Ange Postecoglou has restored a sense of pride to the Socceroos missing under Pim Verbeek and Holger Osieck. That, more than specific personnel, is what matters most from his provisional squad selection.
That Postecoglou is no slave to reputations is demonstrated by the fact the likes of Mark Schwarzer, Lucas Neill and Harry Kewell will be watching the tournament from afar.
In a squad screaming out for regeneration, Postecoglou has been ruthless in lopping several tall poppies from a tired looking outfit.
Of those who remain, Luke Wilkshire, Mark Bresciano, Tim Cahill, Josh Kennedy and Melbourne Victory skipper Mark Milligan will all feature at their third World Cup.
Kennedy, who hasn’t played a J. League game for club side Nagoya Grampus since April 19 due to injury, was invariably picked for his prowess in the air, while Postecoglou is no doubt also sweating on the fitness of new skipper Mile Jedinak.
Yet it will be left to a host of new names to try and revitalise a team which shocked the world by reaching the Round of 16 in Germany in 2006.
Newcastle Jets goalkeeper Mark Birighitti is likely to be the first name cut from the provisional squad, though the Jets custodian can reasonably expect to feature at the Asian Cup next year.
There was plenty of conjecture around the inclusion of Preston North End defender Bailey Wright, with some fans implying that playing in the third tier of English football did not warrant Wright’s inclusion.
Yet League One is a much tougher competition than the A-League and if Postecoglou’s mission is to regenerate the national squad, then Wright’s inclusion makes perfect sense.
His selection means that experienced Jeonbuk defender Alex Wilkinson is probably sweating bullets, particularly after his shaky cameo in Australia’s recent 4-3 friendly defeat to Ecuador.
Of all the names listed in midfield – and Oli Bozanic, James Holland, Massimo Luongo and Adam Sarota have all benefited from solid campaigns in Europe – Tom Rogic is perhaps the luckiest to make the provisional squad.
Postecoglou is no fan of players resting on their laurels – just ask Brett Holman – and Rogic’s inclusion after an injury-riddled loan spell at Melbourne Victory is a nod to the future, rather than a reward for current form.
Rogic is likely to force his way into the 23-man squad as the sort of fleet-footed player who can unlock a compact defence, but it’s safe to say his career hasn’t quite panned out as expected since he left the Mariners.
It’s up front where a most familiar face will lead the line, with the nation’s top goal scorer Tim Cahill set to be Australia’s key man in a squad with an average age of just 25.
He could be supplemented by a couple of tearaway German-based strikers, with Mathew Leckie and more recently Ben Halloran turning in some impressive performances in the Bundesliga’s second division.
That means Newcastle Jets striker Adam Taggart could be the unlucky man to miss out, although this year’s A-League Golden Boot winner should come into contention for the Asian Cup should he maintain his club form next season.
But what’s more important than the actual players Postecoglou selected, is the fact that the four-time domestic championship-winning coach has restored some pride to national team proceedings.
For all their supposed coaching abilities, Verbeek and Osieck neither knew about nor cared enough for the sort of traits which Australians prize in their national teams.
It’s one thing to play conservatively, but entirely another to appear to throw in the towel before a ball has even been kicked.
That’s not going to happen under a coach who has no reason to try and protect his CV.
The Socceroos may struggle to make it out of the group stage in Brazil, but at least under Postecoglou we have reason to believe our national team is heading in the right direction.
For the World Cup Draw, World Cup squads and opinion, check out our World Cup page.
NUFCMVFC
Guest
People seem to forget he floored the first group Then the ageing players caught up with the performances The draw wasn't kind, with obscure away trips to the Mid-east People in this country don't realise it isn't very practical to play jogobonito stuff with midweek qualifiers in obscure places right in the middle of the league seasons where players have a couple of days in camp then have to fly out It really is often a matter of just getting the result and getting on with it at times
peterhen
Guest
After doing so bad?? We lost 4-0 to a world powerhouse and suddenly verbeek failed?? You guys have waaay to high expectations of our level. Do you thing the argies threw everything out???
Reginald Bomber
Roar Guru
No, you wouldn't change the team in the middle of the tournament. I meant start planning for the transition. After doing so badly it was obvious Verbeek wasn't the right fit and a search for a new coach should have started then. That was the time to make wholesale changes and start blooding the newer generation and give them confidence. Selecting a wholly new look team and manager 3.5 weeks out from the WC and giving Ange 10 days and 2 practice games to put together a team to beat Chile, Spain and Holland in a world cup tournament is not ideal.
