Early Friday morning, the Socceroos will begin the serious phase of another World Cup qualifying campaign that will once again, at some point, have blood pressures rising.
It is what they do to us and we both hate and love them for it. This time around it will be China, Oman, Japan, Saudi Arabia and Vietnam that potentially block the path to a fifth consecutive appearance at the finals.
COVID-19 decimated world football before Europe led the slow creep towards normality with a successful Euro 2020. The major leagues are now back in full swing and crowds have returned.
With the A-League still two months away, Socceroos coach Graham Arnold has been forced to assemble a squad for the upcoming matches against China and Vietnam, almost exclusively made up of overseas based Australians.
Rhyan Grant is the only exception, with the long standing relationship between he and the manager, as well as his immense value at right back, leading to Sydney FC and Football Australia working closely together to develop a plan that allowed the aggressive defender to travel abroad for the opening two matches.
Grant’s inclusion is understandable, yet the composition of the remainder of the squad looks a very shrewd move.
A host of A-League teams are far from fully assembled, practice matches have been non-existent across much of the country and the current fitness and sharpness of Australian based players must surely raise questions about their ability to head abroad and secure the six points that Australia will undoubtedly require to keep pace with Japan and Saudi Arabia in the early stages of qualifying.
As such, Arnold has assembled a group of players, admittedly at different stages of their overseas club campaigns, yet with the majority playing regularly.
Current form must be the number one priority heading into a vital pair of matches that, if lost, could condemn the Socceroos to a group placing outside the top two.
The issue of form raises some deep concerns and also some bright possibilities.
Whilst Mat Ryan has been a mainstay between the sticks for Socceroos in recent years, limited game time with both Arsenal and now Real Sociedad is concerning.
Danny Vukovic is yet to appear for his new club in the Netherlands, Paul Izzo’s season with Xanthi in Greece is yet to begin and Lawrence Thomas’ regular play in Denmark could well make him the surprise choice come Friday morning.
Defensively, Harry Souttar’s solid and consistent form in the centre of defence with Stoke makes him a lock for the opening fixture, Bailey Wright has a solid month of appearances under his belt with Sunderland and Trent Sainsbury has apparently looked sharp and decisive in his recent performances for KV Kortrijk in Belgium.
Aziz Behich must surely start on the left of defence.
He has arguably been the Socceroos’ most consistent player in recent times and debuted for his new club in Turkey last weekend, whilst a fit Milos Degenek appears to be all the evidence Arnold needs to select the Red Star Belgrade defender.
In midfield, the manager will no doubt look in the direction of Aaron Mooy. Impressive in China last season and despite little recent football, he will remain one of the keys to Australia’s chances.
Sadly, Jackson Irvine does not appear to have the minutes or metres in his legs right now and Denis Genreau must have Arnold sceptical after what was an awful performance at the Tokyo Olympics, where the youngster failed dismally when the moment presented itself.
In more positive midfield news, Ajdin Hrustic is a regular starter in Frankfurt and a certainty to begin this match.
Tom Rogic has looked re-invigorated under Ange Postecoglou at Celtic and Daniel Arzani is back on the pitch in Belgium and starting to show signs of the skills and talents that had us all so excited just a few years ago.
Up front, Hibernian’s Martin Boyle demands selection, with Hibs on top of the SPL ladder and his form impressive. Adam Taggart has moved to Japan and with a struggling team failed to really find top form, whilst Awer Mabil will already be pencilled in by Arnold after a continuation of his development in Denmark over the last 6 months. His long term future as a Socceroo seems assured.
The manager may well spring a surprise, as he is prone to do, with Kenneth Dougall, Callum Elder, James Jeggo, Brad Smith, Riley McGree and Mitchell Duke outside chances to earn a starting spot.
However, with the football world still righting itself and starting to resume its natural flow, the players enjoying minutes abroad and not those still cooling their heels for opportunities that will hopefully appear later in the season, need to be the men Arnold backs in these opening two fixtures.
Now is not the time to experiment. Two wins and nothing else will be an acceptable start to what looks a very tricky qualifying campaign.
Stuart Thomas
Expert
What a midfield that is. Vukovic holding and Ryan and Thomas using their hands in attack. They can toss it up to Taggart and Boyle for the goals. :laughing: :laughing:
Nick Symonds
Guest
"Degenek may find himself at striker" - Don't be stupid. He'll use Souttar as striker and put Boyle in goals. Souttar Elder - Izzo - Wright Ryan - Vukovich - Thomas Rogic - Arzani - Taggart Boyle
TheSecretScout
Roar Guru
souttar still has issues with small pacey players, as we witnessed (yet again) at the olympics. He's by no means a slouch in the speed department, but the tricky dribblers which will run with the ball at him; that a lot of these asian teams have will cause problems. luckily he'll have sainsbury/degenek to bail him out with thier pace
Stuart Thomas
Expert
It is going to be a very early start to the day. Let's hope we aren't spitting in our corn flakes by 7am. C'mon boys!!!
