We did it! When we embarked on this journey, everyone thought it was going to be easy, like it was four years ago.
But as we all know, it took a lot of late goals, not just yesterday but throughout the campaign, to get the job done. Nevertheless, the job is indeed done and we are there. It’s time to celebrate but in a few days’ time, Holger, the FFA and the players need to start looking towards Brazil.
A year is a long time in football and there is no guarantee the squad or the starting 11 from last night will be the ones on the plane to Brazil. So the question is, what is our starting 11?
The call from Foz over on SBS was to blood the youngsters with a core experienced group from now throughout the World Cup until the Asian Cup and make winning that our focus. We should indeed take our best team to Brazil because our best team is the youngsters with a core group backing them up.
Starting at the back, Schwarzer is the tentative choice. This might sound crazy but our 2005 hero is no certainty. He’s currently club-less, so who knows if he will end up in a top league or if he even will be first choice keeper?
Plus, the competition for spots is the strongest in the goalkeeper position. Both Ryan and Langarak are excellent keepers and if either of them is playing as first choice next season with their clubs, they will certainly seem more attractive to Holger than a second choice Schwarzer.
The back four is a big problem for us and, quite frankly, a complete change would not be such a bad idea. The problem, of course, is who can we replace them with? There is no one coming through the ranks at the moment at least, so back Neill, Wilkshire and Ognenovski to retain their places.
The left-back spot is the one defensive position up for grabs. Expect Zullo to try and change clubs for more game time to push for selection and cement the spot as his own from Matty McKay.
He seems to have coped with a lot of slack but he has performed really well – at least better than McKay during the games he has played – so he should get the nod. The other possibility would be Traore if the government can get his citizenship expedited.
Moving into midfield and it’s a complete change from the last three games, starting with Jedinak to take over from Milligan. A year in the Premier League with Crystal Palace, against a lot of the opposition he would face in the World Cup, will further develop him and give him great experience, thus making him the best option. There is talk of Milligan moving to Europe before next season which could change the situation, but for now let’s stick with the Jedi Master.
Next in is Rogic for Bresh. This is a like for like replacement. Rogic is one of the three high profile up-and-coming players with an amazing touch and great passing ability; he will fill Bresh’s role easily.
Holman goes out for Cahill. Even though we play him as a striker, Timmy is a midfielder whose strength is drifting into the box to attack headers. We need him in the team even at his age, but we have better options up front so this is where he could best improve the team.
Out wide are the two rising stars of the past three games, Kruse and Oar. Kruse is better than Oar but he is the one more in doubt. Moving to Bayer Leverkusen could have repercussions for Kruse if he does not get the game time. They have recruited another rising star from South Korea in his position, so who the first choice will be is still to be seen.
Oar is playing every week for FC Utrecht and is easily our best choice in that position. For the striker, Jesus Josh Kennedy is the obvious choice. Provided he is fit, he is our best out-and-out striker. Both Kruse and Oar like to get to the line and cross in, so having tall timber up front and Timmy arriving late will be our best bet.
Many many things could change in this year but for now this is the starting 11. What’s yours?
—————-Schwarzer———————
Zullo—Ognenovski —Neill—–Wilkshire
——————Jedinak————————
———Rogic—————Cahill————
Oar————Kennedy————–Kruse
Squizz
Guest
The starting XI will depend on the draw and the start of the group. The 23 Mark Schwarzer Adam Federici Mitchell Langerak Matt McKay Michael Zullo Lucas Neill Rhys Williams Trent Sainsbury Ryan McGowan Luke Wilkshire Shane Lowry Mark Milligan Marco Bresciano Mile Jedinak James Holland Tommy Oar Harry Kewell Tom Rogic Brett Holman Robbie Kruse Archie Thompson Joshua Kennedy Tim Cahill Average age of 28 (better than last World Cup) with an experienced spine. Six or 7 retirements after the World Cup and /or Asian Cup and the regeneration needs to happen in earnest.
Yoloswag
Guest
Can't see Zullo going to the World Cup. Matt McKay will be playing left back for me. Schwarzer Wilkshire Neill (c). Ognenovski. McKay Bresciano/Jedinak Milligan/Valeri Kruse. Holman/Rogic/Cahill/Kewell. Oar/Kewell/Thompson Cahill/Kennedy
Michael
Guest
Schwarzer Wilkshire, Neil, Milligan, Williams Jedinak Bresciano Kruse Oar Cahill Kennedy I know there are some controversial position changes at the back but Jedinak will be (probably) the only Australian playing regularly in the EPL this year, so he needs a spot. Milligan won't let anyone down at the back and he's a more mobile choice than Ognenoski who looked pretty bad against Iraq, who were average going forward anyway. I don't know how much Williams has played left back but despite his supposed poor form (I don't watch much champs myself) he's still a regular player with plenty of talent. Wilkshire gets the nod because who else, and Neil will play regardless.. In midfield Bresciano is probably the biggest question mark and it'll depend on how his year goes, but there are plenty of people who could fill that role, e.g Holman, Rogic, Holland, Valeri (remember him?) Other than that, Cahill shouldn't play lone striker as a few people have said. Kennedy has been pretty prolific in the J-League and he never lets anyone down when he plays for Australia.