Nathan
Guest
mate, simply go outside and stand on the edge of a green field and watch how competitive we are, even at the grass roots. Its in our blood to stand tall, to compete- Ask K. Muscat with is brutal tackles!!! ) Now, I'm not saying that we will win any of the games in Brazil, but to make a good account of ourselves and to keep our heads held high, we must evoke the Aussie spirit mate. Simply, Ange will have them firing on cylinders and if blows up in smoke so be it. At least he will have us "characteristically playing the Australian Way.
peterhen
Guest
Sorry mate - there's one thing about being scouted and on the books. The problem with our generation is that nobody is MAKING IT at big clubs so they are forced to (a) sit on the bench (b) go out on loan to mediocre clubs to get a game (c) leave eventually and sign with a mediocre club or (d) come back to the A-League with their tails between their legs. It's not about the clubs that they are signed to - it's about where they are PLAYING. It would be great if these young guys were coming through into the first team like the likes of Cahill and Neill did but sadly, they are not. Rogic is the best example of that. Started brilliantly at Celtic - great assist at Inverness - then a big fat nothing. Why? Because Neil Lennon didn't rate him above other players he had to choose from. Only 11 can play - yet our golden generation all managed to force their way into the 11 at the big clubs they played for. It's amazing that you guys continue to argue with me - even though I can counter every one of your arguments. No wonder Osieck and Neill were run out of town so viciously.
peterhen
Guest
in the examples you have given - there is a Queenslander spirit. Maybe that should have been factored in. Maybe Ange needs 23 Queenslanders and he'll be right. I also don't buy the analogy of 'our sporting history'. You are talking about Australia being brilliant at sports that are only taken seriously by a handful of countries in the world - rugby union, rugby league, cricket. Football is played and taken very seriously by every nation in the world and you need quality on the park above all else - in 9 games out of 10, quality will always overcome spirit. I admit - once in the blue moon, an underdog with spirit can overcome a giant.
AZ_RBB
Guest
You're drifting away from your own argument. You're asking why big clubs aren't scouting our players. I listed a number of Australian players who have been scouted by big clubs.
peterhen
Guest
why would you do that? there was still a R16 game to qualify for though!!! There was no shame (as it later turned out) to be smashed by Germany. We still had a very good chance of beating both Ghana and Serbia. We were unlucky against Ghana - Wilshire had a great chance to win it for us - but a point was respectable. We were superb against Serbia. Are you suggesting we should have played some of the more inexperienced players against Ghana and Serbia just to blood them for the future? To me the place to give game time for younger players was in the friendly games - and Osieck did that - but he clearly didn't think he could rely on any of them for the competitive games and went back to his experienced drawer of players to choose from - a natural reaction for someone worried about delivering us Brazil - which he did
peterhen
Guest
Langerak on the bench and Amini in the juniors. The class of 2006 were PLAYING week in week out as starters. What bit of that difference don't you understand ? Ryan is NOT being chased by Madrid - that was a beat up from his manager. There was zero truth to that rumour. Ha I have no issue with Kruse - I rate him and he is playing at a decent standard. Unfortunately he's not in the squad, last time I looked. Good has played exactly ZERO times for Newcastle and has been loaned out to clubs at his level. Never heard of Mendez, De Silva or Ikonomidis - how many senior appearances have they made (combined) for their respective clubs to date? The future is anything but bright for Australian Football, mate. Are you David Gallop in disguise?
peterhen
Guest
Are you Sainsbury's missus? God you love him to bits. What has he ever done apart from play at a reasonable level at the Mariners? How can you compare a player in the A-League playing against mediocre opposition week in week out to a player playing in a reasonable league in Asia. I am no particular fan of Cornthwaite either but clearly Holger (more qualified than you and I both) saw something in him that he liked. Right now there is one major difference between Verbeek/Osieck and Ange. Verbeek got us to the 2010 World Cup and very close to getting is to the R16, Osieck got us to the Final of the 2011 Asian Cup and to the 2014 World Cup. Ange has won one and lost one friendly I am getting the feeling on here that people (a) have no respect for Asian football (b) think that Australia will qualify easily for the next World Cups
peterhen
Guest
What are you talking about? Most of the first team of Japan and Korea are playing in Europe at far better clubs than our boys.
