With this week’s two World Cup qualifiers away to Oman and Thailand likely to garner safe passage to the next phase, it’s perhaps a good time to look back over the opening three qualifiers and assess the players that have really progressed their cause under Holger Osieck.
While the likes of Sash Ognenovski, Neil Kilkenny, Robbie Kruse and James Troisi have made significant breakthroughs since the German came on board, and others like Rhys Williams and Adam Sarota have been thereabouts lately, this list focuses on those that advanced their case against Thailand, Saudi Arabia and Oman;
Matt Spiranovic
While Sash Ognenovski was Osieck’s initial chosen one in the then problem centre back spot when he took over, the younger Spiranovic appears to have just moved ahead of him.
Hitherto, Spiranovic has played the two home qualifiers and Ognenovski the one away.
While Ognenovski has been consistent and dependable, the move towards Spiranovic appears to be in keeping with Osieck’s desire to regenerate the Roos 11.
Looking more and more comfortable with each outing, the thing Osieck appears to value about Spiranovic is his greater comfort at carrying and moving the ball.
Michael Zullo
While the adaptable Matt McKay played the opening qualifier against Thailand at left back, since then it’s been the FC Utrecht youngster, and he’s barely put a foot wrong.
On the road, away to Saudi Arabia, he was excellent, and while his role against Oman in Sydney was a little more withdrawn, he is quickly gaining experience at this level.
With Osieck seemingly recognising that McKay is more valuable higher up the pitch after the opener, Zullo should expect plenty more game time over the next three matchdays.
Sterner tests await in the next phase, but Zullo will take plenty of confidence into it, and by then his Roos caps tally should be 11.
Carl Valeri
Under Pim Verbeek and previously under Osieck, it would be fair to argue Valeri was always behind someone in the pecking order, whether Jason Culina, Vince Grella or Mile Jedinak.
Now, it appears he has gone to the head of the central midfield queue, used with Kilkenny in the opening game and Jedinak in the two since.
In the second half, against Thailand, Valeri’s aggression was significant in helping the Roos out of a sticky position.
What appears to have got him ahead of Jedinak at this stage is a more efficient passing game.
Matt McKay
While he was already making a great impression before the qualifiers, in the past two games McKay has continued to demonstrate how valuable a part of the 11 he now is.
Playing on the left side of Osieck’s four man midfield, McKay tucks in-field and is often found driving into the 18 yard box, both on the ball and off it, invariably looking to link with team-mates.
Even at left back, in the opener, it was McKay’s drive in the second half that lead to the equaliser, while his cross set up Brosque’s winner.
While comfortable out wide, one of the interesting posers for Osieck over the remaining three games, and even in the next phase, is whether to try McKay in the centre of midfield.
Josh Kennedy
In the first half of the opening game in Brisbane, Kennedy was largely static, comfortably handled by the Thai defence as the Socceroos knocked a succession of ineffective crosses into he and Tim Cahill.
Osieck must have had a word at the break.
Since then Kennedy’s shown a dimension not normally associated with his game, and one that we rarely saw under Verbeek; mobility.
By dropping off the forward line, into midfield, opening space for others, taking a touch and re-joining the top line, Kennedy has shown some great touches, complimenting the work of either Brett Holman or Alex Brosque.
As well, he is proving quite the predator, his Roos tally now 15 from 28, including four in the qualifiers.
Brett Holman
While Holman became a key figure under Verbeek, he is now well and truly one of the first names on Osieck’s team-sheet.
Particularly effective away from home, when the opposition are pushing on and he has space to exploit the opponent the other way, Holman has been among the best in each qualifier.
While he isn’t the type to put his foot on the ball and crack a deep-sitting opponent with a defence splitting ball, what he brings is a remarkable workrate, making a penetrating run to pull an opponent out of shape, or pressing them high to pinch the ball and set up a swift attack.
Alex Brosque
While he only came off the bench late against Thailand and Oman, it was his influential cameo in the opening game, leading the Socceroos defending from the front, pouncing for the winner, which no doubt advanced him in the mind of Osieck.
Ahead of the Oman qualifier he also impressed against Malaysia. Again, it was his pressing from the front and movement that featured, and at this stage of the campaign he appears to have moved alongside Kruse as an up-front back-up option.
At the very least, Osieck knows he can be relied upon to get the job done.
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