Fringe Socceroo Matthew Spiranovic has strengthened his claims for a Socceroos call-up after scoring the first goal in Urawa’s 4-1 romp over Shonan Bellmare.
After an even first half that saw the teams go into the break at 0-0, Spiranovic broke the deadlock with a flying header in the 56th minute, his first goal for Urawa since he joined the club in January on loan from FC Nurnberg.
The goal broke the shackles for Urawa, who have been in free-fall with only one win in their last 10, with substitute Escudero scoring just seven minutes later. Just over 15 minutes later Brazilian striker Edmilson then put the game out of reach with two goals in two minutes.
The win will ease the pressure on under fire coach Volker Finke, with rumours surrounding his future put on hold for another week.
Spiranovic, who struggled for game time early in the season, restricted to games in the Nabisco Cup, has now started in Urawa’s last seven games and seems to have cemented his spot in the middle of the Urawa defence.
After the off-season loss of Japanese international Tulio Tanaka to rivals Nagoya Grampus, Spiranovic looked like a natural replacement. However a small ankle injury just before the start of the season, couple with Urawa’s winning form and Finke’s resistance to change a winning line-up, thwarted Spiranovic’s claims for a spot in the side.
But having proved his ability to get forward and get on the score sheet, a feature of Tulio Tanaka’s game, Spiranovic now has a firm grip on the position.
With the Socceroos in action again in just 12 days against Switzerland and with new coach Holger Osieck set to announce his squad in the coming week, Spiranovic, who was left out of the squad for the Slovenia game earlier this month to sure up his spot in the Urawa side, will almost certainly be called up for just his fifth cap for Australia.
With the departure of Craig Moore leaving a vacancy in the middle of Australia’s defence, and with Osieck, an ex-Urawa coach himself, just starting his reign, Spiranovic could not have timed his run of form any better.
Ben of Phnom Penh
Guest
I don't think it's the goal that brought him back into the frame; it's the fact he's finally cracked the Urawa starting 11.
Ben
Guest
I can not see why Spiranovic scoring a goal really pushes his case for selection as a defender. But its good to see him getting gametime lately, but it must be noted Urawa have been struggling the last few weeks/months coinciding a bit with his entry in the first eleven. That's not to say I don't think he should be picked. In fact, I'm a huge Spira fan and when I lived in Germany, really rated him when watching him play for Nurnberg. But I think we need change that culture about us. We don't hear and see alot about players playing abroad and how they're actually going and I find we're too quick to judge players simply because they score a goal, particularly defenders and I remember a big huff being made about Kisnorbo after he scored a couple of goals. But again, maybe Spira's doing really well, but we don't know and it's silly to simply assume he is because he scored a goal.
NY
Guest
Not a bad squad. Spiranovic and Jedinak for me are two key players of the future as they will take the spots of Moore and Grella who probably extended their national team careers a little too long. I also hope we can replace Neill soon. I don't have a lot of faith in him at this stage of his career..
Ben of Phnom Penh
Guest
Not really. I'd like Valeri and Jedinak to have more time to gel together and the smaller squad provides a better chance for players such as Spiranovic, Vidosic and Burns to have some decent game time.
Ben of Phnom Penh
Guest
The J-League breaks for international fixtures.
Rellum
Roar Guru
Only Burns and Spira added to the World cup old boys, which is a little disappointing. Small squad though, so hopefully some new/younger players will be added to the team in the lead up to the Asian cup. Espicially if some of the euro boys will be unavaliable.
General Ashnak
Guest
What in the good name is North doing in the squad again?
Mega
Guest
He's in. Socceroos squad for September friendlies: Michael BEAUCHAMP --Melbourne Heart, Australia 22 (1) Nathan BURNS --AEK Athens FC, Greece 2 (0) Tim CAHILL --Everton, England 42 (21) David CARNEY --FC Twente, Netherlands 28 (3) Jason CULINA --Gold Coast United, Australia 52 (1) Brett EMERTON --Blackburn Rovers, England 75 (17) Adam FEDERICI (gk) --Reading FC, England 2 (0) Richard GARCIA --Hull City FC, England 10 (0) Brett HOLMAN --AZ Alkmaar, Netherlands 35 (4) Mile JEDINAK --Genclerbirligi SK, Turkey 13 (0) Josh KENNEDY --Nagoya Grampus, Japan 22 (7) Harry KEWELL --Galatasaray SK, Turkey 46 (13) Scott MCDONALD --Middlesbrough FC, England 16 (0) Lucas NEILL --Galatasaray SK, Turkey 60 (0) Jade NORTH --Tromsø IL, Norway 29 (0) Mark SCHWARZER (gk) --Fulham FC, England 79 (0) Matthew SPIRANOVIC --Urawa Red Diamonds, Japan 4 (0) Carl VALERI --U.S. Sassuolo Calcio, Italy 26 (0) Dario VIDOSIC --FC Nurnberg, Germany 8 (1) Luke WILKSHIRE --FK Dinamo Moscow, Russia 46 (2)
Nelson
Guest
Good article< Dasher. Though I wonder if he'd be hesitant of the call up right at this minute if it means he misses an Urawa game? But hopefully we'll see him and other young players like Adrian Leijer (who was roundly praised as best player in Olympic qualification) in the NT in the very near future.
punter
Guest
One of the young ones that we really hope come on for the future of the Socceroos.
AndyRoo
Roar Guru
Huge relief he's getting game time and looking like one of our most important prospects for 2014. Just stay healthy please.