peterhen
Guest
Interesting point you raise. Let's do a comparison between Cahill and Williams as there are certain similarities: Tim Cahill joined Millwall in 1997 as a junior and played in the seniors from 1998 to 2004. At that point he had starred in an FA Cup Semi Final and Final and was in the mainstream British media as a star in the making and clubs clamoured for his signature and he opted to join Everton in 2004 at the age of 25 (he had other offers). Rhys Williams joined Boro in 2005 and has played seniors since 2008. He is also 25 years of age but there is a significant difference between the players at the same age. Not one higher level club has offered him a contract. Why? You tell me. Maybe they are not seeing something that you are. Lucas, on the other hand went to Millwall at 17 and played in the seniors straight away and moved to Blackburn at the age of 21. My point is - Rhys is not a bad player - he is decent enough - but he is probably at the right level right now for his abilities and at 25, is he really going to DRAMATICALLY improve? I don't think so.
peterhen
Guest
Mate, I was actually at that game. Were you? You are highlighting MY point exactly - thanks for this. What I am trying to say is this - our team in Nelspruit was far better, more experienced clubwise and international wise that took on a quality Serbia team and beat them, compared to our guys that will take the field in Brazil - that was the reason we won. The same can be said for the team that took on (and beat off the park) Croatia in Stuttgart - I was there too. So to continue the analogy - how can we expect a team of nobodies (which we will have) to possibly take on and beat teams with quality all over the park ? The simple answer is - We can't - we can't possibly expect that. Our guys will have to totally overachieve and they will need to have an offnight. That's the only way we will not get well beaten.
peterhen
Guest
and what if we are absolutely smashed in the 3 games, Fad ? what will you say then? I hope Ange will then be questioned for picking an inexperienced squad, especially in defence. He has got balls, I admit - picking such a junior squad. Ange is clearly doing it 'his way' but he will also need to be answerable if his way fails miserably. I predict he could be gone within 12 months.
peterhen
Guest
Fadida, let's see Ange playing fantastic attacking football in 42C heat in Jordan or Oman in the next qualifiers, shall we? You play to the conditions. God almighty - I can't wait when Australia doesn't win the Asian Cup to see people on here taking Ange apart too.
peterhen
Guest
Every coach has either just been sacked, going to be sacked - it's just a question of time, or in the case of Fergie, will leave and replace himself with someone inferior to make himself look brilliant. Even The Special One gets sacked. What has the fact that Holger got sacked got to do with the price of fish? Even Hiddink got sacked by Russia and Roman didn't want him at Chelsea any longer.
Nathy
Guest
@ peterhen. " It actually disrespects all other teams we play against". I disagree, Our spirit is one of our xfactors. Our sporting history is entrenched with overcoming the odds. Do you think the WC team of 2006 played without it? Or did Gus Hiddink recognize it was one of the elements that evokes momentum in our game? What about the Qld State of Origin team. Those last minute try's to win the game are pretty bloody evident of a never say die attitude. How about Brisbane Roar 3 grand final 84th minute mark. This stat tells us they have belief mate. And that is the Aussie Spirit. Never say die, give it to em, look them in the eye and take em deep into a contest :) I'm pretty sure Ange will coach the lads with this in mind!
Reginald Bomber
Roar Guru
Its a transition period and there will be some hurt, especially for us fans. Optimistic yes, realistic yes and I hope the young Socceroos do well. And its the bottom of the curve, things will get better and if we get some honourable losses in Brazil, and with a bit more preparation time we will give the Asian Cup an almighty shake. But this team has barely played together, hardly knows each other or even spoken to each other ever before and we have a 10 day camp and 2 practice games before the World Cup starts. How many years have the Spanish or Dutch teams been playing together and at what level? The regeneration phase should have started 4 years ago, straight after we got thrashed by Germany at South Africa.
AZ_RBB
Guest
Langerak and Amini are at Dortmund. Ryan is being chased by Real Madrid. Kruse is at Leverkusen. Mendez at Valencia. Good at Newcastle, De Silva at Roma and Ikonomidis at Lazio. These aren't just any football teams, they're some of the biggest and most prominent sporting teams in the world. The last few years have been tough but the future is incredibly bright.
Reginald Bomber
Roar Guru
Mike, I don't think Ange employs long ball, lone striker tactics and Kennedy won't get much game time, particularly with his chronic back problems. He will be especially looking for a high defensive line, pressing game and then fast counter attacking midfielders to outnumber the defence caught out of position. I can't see the Socceroos dominating possession and having the luxury of many free crosses into the box.