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Experience, youth, depth. The Socceroos are convinced they now have all three key ingredients in sufficient quality and quantity to make an impression on next year’s World Cup finals.
For now, those who criticise the Socceroos for being an aging squad have been silenced.
The experienced players – Lucas Neill, Mark Schwarzer, Sasa Ognenovski, Mark Bresciano and Tim Cahill – have all played key roles at vital times in the matches against Japan, Jordan and Iraq.
A quorum of youth has also emerged for coach Holger Osieck to dot among his veterans.
Robbie Kruse, Tommy Oar and Tom Rogic have lit up various points of the trio of qualifiers to book Australia’s place in Brazil.
All will be a year older come the World Cup start on June 12 next year – a good thing for the young players, questionable for those with birth certificates from the 1970s.
Bresciano is convinced the past few weeks have shown Osieck now has a starting 11 that can be relied on, and a squad that has answered the queries about depth and youth.
“It was the same 11 that played all three games, and it’s probably the best team on the park at the moment,” Bresciano said.
“That was a key factor, I think. It’s important to have that consistency.
“When you play together, gel together as a team, it helps a lot.
“But the people who’ve come off the bench have given us a great hand.
“It does show we have depth in this team. We do rely on everyone. And everyone should be ready, because they never know when their time will come.”
Those who deride Australia as too old a side will point to one statistic.
If Australia’s starting 11 from the 1-0 win over Iraq front up in the first group game in Brazil, their average age will be over 31.
Yet the experienced players remain critical. For all the jokes about Zimmer frames and arthritic bones, no one has yet been able to prise their positions from their grip.
For Kruse, Oar and Rogic, game time for their European clubs over the next year is essential for both their development and that of the Socceroos.
The most intriguing question is Harry Kewell’s role, if any.
With just three matches in the past 12 months, he hopes the upcoming A-League season for Melbourne Heart will launch him back into the national team frame.
The three positions he can fill are currently well covered.
Oar attacks down the left, Brett Holman and Rogic lead the options as attacking midfielder or No.10, while Cahill leads the line.
Kewell’s relevance is just one of many decisions Osieck faces.
Some will be made for him – 12 months a relative lifetime in football terms.
Most, including Kewell and forgotten Socceroos veteran Brett Emerton, will need careful weighing up as he chooses his 23-man squad for Brazil.
HOW THE SOCCEROOS SELECTION PICTURE SHAPES AHEAD OF BRAZIL
Goalkeepers
Should go: Mark Schwarzer
In contention: Adam Federici, Mitch Langerak, Eugene Galekovic, Mat Ryan
Australia is blessed with the incumbent, and blessed with the talent behind him. Schwarzer will be 41 come Brazil, and if he finds the right new club, is a certainty. Two others will join him, and all in contention would be excellent choices.Fullbacks:
Should go: Luke Wilkshire, Matt McKay
In contention: Jade North, Michael Zullo, Ryan McGowan, Jason Davidson, Aziz Behich, Ivan Franjic, Rhys Williams, Adama Traore
Wilkshire is a lock. Converted McKay has made a compelling case during the qualifiers, and Holger Osieck says he’s Australia’s best left-back right now. The wildcard is Melbourne Victory’s Adama Traore – if the Ivory Coast-born left fullback earns Australian citizenship and FIFA clearance. Big ifs, but he rockets into contention if it happens.Central defenders
Should go: Lucas Neill, Sasa Ognenovski
In contention: Michael Thwaite, Robert Cornthwaite, Trent Sainsbury, Curtis Good, Matthew Spiranovic
The 30-something central defence pairing have earned first crack for Brazil. Back-up will be critical here, and holding midfielder Milligan’s versatility means he can also play in the heart of defence if needed. Good has an ideal opportunity at the under-20 World Cup to state his case.Holding/central midfield
Should go: Mark Milligan, Mark Bresciano, Mile Jedinak, James Holland
In contention: Carl Valeri, Aaron Mooy
Probably the easiest in terms of squad selection, with the number Osieck chooses the only query. Milligan and Bresciano head the queue. Jedinak plays Premier League next season, and Osieck rates Holland big-time. If Valeri comes back strongly from injury next season, his 2010 heroics should win him a spot. Western Sydney’s Mooy is a real talent.Attacking midfield/No.10
Should go: Brett Holman, Tom Rogic, Robbie Kruse, Tommy Oar, Alex Brosque
In contention: Dario Vidosic, Brett Emerton, Harry Kewell, Adam Sarota, Richard Garcia, James Troisi, Terry Antonis
No question that barring injury, the first five go to Brazil – Brosque also able to double-dip as a striker. Kewell and Emerton – stalwarts for so long – are the big queries. Will they fit the picture, and will they have strong enough A-League seasons?Strikers
Should go: Tim Cahill, Josh Kennedy, Archie Thompson
In contention: Nikita Rukavytsya, Adam Taggart, Eli Babalj
Kennedy’s critical header against Iraq and height ensure he’ll be at a third World Cup. Cahill obviously goes, and Osieck loves Thompson as an impact player. Brosque – or even Kewell – may negate the need for others, though Newcastle Jets’ Young Socceroo Taggart is highly rated and could be a bolter.
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