Stuart Thomas
Expert
I hope it is not the only chance. Set piece will indeed be the area Arnie reckons he can pinch one if the game is tight. This is gonna be fun.
Stuart Thomas
Expert
Apparently playing very, very well in England. I've only seen a little. Picking players will metres in the legs will probably mean he starts. I think he should and as you say, set piece looks likely to be a means to goal with no Maclaren there and Taggart not in sparkling form both causing an issue.
Stuart Thomas
Expert
Agree on Thomas (my brother :laughing: ). Grant rarely lets Arnie down. They have a pact. Arzani still getting picked on promise. He'll get there. Rogic and Mooy struggle together in my view. One of the Socceroos' great mysteries. I think we need Taggart more than we ever have before, although I'm backing Mabil to be the saviour. Hardened pro now.
Stuart Thomas
Expert
I'd hope there are no buses in sight. Six points needed or right behind the eight ball.
Stuart Thomas
Expert
Here we go again hey? 10 matches of sheer agony. Defence looks solid although the speed of China is the concern. Our bigger units will need to be sharp and scoring looks a challenge. Set piece focus I'd guess.
Stuart Thomas
Expert
Issue without Maclaren there tomorrow, He seemed to have settled into the attack and there was a little cohesion developing. I fear they my try to win this aerially and that China may well be better than many expect.
Hopper
Roar Rookie
As long as we are prepared to compete for 90 mins at international level, we will be ok. Not too impressed with Arnold’s selection process during the Olympics though, so whoever plays tomorrow morning may have to work it out for themselves. Degenek may find himself at striker, who knows. Family man Arnold does bore me terribly but will be up at 3:30 am tomorrow morning to cheer the boys on as usual. Hope the action keeps me awake.
NoMates
Roar Rookie
I see every ones looking past China, but not me. Wu Lei should score a brace with the brazilian and Hao Junmin in midfield dictating the play. Linpeng and Dabao will hold up a solid defence. Australia's only chance at a goal will be though Souttar but i believe China know that and will compensate for it marking him out of corners etc
Johan
Guest
A mediocre team to be sure - not bad but certainly not stacked with any real quality. However the truth is it is unlikely to matter as the two sides the Socceroos are playing are not ranked in the Top 50 in the World and shouldn’t present an issue. The Socceroos need to win by at least a few goals in both matches as goal difference may become a factor. Surprised Disco that you described Souttar as a ‘lock’. I am assuming you feel that he is useful as a goal scoring threat given his height. He was very poor defensively against Egypt and in the Olympics generally where his positional play was at fault for at least 2 goals.
TheSecretScout
Roar Guru
you have to pick players who are playing and playing well!! thomas should start based on this in goals. grant had a sub par season, several other right backs performed better than him (yet he'll probably start because hes an arnie favourite) souttar will need a ball playing defender next to him, so that will be a straight shoot out between sainsbury and degenek - and we all know sainsbury wins that battle (regardless of the fact hes playing for a small club in a worse league) because hes an arnie favourite arzani selected again, why? he has not shown any consistent form in 5 years, he must be arnies illegitimate son to keep getting selected central midfield looks less a problem with both mooy and rogic back in the equation im still not sure who scores the glut of the goals in this phase taggart may be proficient at club level, but centrally with the national team he has been average the less said about duke the better, yet another player picked purely because of his relationship with the coach
Gashead
Roar Rookie
I actually thought Duke played well during the Olympics and gave the Olyroos an outlet and time to get forward. I felt he was sorely missed for the third game.
TenTribesOfTexas
Guest
Two too many defenders in the squad and only 4 forwards. 10 defenders when 8 is more than enough! This will mean the forwards will need to play almost every minute of both games. In the heat of the middle east and humidity of Vietnam they will run out of puff. Could have easily brought in an extra forward or two especially a left footer. If Arnold has no confidence in craig goodwin then he should have brought in a younger left footed forward asap. Armanakus or Gwargis should habe been called up here. Missed opportunity. Expect parking the bus to be Arnolds main, if not only, strategy here.
Rodger King
Roar Rookie
Two wins, it doesn't matter how or why, just get the points in the bag. Big Harry at set pieces may be our 'surprise' package. Aaron M to start [obviously] and when he tires in the heat over there, bring on young Riley. The Keepers may be our weak link, having said that, in the past when they are needed to step up they have. Can not wait.
Brainstrust
Roar Rookie
Degenek picked to do what? There is no way they should change to a back three for Degenek , and he is ordinary as a fullback. The one good thing Arnold could do is to leave Degenek on the pine. Irvine is always fit, thats the one good thing he brings to the table. Forget Taggart he is a lazy player, Duke is a hard worker.
Franko
Guest
Still trouble up top isn't there. Taggart, Maclaren, I'm not sure, both have great attributes but maybe neither big enough to lead the line as an isolated No9, typically good poacher/finishers though. Duke certainly isn't the man, I thought he was underwhelming at the Olympics.