Football is the world’s most played and favourite game and Australia currently sit 61st on the international FIFA World Rankings. We are now looking towards the future as the end of the ‘Tim Cahill’ generation is almost upon us.
Since 2009, Australia have dropped from 21st in the world to 61st.
That single stat simply says that we need to introduce some fresh talent into the team. We need some players to get some more first team experience so they can get the feel of the pressure and the pace of international football.
Who will be our next star player, who can help carry us through the World Cup past the round of 32, and reach the glorified round of 16?
Australia have some of the best young talent in the world, with three main young lads playing above the rest of the team who have shown their composure at international level. They are Celtic star Tom Rogic (22), QPR midfielder Massimo Luongo (22) and Ingolstadt winger Mathew Leckie (24).
The future of Australian football lies in these three future stars. Rogic, the imposing 188-centimetre attacking midfielder, plays for the well regarded Celtic in the Scottish League. After joining the Nike Football Academy in 2011 he has been often considered as the future of Australian football. Despite his injury-marred career, his has started playing some of his best football.
He has already played 11 games for Australia and is well on his way to many more. Rogic showed his class against Bangladesh as he scored two goals (one being a deflection) and missed a header in which Nathan Burns followed up to score a rebound goal. This game really showed us how good Rogic can be for Australia, still considering that he has two or three more years to grow into an outstanding player for our country.
Luongo always had a bright future as he began his professional career at one of the biggest clubs in The English Premier League – Tottenham Hotspur. It wasn’t until the 2015 AFC Asian Cup that the young gun made his debut. His constant pressure and never-ending stamina resulted in the player of the tournament award.
Luongo played six games and scored two goals, one of them being a 20-yard long shot in the final against South Korea in the 45th minute. He has the potential to be one of Australia’s best ever midfielders, and to think that he is only 22.
Leckie has been playing as an attacking wingman or striker his whole life, so if or when Tim Cahill retires I wouldn’t be surprised to see Leckie playing as the main target man with Rogic sitting behind him.
Leckie may be the oldest of the trio at 24, but is still considered a young player. He plays in the German Bundesliga and is playing some of the best football out of the current Australian squad. Leckie has the pace and dribbling of some of the best players out there, something that the other two players do not possess. He has scored in his last game against Bangladesh and is a constant threat in front of goals, as he is always running at the defence creating chances.
The future for Australia looks bright, with other young players like Aaron Mooy (22), who scored against Bangladesh, and the likes of Tommy Oar (23), goalkeeper Mat Ryan (23), Danny De Silva (18) and striker Adam Taggart (22) will set for a major role in the next World Cup.
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.
Even though St.Pauli ultimately lost a high-scoring affair, Jackson Irvine was a standout, as well as scoring a late goal.
What if we celebrated all of the achievements big and small, and weeded out those hell-bent on bringing down a game that is doing a hell of a lot right?
A good performance from Michael Ruhs, scoring twice to beat Macarthur and doubling his season goal tally in the process.
Nestory Irankunda has sensationally rejected the chance to play at the Paris Olympics this June after a late bid from the Olyroos to include…
Mathew Ryan's tenure at AZ Alkmaar appears to be over, as the Eredivisie side are seemingly moving on from the 93-time Socceroo. The decision…
One down 49 to go. Socceroos striker Kusini Yengi raised some eyebrows this week when he declared himself to be the talisman striker the…
