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Bert van Marwijk displayed a typically forthright Dutch approach at this morning’s 32-man Socceroos World Cup squad announcement.
As journalists shot questions at the Socceroos boss, he was frank and assured. Failing to understand a question in his second language, he let a reporter know his confusion. When a journalist presented something rhetorical, he shrugged and didn’t add to it.
Not rude, just direct. Like Pim Verbeek and Guus Hiddink before him, it seems you know where you stand with the Socceroos’ new Dutch boss.
It’s a bluntness that seems to be well received on Australian shores. A cut through the media spin, if you will.
One aspect of questioning he was far from direct on, however, was the strikers he plans to take to Russia in just 38 days. Unlike the early years of this century when striking options were plentiful, van Marwijk knows there is a distinct lack of players who can hold the line against world-class opposition.
So unsure is van Marwijk on who he will take as attacking options, he picked an unprecedented nine attacking options in his extended squad. This contrasts heavily with just four picked in Verbeek’s extended squad of 31 in 2010, and five from Ange Postecoglou in 2014.
The nine are Tomi Juric, Matthew Leckie, Tim Cahill, Daniel Arzani, Jamie Maclaren, Andrew Nabbout, Dimi Petratos, Nikita Rukavytsya and Apostolos Giannou.
He has said he will only take ‘two or three’ in the final 23-man squad.
The squad of 32 announced this morning will be cut down to 26 early next week, and several of these casualties will be striking options.
So why has he picked so many in this position?
Well, to buy time – a precious commodity for the Dutch boss.
From now until next week, there are very few opportunities for players in the squad to prove their worth. Most have finished their respective seasons, and there are no training sessions scheduled.
The extra week gives him time to consult further with his assistants and scouts on who to select.
It seems there is likely just two nailed-on guarantees (of the nine) to make the final squad, and that is Tomi Juric and Matthew Leckie, who are also likely to start for the Socceroos against France on June 16.
All the others will be nervously biting their nails this week (some more than others), although Tim Cahill may have breathed a sigh of relief this morning as van Marwijk hinted at his importance to the side.
“He’s a special case. He’s special in everything,” the coach said of the 38-year-old.
“He’s a player who can make a difference… also a player who won’t be nervous playing in front of 80,000 people.”
Since returning to Millwall on January 29, Cahill has played just 63 minutes of football in ten appearances off the bench. His double for the Socceroos against Syria in October was the only time he has scored (in all forms of football) in the last 12 months.
Van Marwijk said goals were naturally influential, but far from the only aspect he would look at.
“It’s important players score goals, especially strikers, but I also know players who don’t score goals for a few months.
“I will nominate a striker who I think makes the team better even if he doesn’t score goals at that moment.”
Another player fans were eager to hear about was Melbourne City young gun Daniel Arzani.
The Socceroos coach’s thoughts were both diplomatic and teasing.
“He’s a player who can make a difference, and I like players who can make a difference,” he said.
“Maybe a World Cup is too early for him but… I won’t hesitate to nominate him.
“I’m happy he’s in the squad now.”
He said he hadn’t considered Arzani’s eligibility to play for both Iran and Australia, and whether he had thought of capping him in the pre-World Cup friendlies as a future investment.
Pressed further on attacking options, van Marwijk was quick to point out the different calibre of strikers in the squad. That is, the larger frontmen of Juric and Giannou, versus the pace of players like Leckie and Nikita Rukavytsya.
“Both strikers sometimes you need,” he said, maintaining a diplomatic tone.
“I like playing with fast players, especially offensively. But it has to fit.”
The World Cup dream of these players rest in the Dutchman’s hands, and all they can do is wait.
The remaining 26-man squad selected early next week will travel to Antalya, Turkey, for a 20-day training camp beginning next Saturday. The final 23 will be selected on Thursday June 3.
David Schout is a Melbourne-based freelance journalist who has written and reported for the likes of the Guardian, the ICC, Sportsbet, and AFL Media. You can follow him on Twitter at @david_schout.