He’s overtaken Mark Bresciano in the Socceroos’ pecking order but rising star Massimo Luongo doesn’t see the veteran as his direct competitor.
Luongo’s sensational Asian Cup form has squeezed Bresciano out of the Australian side – no mean feat, given Ange Postecoglou’s previous reliance on the 83-cap midfielder.
Bresciano was the national team’s go-to creative outlet at the World Cup and in subsequent friendlies but has played just 44 minutes at the Asian Cup so far.
He is unlikely to earn a recall for Thursday night’s quarter-final against China at Suncorp Stadium with Luongo – the breakout star of the tournament – set to earn a fourth consecutive start.
But the 22-year-old said there is no sense of rivalry between himself and Bresciano.
“Definitely not,” Luongo said.
“Obviously his heart’s in the right place, he really wants to work hard still and I think he’s going to be ready if he has to play the next game, start the next game or whenever he’s called upon.
“At your club team, you think a player (in your position) comes in and you kind of get a bit upset or rival that player.
“But I don’t think here, we all come from the same place and we’re all here for the same thing.
“If he plays and I don’t play … it doesn’t weaken the team at all.
“We all just want to do well as a team.”
Luongo said he looked up to Bresciano as a child and admires his “quiet” demeanour – particularly when dealing with the media, a challenge the Swindon Town midfielder is still grappling with.
“I haven’t really picked his brain as much, he’s a hard person to read,” he said.
“I like to keep my head low and be the quiet one that just does well – a lot like Bresc: he’s a good icon to follow.
“I think here (the media attention has) been a bit extreme, especially for the first game.
“I understand obviously it comes with doing well and stuff like that, but it’s new to me and I’m getting used to it.”
Another player who has been seemingly frozen out of the Socceroos side due to the emergence of the next generation is Tommy Oar.
Still only 23, Oar’s only appearance at the Asian Cup was as a 77th-minute substitute in the 4-0 win against Oman.
Former Socceroos boss Pim Verbeek has expressed his surprise at Oar’s absence given the level of his performances in the Eredivisie with FC Utrecht, where he often plays as a No.10.
Midfielder Matt McKay said his ex-Brisbane Roar teammate is coping well despite his exclusion.
“He’s looking good, training well. Given an opportunity, Tommy won’t disappoint,” McKay said.
“He tries his heart out all the time and he’s got those good qualities about him, but it’s obviously up to the gaffer.”
Qantas supports Australian Football
Guest
Yes Towser---I do hope he can prove us wrong, but time must be running out for him. If he can't break through under Ange, then he has lost all chance of delivering.
whiskeymac
Guest
Oar is not best as a winger. At his club position he has potential but also a lot of competition. At 23 I agree he needs to step up nationally.
wanderingkooka
Guest
Not sure if you're deliberately misspelling Robbie Kruse's name or not seeing how you get it wrong consistently. Anyway. Krues didn't have an open goal as he still had the goalie to beat. An open goal means nobody between the striker and the goal. Now is probably not the time to give Oar a chance in the role he plays for his club team but I would like to see him given a go for a game or 2 (for at least 30 mins) there in the future before deciding his future with the national team.
Albo
Guest
Yep ! Oar is In same basket as Robbie Cruse ! Forever promising to do something exciting, but never ever delivering ! They have great speed.......and ....great speed.....and .....nothing else !! Troisi is marginally better, only by wasting less opportunities. Contrast these guys with Luongo one of the slowest guys on the pitch, but who is currently delivering goals ! Even Cruse got a rare goal via a Luongo pass, giving him an open goal from 6 metres that he only scored thanks to the goalkeeper missing the shot under his body, a shot that would have hit his legs if just stood up !
Rob Gremio
Roar Pro
But given that Oar is being played as a winger for the Socceroos, not a no.10, I reckon Ange should move him into Troisi's role and see how he goes there. That, for me, would make more sense than freezing out a guy who is consistently performing well in that attacking midfield position in Holland. How many other players can say that? And Troisi is soooo overrated and mostly delivering nothing. Oar woul definitely be an improvement in my view.
Towser
Guest
Have to agree QSAF regarding Oar. Going back to his professional A-league kick off at the Roar he had occasional flashes of brilliance(remember a great free kick) and appeared to skin A-league defenders,at first. However once he settled in teams worked out that his MO was pretty one dimensional,still appears not much better today in his Socceroo appearances. Still only 23 though as mentioned in the article,but I too am skeptical about how much further he can step up after 4 years in the Eridivisie.
Qantas supports Australian Football
Guest
Oar has had too many chances and has failed to deliver, I was once an admirer of the boy, but he has had opportunity under three national managers and has not lived up to his potential. I think he has gone as far as he can go ie a bench player.
angusozi
Guest
I'm still confused as to why Tommy Oar isn't getting more than 15 minutes. Surely he's a better option than Troisi
Stevo
Roar Rookie
The lad can say he's made it when he takes over from Bresc and has his own "Bresciano's Diary" on Santo, Sam and Ed. I reckon it's coming soon. Come on Santo, turn this kid into a media star :) You know you should.