Cameron
Roar Guru
That's a huge difference pete 4... I don't know what led you to choose that team but each to their own. A year is a long time and you just might turn out to be a genius. I'll take note. :)
Cameron
Roar Guru
Top Secret, I guess time will tell, perhaps you might have to apologise? ;) Funny thing is though...this one hit wonder or in your case 'blunder' that you speak of... Is chosen by the man you effortlessly defend! Go figure...
Top Secret
Roar Pro
Do you Nevilles really think opposition fullbacks are going to lose sleep over one hit wonder Robbie Kruse?
Passionate_Aussie
Roar Rookie
Depending on fitness, form and structure of the national team I would have to say Jedinak would be well suited to the positions of CM, CDM, CB. He's very tight defensively and has become well known at Crystal Palace for being a great workhorse.
Jukes
Guest
I would go the other way Ben. Put Milligan as the holding Midfielder and Jedinak who is a beast in the air as your CB.
Cameron
Roar Guru
A very enjoyable 12 months ahead... I think we'll all keep our eyes open on our Australian overseas players.
Cameron
Roar Guru
I like Milligan and he won't give up his spot easily either, but with Jedinak playing in the EPL, if Palace do alright and he does too, it would be hard to imagine him not wrestling the starting position from Milligan. Whatever the case it will make our players step it up knowing a world cup spot is on the line or up for grabs.
Patrick Hargreaves
Roar Guru
Yeah, I agree, that it moronic. Is Kennedy playing out wide? Jedinak is ordinary? Captained a team to promotion, better than most. My team would be Schwarzer Wilkshire - Williams - Neil/Ogmonster - Traore Rogic - Jedinak Kruse Cahill Oar Babalj/Kennedy. Ryan, Holman, Milligan, Herd, Rukavytsa, Neil/Ogmonster, Babalj/Kennedy
Ben of Phnom Penh
Guest
Personally I can see Milligan fitting in back there and Holland/Jedinak fighting it out for the screening role
Greg
Guest
Thanks for the link, its a very interesting article. Thanks also for previous referral to Australian Football PRSS. We will not get slaughtered playing Neil & Og, but will have to set our defensive line very deep. Do we really want to do that? Will be interesting to see what our back 4 looks like in 12 months time.
Fussball ist unser leben
Roar Guru
Very useful "Top 50 list" from FoxSports Football Editor, David Weiner. I don't agree with all the names, but a very useful exercise http://www.foxsports.com.au/football/socceroos/who-has-the-inside-running-as-the-socceroos-book-their-ticket-to-the-2014-fifa-world-cup-in-brazil/story-e6frf4l3-1226666888757#.UcKP-Njf3PR What the list highlights is the depth of talent that is available. And, we haven't even seen the u20 team in Turkey. 1. Tim Cahill 2. Robbie Kruse 3. Marco Bresciano 4. Lucas Neill 5. Mark Schwarzer 6. Mark Milligan 7. Tommy Oar 8. Sasa Ognenovski 9. Tom Rogic 10. Archie Thompson 11. Brett Holman 12. Luke Wilkshire 13. Mile Jedinak 14. Matt McKay 15. Josh Kennedy 16. Mitch Langerak 17. James Holland 18. Dario Vidosic 19. Michael Zullo 20. Ryan McGowan 21. Alex Brosque 22. Jade North 23. Ivan Franjic 24. Eugene Galekovic 25. Michael Thwaite 26. Robbie Cornthwaite 27. Chris Herd 28. Shane Lowry 29. Rhys Williams 30. Adam Federici 31. Carl Valeri 32. Trent Sainsbury 33. Aaron Mooy 34. Nikita Rukavystya 35. Matthew Spiranovic 36. Mat Ryan 37. Adam Sarota 38. Matthew Leckie 39. Nikolai Topor-Stanley 40. Scott McDonald 41. Richard Garcia 42. Craig Goodwin 43. Curtis Good 44. Luke DeVere 45. Aziz Behich 46. Corey Gameiro 47. Bradden Inmann 48. Erik Paartalu 49. Brett Emerton 50. Harry Kewell
Franko
Guest
It's not so much the remarks as the two-days without sleep after the CL final and then returning to training expecting to make the cut. Not on.
Passionate_Aussie
Roar Rookie
The problem for Australia is we do not have enough quality footballers to fill each important position in the squad. This makes altering tactics much harder and our play tends to rest with one style. Do we continue to alter the team, chop and change... Or do we just continue as is?? These players will only age even more and injuries to our more experienced veterans could spell the end to their international carers. LB, CF, RB, CAM still need work. We have the players to play those positions but even the ever reliable Cahill is out of position. McKay is even better at CAM Or CDM then LB... Many problems to still sort. I'm glad we have a year to go.
Ben of Phnom Penh
Guest
It's not a part of the FIFA calendar and hence international clubs are not compelled to release players (though this is different for clubs within the participating federations as the federations can compel player release). Some clubs may elect to allow their players to participate if it is a fringe player who they believe could benefit from some game-time however most will not as they will be in the midst of their pre-season. That is why Holger made the comment to Zrilic after the Iraq game that in the EAFF Cup he will be selecting a number of the players that the media have been clamouring for.
Ben of Phnom Penh
Guest
He did make some rather ill-advised public remarks which he probably now regrets. At the end of the day Okon is no muppet and Amini was given ample gametime to display his wares.
Brendo
Guest
Ben Where did you see that ? Will be very disappointing if that is the case.
Franko
Guest
The former showed a complete lack of respect for the NT and needs to prove himself.