The Socceroos have qualified for their fourth World Cup, but only just, and it was more of a test than many people would have liked, with the side finishing second behind Japan.
No one can argue that the team lacked creativity on occasion, sometimes hopelessly playing long balls towards Tim Cahill, particularly when Mark Bresciano was injured.
Imagine if the Socceroos had another player like Bresciano, who could play that killer pass to almost perfection, or pull off a bit of brilliance like Harry Kewell.
The Socceroos do have a young gun by the name of Tommy Oar, who has been absolutely brilliant at times, but at other times very ordinary. He needs to mature a bit more, and his role in Brazil could be more that of an impact player.
I believe the answer to this problem is a man who played professionally in Germany for 10 years, and in fact, was born there.
That man is Brisbane Roar’s playmaker Thomas Broich. In 2014, Broich should be eligible for Australian citizenship, although he played for Germany’s U-21 side and two games for Germany B, and should he choose to join the Socceroos, would be a great addition.
Broich is a player who was once dubbed ‘Germany’s next big thing’ and a ‘bearer of hope’ for Germany’s national side, along with Bastian Schweinsteiger and Lukas Podolski.
Therefore, as soon as he becomes eligible, Holger Osieck should beg if needed for Broich to play for the national team, as his passing game could be just what the Socceroos need.
One could list the multiple reasons why Broich is world class and deserving of a spot, but all you have to do is look him up on YouTube, or watch the documentary about him titled ‘Tom meet Zizou’.
Broich at least deserves a shot, even if he will be 33 by the time the World Cup arrives. He’s definitely earned it.
Dudek
Guest
Would've been very handy at brazil
Benjamin
Guest
He's not eligible to play for Australia under the current regulations. He must have been eligible to play for Australia at the time he made his appearances for the German U21 team. Which he wasn't. Same story with Troare. Move on.
Shanen Taylor
Roar Rookie
??
lee hyun
Guest
Post moderated. Please stop posting comments in favour of your own article. Thanks, Roar mods.
Scotty Moz
Guest
Who wouldn't love to see Broich playing? and it is possible as is Germano, Cassio, but Boschaart might not be? I would love to see Neumann play as an adelade utd fan, or even Henrique... or McFlynn ;)
It worked well
Guest
It worked well for german born smeltz an NZ...
Liam
Guest
Got a link Andrew? we need him for sure with no more Harry...
Dan_32
Guest
Tommy Oar is a player of the future, at Utrecht he has been playing a CAM role, maybe time to drop Holman? and play Thomas Broich in a Harry Kewell spot, or even drop the CDM all together since no one has been super consistent there and play a more flamboyant style with 2 CAMs a CM a RW and a LW? good article!
Dan_32
Guest
Also, I believe Connor Pain has a dual Australia and Hong Kong passport, having not yet been capped at Australia at senior level (although picked recently) could HK nab him?
Dan_32
Guest
I think holger oseick needs another push to try and get Gulum before turkey do and also Adama Traore, We NEED players like this! personally, I think Traore will choose Australia over CIV. (hopefully)
Andrew
Guest
AFIK, Broich has said that Australia is his home now and is considering naturalising. Would be massive for the Socceroos.
KATY
Guest
He's better than bresciano!
thankyou
Guest
Yes! Great read and he is elligble.
lisa
Guest
DEFFINATLEY AGREE :D bring on rio
Griffo
Roar Guru
It is a bit grey if you ask me - the rules talk about "A" internationals for the senior men's team (ie: not friendlies, not U23/Olympic team, not U21, not U20)... ...and there is a difference between having dual passports at birth (best example I can think of is Ersan Gülüm for Australia/Turkey), and moving to another country and in time taking up citizenship when you don't have that passport in the first place (either immigrating, refugee resettlement...) - whether you play in youth teams or not for your birth country. So the rules talk on one hand about being capped and ellegibility for the senior national team, but also about the scenario of changing nationality and ellegibility for your adopted country. The current rules stemmed from Sepp Blatter's (infamous?) comment on not wanting to see a world cup where teams were composed of ex-patriot Brazilians - hence the ellegibility for your adopted country only after you have lived there continuously for 5 years after your 18th birthday, you gain citizenship, and you have not played in an 'A' international for your original country's senior team. So Gülüm, still uncapped by Turkey AFAIK and having played for U23 Australia, can still play for Australia or Turkey, while Traore, having played U21 level for Côte d'Ivoire holding no passport for Australia, can be ellegible for Australia senior men's team after living here continuously for 5 years, gains an Aussie passport, and plays better than all the other of his (future) Aussie compatriots and gets selected - as long as he doesn't play for Côte d'Ivoire on a WCQ or continental qualifier.
Victory24_7
Guest
would love to see broich playing, who else though? could germano? or boschart? maybe even cassio play?
Matt
Guest
NO WAY! bersiha could play, broich is my pick
Michael
Guest
what about boschart!
Michael
Guest
I think once he gets his passport he should be able? I also think germane (heart player) wants to play and should be eligble too
Ian
Guest
on another article where the conversation went to traore playing for australia another poster put in a comment about playing at under 21s for a country makes that player inelgible to play for another country UNLESS they held a passport for the other country at the time they played under 21s. they had quoted the fifa rules. perhaps that is one to look up. i don't know how that works in with the 5 year rule that has been quoted above. maybe the 5 year rule comes into play so to speak after 5 years if a player is trying to play for a 2nd country where they weren't a citizen to begin with when they played for the other country.