Recently, the Socceroos completed a series of friendly matches against European opponents, including England and Greece in the lead up to their next round of qualifiers for the 2018 World Cup in Russia.
Interestingly enough, the last time Australia faced both of these sides was in the midst of what is glowingly referred to as the ‘Golden Generation’ of Australian football.
The ‘Golden Generation’ certainly achieved what it set out to do, break Australia’s 32-year world cup drought, and even broken out of a tough group to make it to the knockout stages of a World Cup for the first time.
Goal keepers
Golden Generation – Mark Schwarzer, Zeljko Kalac, Ante Covic
It’s fair to say that for 20 years Mark Schwarzer was a great custodian in goals for the Socceroos and his penalty stops against Uruguay almost single-handedly, literally, dragged Australia back into the World Cup.
Zeljko Kalac, on the other hand, served as a back up for Mark Schwarzer and proved to be just as useless for the national side as he was for AC Milan. Zeljko Kalac will and should be remembered for being a better analyst and commentator than he ever was as a keeper.
Current Crop – Adam Federici, Mat Ryan, Mitch Langerak
Three solid keepers across the board, with Mat Ryan being the ideal one for Australia. Ryan looks in the best shape of the three to hold down Australia’s goals for the near future, while being only 24 at the moment means that there is plenty of upside to look forward to – especially considering that keepers can often play into their 40s.
Defenders
Golden Generation – Lucas Neil, Craig Moore, Tony Popovic, Brett Emerton, Stan Lazaridis, Tony Vidmar
Hard to judge the defence of the Golden Generation, Tony Vidmar, Stan Lazaridis and Tony Popovic are cult heroes in football, but looking at their list of achievements and how they actually played shows them to be not as worthy of the definition of ‘golden’. At the same time, Craig Moore was incredibly serviceable, Brett Emerton was arguably better when he played as a winger and Lucas Neil is such a polarising figure these days, it’s hard to know what to make of him and his legacy.
Current Crop – Brad Smith, Trent Sainsbury, Bailey Wright, Matthew Spiraniovic and Ivan Franjic
Since Neill’s removal from the national side, the Socceroos’ defence has been quiet young. The introductions of Brad Smith and Bailey Wright, as well as the recent call-ups of Alex Gerbach and Milos Degenek, both of whom have great potential to be stars of the future, looks promising for the national side.
At the moment, they haven’t reached the same levels of popularity as the Golden Generation, but they will almost certainly surpass them talent wise.
Midfielders
Golden Generation – Tim Cahill, Jason Culina, Josip Skoko, Vince Grella, Scott Chipperfield, Mile Sterjovski, Marco Bresciano
Similarly to the defenders, the biggest stars of the Socceroo engine room were cult figures in Australia. Scott Chipperfield, Vince Grella, Josip Skoko and Marco Bresciano were the workhorses of the Australian team. They also plied their trades across some of the best leagues in the world, arguably for middling clubs, but in big European leagues nevertheless.
Current Crop – Mark Milligan, Mile Jedinak, Tommy Rogic, Tommy Oar, Aaron Mooy, Chris Ikonomidis, Matt McKay, James Troisi, Massimo Luongo
It’s fair to say that the current midfield group is built around Mile Jedinak. The current captain is a rock and better than he is rated by most. He is undoubtedly surrounded by some of the most talented players that have come through the Australian side.
Tommy Rogic, Tommy Oar, Massimo Luongo Aaron Mooy and Chris Ikonomidis show tremendous amounts of talent. This will be the core group that leads Australia into the next two World Cups.
Unlike their predecessors, they seem to be getting the attention of some of the biggest clubs in Europe.
Forwards
Golden Generation – John Aloisi, Mark Viduka, Harry Kewell, Josh Kennedy
Undoubtedly the most famous and talented line in the squad, with Harry Kewell leading the charge as the most famous player to ever play for the Australian national side.
Backed up by Mark Viduka, with lesser lights Messrs’ John Aloisi and Josh Kennedy. Despite Harry Kewell’s club success, when it comes to his national career the statistics are less than flattering.
His runs were constantly stunted by injury issues even the highlight of his national career, the 2006 World Cup, was marred by injury when he was ruled out of the crucial Round of 16 match against Italy with gout.
