It has been a while since the Socceroos could boast Champions League pedigree in its ranks. However, this week Australian fans saw three national stars involved in the competition’s playoffs.
Mat Ryan, Robbie Kruse and Tom Rogic all made differing contributions to their respective club’s fortunes midweek, yet if Valencia, Bayer Leverkusen and Celtic manage to qualify for the group stages then it will be a mighty boost for the Socceroos.
It is ritual among diehard football fans to wake up at the dreaded hour of 4.45am to watch the Champions League on SBS (sadly no longer a certainty) in the winter. In the summer, with daylight savings hours coming into play for a 6.45am start, extra-time in knockout stages was always a dilemma for workers and students.
It has been too long since those committed to waking up and sacrificing sleep or work and school were treated to the sight of Australians regularly gracing the world’s biggest club competition.
Not since the early 2000s when Harry Kewell, Mark Viduka, Scott Chipperfield, Brett Emerton, Craig Moore, Mile Sterjovski and Tony Vidmar (with Jason Culina joining them a few years later) played under UCL floodlights almost simultaneously.
While Australia’s performances under Ange Postecoglou continue to reach new heights, ensuring our best players are competing in the world’s elite competition is vital. World Cup winners, indeed top World Cup performers, more often than not possess at least two or three players who have considerable UCL experience.
Socceroos playing regularly in the Champions League is a promising sign of progression.
Seeing Ryan perform to widespread applause on Wednesday night for Valencia returned those feelings of pride that have been too far long absent.
The Australian number one pulled out two eye-catching saves, and received plaudits worldwide for his first competitive fixture in Valencia colours. The Mestalla faithful were certain they had found a decent back-up for injured first-choice keeper Diego Alves. They may well have found an upgrade.
If Celtic can overcome their disappointing collapse from 3-1 to 3-2 at home to Malmo FF, then Rogic will most definitely find himself coming up against world-class opposition. For a player chastised for moving to Scotland, confounded by terrible luck in injuries, it will be sweet justice.
He has started two of Celtic’s four Scottish Premiership games so far this season, notching up a goal and an assist. This could finally be the year we see the talented midfielder breakout.
Robbie Kruse faces a huge battle to force his way into Roger Schmidt’s Bayer Leverkusen team, and his position is worryingly similar to that of Socceroos captain Mile Jedinak. On the verge of contemplating a loan move last season before the Asian Cup, another injury further stuttered his progress at the North Rhine-Westphalia powerhouse.
However, despite two serious injuries, the fact that Schmidt is still placing Kruse on the bench and has not discarded and written him off completely is promising for one of Australia’s brightest talents. Kruse entered the field in Leverkusen’s unlucky 1-0 loss to Lazio on Wednesday morning (AEST) in injury time and if the German club makes the group stages expect to see him build up more game time.
If Lazio progress, who knows? Perhaps youngster Chris Ikonomidis, who will surely makes his first team debut for the biancocelesti this season, may even find himself thrust into Champions League action.
Elsewhere in Europe, Terry Antonis’ new club PAOK FC take on Brondby Friday morning (AEST) in their quest to qualify for a third consecutive Europa League group stage campaign. Meanwhile, Awer Mabil’s FC Midtjylland face a tough trip to Southampton after falling in UCL qualification. The former’s participation would seem more likely than the latter’s, however.
Unfortunately for the Socceroos, and especially for Tommy Oar, that is where the European involvement ends. The winger was close to securing a move to Athletic Bilbao last week, before negotiations broke down, but hopefully the 23-year-old signs on soon with a top European club.
Watching Socceroos playing Champions League football is not just a great spectacle, it is fantastic for the development of the national side. Hopefully more from the current crop join Ryan, Rogic and Kruse in an effort to emulate the stars of the previous decade.
juan dos
Guest
Pretty much summed up all of the best bits. Throw in some smart moves by Mabil, Amini, De Silva, and Juric (hell, even Rostyn Griffiths) and we're really starting to see some reward for the tough transition period from 2006 to now. We're well and truly smack bang in the middle of the Ange period now. Pretty exciting to see Duke and Burns have some real success in the J. League this season, and while I know some are concerned that Milligan has moved to the UAE, he is playing under a former La Liga coach.
JAJI
Guest
After what has been a lean few years for Aussies abroad things have kicked up again in the last 2 months Rogic, Kruise back. Ryan. Langerak at new club. Davidson, Luongo and Wright in Championship Leckie in the Bundesliga Cahill scoring - still. Duke playing. Burns playing Would love to get Rhys Williams, Curtis Good and Chris Herd fit.....
fadida
Guest
apparently Oar had a Basque grandparent which made him potentially eligible. SO exciting to watch Matt Ryan playing for Valencia!!!
144
Roar Guru
In the end we want our players to be playing the best level of football. Remembering back the the times when Kewell was playing champions league with Liverpool and Galatasaray or Cahill in the Europa League or Viduka with Newcastle United And bozza with United. Have tog et those players back out there.
AGO74
Guest
Tommy Oar to athletic Bilbao? - has that club broken it's non basque selection policy? Beyond the guys Janek notes there are a further smattering of Aussies at new clubs where reasonable progress can be expected in comparison to some moves from the a-league in the last few years which seemed doomed from the outset.