s clash with Queensland at the Sydney Football Stadium.
“Hopefully it won’t be in my mind at all because it’s a massive game for Sydney and I have to go out and do my best for the side anyway,” said Cole.
“I suppose that’s the reason I caught Mr Verbeek’s eye in the first place so I’ll try not to change anything.”
None of the current Socceroos regulars can really lay claim to being a set-piece specialist and Verbeek said Cole’s traits were very attractive.
The coach added, though, that Cole would need to show much more than that to be considered.
“He’s come more or less out of the blue to play every game in a good squad. If John Kosmina has confidence in this player … then he must have something special,” he said.
“That’s what I saw. He’s a good age, an interesting player.”
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