The value of foreign-developed players: What Football Australia can learn from Morocco for Socceroos success
Morocco is not the only nation to find success with a large contingent of foreign-developed players - and the Socceroos can join that list.
The ugly spat between Fox Sports pundit Robbie Slater and Socceroos star Harry Kewell has been a stain on the game in Australia.
Both sides have come out of this argument with some form of damage that will not be repaired.
While Slater was a fool to write about gossip in the article, overall his point was right: the new Socceroos coach must wipe the slate clean and rejuvenate the side.
Unfortunately for Kewell, Slater is right, he is not in the frame for Brazil 2014 due to his leg issues.
While Slater has a damaged reputation, Kewell has once again shown his spoilt, rude attitude. Kewell likes to play victim and pretend he is Australia’s love child. The truth is that Kewell is a snide arrogant man who I believe has never given his all for Australia.
When Cahill, Schwarzer, Okon and Neil were busting the boiler to represent Australia, Kewell was making excuses to not make it to camp. He is on video saying he wants to play for England. This was disgracefully tolerated as he had market potential and could play.
However, since 2005 he has not played a dominating game for Australia or for his clubs. Kewell is no longer a match winner and that’s the reason he shouldn’t be picked.
Kewell off the field is a nasty man to deal with. He treats journalists with disdain as they aren’t his personal cheerleaders, and providing him with an ego boost anymore. Kewell also has his manager Bernie Mandic help him do dirty work by sniping at people like Graham Arnold and Mike Cockerill.
Mandic is a nasty piece of work and has obviously rubbed off on Kewell.
So when Hogler Osieck takes Australia to the Asian Cup, leave Harry Kewell out of the side. He is no longer a match winner and he brings a toxic attitude to the team.
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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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