Perth's Wayne Shroj (22) and Sydney's Beau Busch go for the ball during Round 16 of the Hyundai A-League between Sydney FC and Perth Glory in Sydney, Sunday, Dec. 21, 2008. Perth won 4-1. AAP Image/Jenny Evans
Too young, quick, slow, fragile, I’m sure you’ve heard the criticism of the A-League. But with the Socceroos heading to the 2010 World Cup, few fans would expect to see the squad without a pack of A-League players.
Yes, that’s right, the A-League will be sending a host of players to the World Cup. Who would bet against Craig Moore, Chris Coyne, Jason Culina or Mile Sterjovski making the squad.
Add in Jacob Burns, possibly a New Zealand-led Shane Smeltz, Costa Rica’s Carlos Hernandez at the tournament as well, and who knows how many more local boys will make the grade?
Maybe it’s time for the critics to actually acknowledge what the game is achieving and the quality going around.
If New Zealand and Costa Rica make the World Cup, then there will be as many as 10-15 A-League players heading to South Africa.
Add in Robbie Fowler, Archie Thompson, Charlie Miller, and a host of others who have played in international teams, and the signs for A-League growth in quality are clearly increasing.
And while the quality of the league continues to improve, it will be our young players, our first Youth League graduates, now starting to stake their claims at their respective A-League clubs, who will benefit the most.
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Morocco is not the only nation to find success with a large contingent of foreign-developed players - and the Socceroos can join that list.
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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?