Current Crop – Tim Cahill, Robbie Kruse, Mathew Leckie, Nathan Burns
Tim Cahill is undoubtedly the best of the lot. Moved forward after Mark Viduka’s retirement, Cahill is now the Socceroos highest goal scorer.
A feat made all the more impressive coming with the fact that it came after Australia was moved into the Asian grouping, from the easy beats of Asia. However, Robbie Kruse, Mathew Leckie and Nathan Burns are all very talented and are making massive strides in world football.
terry
Guest
I am sorry to disagree with most but under Huddink that generation played to their potential. There were players that played in top leagues, albeit in mid table teams but far better than Dutch League reserves or League One teams, and hasn't the Scottish League dropped! FFA and Postecoglou are trying to sell the us a poor product, the lowly Greeks made the Socceroos look like an under aged team! The current 'roos need to grow exponentially with stability in selection and an introduction to power football not this unrealistic Dutch Keepings-Off, we need real coaches with 'blue collar' drive!
Edan Nissen
Roar Rookie
Emerton was also used as a winger, these were the general positions that the Golden Generation were sorted into around the 2006 World Cup, by which time Kewell was with the strikers, Emerton was a defender and Cahill a midfielder. I agree with Kaks, the Golden Generation were great individual players, and we might not see again players with the individual skill level of a kewell, but the current team are a solid crop of footballers, playing as a team for the most part. The skills and talent aren't solely focussed on individual brilliance but is more evenly spread across the team.
Midfielder
Guest
Just a point ... Harry played most of his Socceroo matches as a left mid twas only in his last couple of years he played as an a striker... same for Tiimy he played as a wide roaming mid... IMO the great shame about Timmy is he should have always been a striker ...
Terry Lantouris
Guest
Typically Ange has no idea how to use Oar or get the best out of Luongo! Luongo will be nothing better than a third tier player if Postecoglou continues copying his understanding of 'tiki-taka'. Same for Oar, play him as a defensive midfielder! Get some conditioning in to his legs and his best asset is his thunderous left foot and his peripheral vision! Postecoglou is full of cliches and imitates the Dutch, Australia needs innovation, inspiration and physicality! We are like under twelves playing men!
Edan Nissen
Roar Rookie
Speaking as an AC Milan fan for over a decade, no, he really wasn't good. That Croatia game was not out of character for Kalac.
Kaks
Roar Guru
The Golden Generation were great individuals. The current crop are an extremely solid team that play attractive football.
Smell the fear
Guest
All is well in Australian football and we will continue our rise to the top. I just wish Fuss was here
me too
Guest
no contest. could not see one of the current crop in a starting eleven, aside from cahill who is in both groups. jedinak, ryan and possibly oar and luongo on an extended bench. kruse and rogic could end up on that bench. our current crop though are good enough to play to Ang's system, and that'll keep us in good stead.
marcel
Guest
Kalac had a poor game against Croatia.. .and he appears to be a bit of a d#ck head....but he was an excellent keeper ....and Hiddink was apparently planning to bring him on for the final moments of the Uruguay game as he was a superior penalty stopper to Schwarzer. Time and rose coloured glasses has allowed many to forget that Schwarzer had at least one..often more.. howler/goal in him per game. I can see Ryan casting a long shadow over both of them in a few years to come.
Punter
Guest
No Viduka???? Hmmmm. I'd say Chipperfield ahead of Smith & Sainsbury over Neill.
Edan Nissen
Roar Rookie
Schwarzer > Ryan > Kalac. This may change in a few years time with Ryan's growth in Valencia, hopefully he becomes as good if not better than Shwarzer and Bosnich (undoubtedly the most talented Keeper Australia has seen) I would say that if I could do a best of, it would look something like the following Schwarzer Smith, Neil, Moore, Emerton Bresciano, Jedinak, Grella, Oar/Mooy Cahill, Kewell (will be swapped out for Rogic or Kruse once they develop a bit more) Bench Ryan, Vidmar, Culina, Luongo, Oar/Mooy, Kruse/Rogic
Stevo
Roar Rookie
Well, too early to say. Of the current crop you list, and leaving Cahill out for the moment, only Mat Ryan, Aaron Mooy and Tommy Rogic could make the 2006 squad. To be fair, I'd give honorable mentions to Mark Milligan and Mile Jedinak. The rest have a lot to do.