Alarm bells are now ringing about Craig Moore’s form leading into the World Cup. His performances for Brisbane Roar in the past few weeks must have shaken even his most ardent supporter in Socceroos’ coach Pim Verbeek.
Against Central Coast, his miss-hit back-pass gifted the Mariners a goal and spoke of heavy legs and a player struggling to cope with the rigors of three games in seven days. But it hasn’t just been this one mistake that has Socceroos fans more than worried.
Moore has, on occasion, been found out by his lack of pace. Then in Brisbane’s second half capitulation against Gold Coast United, Moore and his teammates were exposed time and time again – getting dragged out of position, ball watching and, unforgivably, failing to track the league’s most lethal striker, Shane Smeltz, in Brisbane’s own penalty area.
Ever since the 2006 World Cup, the Socceroos have searched for the answer to who will partner Lucas Neill in the middle of defence. Michael Beauchamp, Jade North, Roddy Vargas, Robert Cornthwaite, Adrian Madaschi have all been brought into training camps and enjoyed a measure of game time, but for good reasons aren’t in Verbeek’s thoughts of late.
Chris Coyne, who admirably filled the breach during the Socceroos’ World Cup qualification campaign, will do well to remain in contention if he can overcome recent injury problems as well as negotiate a club move in the January transfer window.
While Simon Colosimo has now been given a chance to “show himself” (as Pim would say), Patrick Kisnorbo, Mark Milligan and Matthew Spiranovic are perhaps front-runners for a World Cup defensive berth along with Moore.
But rewind to the start of 2009, and I have to ask – was a realistic solution to the Socceroos defensive conundrum in Sasa Ognenovski prematurely discarded by Pim? Looking at the list of candidates that have been unable to establish themselves, and the events that have transpired since, I would have to say that Pim was too hasty in writing off Sasa as a Socceroos prospect.
Fairly or unfairly, Sasa is an unfashionable player. He suffers from not being brought through Australian national youth teams and from playing predominantly in the NSL and state league football until going to the Queensland Roar in 2006.
His aggression, and sometimes volatility, on and off the field is also perceived as a liability by some. His public spat with Pim earlier this year after repeatedly being overlooked for Socceroos squads was ill-considered, and may have burnt his bridges. Pim commented at the time that Sasa was “too old” (Sasa is 30), clearing the way for Sasa to pursue an international career with the country of his heritage, Macedonia.
Putting aside all that, Sasa has been an intimidating presence at each of his past three clubs and brought them success. He can take much of the credit for Adelaide United’s remarkable run to the Asian Champions League final in 2008. Aurelio Vidmar’s counter-attacking strategy, to a large extent, relied on Sasa’s resolve at the back.
Adelaide hasn’t been half the side since Sasa’s departure this year to K-League club Seongnam Ilhwa Chunma, where he is managed by former Queensland Roar assistant coach Shin Tae-Yong, who clearly recognised the value Sasa could bring to his team, which progressed to the K-League final this year with Sasa making 40 appearances in the league and cup competitions.
Have the stars now aligned for Sasa to make a late run for the Socceroos’ World Cup squad? Sasa remains uncapped by Macedonia (despite being named runner-up Macedonian player of the year in 2008). He has remained injury-free and will be playing regular high level football in the K-League in 2010.
The World Cup may have come 12 months too late for Moore. And most importantly, the Socceroos’ World Cup group could be tailor made for Sasa. Let’s not kid ourselves, Germany, Ghana and Serbia are physical and powerful teams.
In many respects, the Socceroos face a physical battle unsuited to a player such as Simon Colosimo. Whereas Sasa, standing at six foot five inches, and never taking a backward step, could be in his element, particularly up against the Serbian striker Nikola Zigic, who stands at a towering six foot eight inches.
Pim, isn’t it time to SOS Sasa?
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