- Video
-
Club Roar
Captured a great grassroots sporting moment? We want to see it!Content Collections
The Roar Community
- Join
- Login
Much conversation has been had about who will make up the Socceroos squad for the World Cup. One subcategory that often comes up is which A-League players will make the team, and if they are good enough to face the best in the world.
This time around, the A-League could have it highest number of Socceroos with players from every club (except Wellington Phoenix, for obvious reasons) gunning for a spot in Ange Postecoglou’s 23-man squad.
Here is the rundown of each club’s biggest hope of making the cut.
Adelaide United – Michael Zullo
Bursting onto the scene with Brisbane Roar in 2008 as a winger, Zullo is now on loan to Adelaide United from Dutch club, FC Utrecht.
Zullo, 25, has evolved into a fine prospect as a wing back and has had the occasional flutter in the national set up with 10 Socceroo caps over the last five years.
With left back one of the weakest areas in the Socceroos team, Zullo could very well be lining up against Chile in June.
Brisbane Roar – Ivan Franjic
Franjic has really come of age in recent seasons, becoming a vital part of the Brisbane machine and a genuine target of many European clubs.
Capable at right back, right wing and central midfield, 26-year-old Franjic could play a significant role of the bench for the Socceroos. Not to say you need any more incentive to perform for your nation, but solid performances in Brazil could see a sizeable cheque being handed to the Brisbane Roar.
Central Coast Mariners – Eddy Bosnar
Eddy Bosnar has played in some big league in Europe and Asia and now finds himself at A-League Champions, the Mariners.
Bosnar, 33, is an imposing figure who is known for powerful free kicks and crucial slide tackles and could be the perfect foil for the Socceroos at this World Cup at the centre of defence.
Melbourne Heart – Harry Kewell
The band wagon to see Kewell feature in Brazil has had a bumpy couple of weeks with a niggling toe injury keeping him from being match fit.
Nevertheless, the reasons to include Kewell in the squad is lengthy with Kewell able to offer much needed; creativity, experience and leadership to a Socceroos side in desperate need of all three.
Providing no serious injury, Kewell, 35, should be one of the key figures for the Socceroos at the tournament.
Melbourne Victory – Mark Milligan
The Victory captain was tipped with a move to English Premier League club, Crystal Palace at the start of the season, a clear signal of his worth.
Milligan, who has 26 caps for the Socceroos, is just as dominant in the midfield as he is in any of the back four positions.
Milligan would surely be in his former manager’s plans and is even a long shot for the captains armband if Lucas Neill does not feature in Brazil.
Newcastle Jets – Adam Taggart
The 20 year old striker who has pace to burn has continued to make a case for himself for World Cup call up with nine goals to his name this season.
Despite his young age, Taggart featured for the Socceroos on four occasions during the East Asian Cup, scoring three times. Admittedly the opposition in Brazil will be of much higher calibre than Chinese Taipei however with not a huge number of strikers screaming for selection, the Perth born Jet has to be considered.
Perth Glory – Michael Thwaite
Thwaite is arguably the most consistent defender in the A-League after returning to Australia after spells in Romania, Poland and Norway.
With a wealth of experience and 13 caps for the Socceroos to his name, Thwaite may find a way into Postecoglou’s squad. His ability as a ball player would not go unnoted by tikkatakka Ange.
Sydney FC – Sasa Ognenovski
One game in for Sydney FC and he is already their player of the season. The mammoth at the back came onto the international scene later in his career at the 2011 Asian Cup and despite going walkabout in the Middle East for the last two years, the 2010 Asian Player of the Year is shaping to be the key defender for the Socceroos in Brazil.
The 34-year-old “Ogmonster” will be hoping to add to his 22 Socceroo caps and secure a spot for Brazil and next year’s Asian Cup.
Western Sydney Wanders – Matthew Spiranovic
It has taken a few years and some long distance phone calls from Germany and Japan but finally, Spiranovic, the much touted future leader of the Socceroos is fulfilling his potential.
There is little doubt that “Spira” has been taken under the wing of coach Tony Popovic (former Socceroo defender himself) this season and could see this season as the turning point of his career.
The lumbering defender is promising to make the centre back position for the Socceroos his own this year and making Ange’s job for the next five years much easier.
Of course there is numerous other players who are seriously in the reckoning for the Socceroos World Cup adventure and some clubs will probably end up have a few players fly to Brazil. This is great news for the A-League, eight years after only three A-Leaguers made the cut for Germany, potentially in excess of 10 could run out in Brazil.
The marker is well and truly set, the A-League, lollipop league no more.
Are you the ultimate team manager? Pick your own superstar team and go head to head with other football fans for glory and cash prizes on Draftstars. Imagine what you could be buying instead. Set a deposit limit.