There was one name I knew had no chance of being listed in Graham Arnold’s squad for Australia’s next two World Cup qualifiers, even if I was more disappointed than usual by its absence.
Arnie sprung a few surprises with his latest announcement, naming domestic-based youngsters Marco Tilio, Joel King and Kye Rowles in his squad to face Vietnam in Melbourne and Oman in Muscat this week.
Tilio is the sort of X-factor talent you’d expect to see around Socceroos squads for years to come, while few could begrudge the likes of King and Rowles gaining a bit of experience during the latest international window.
(Photo: Getty Images)
Truth be told, I didn’t pay much attention to anything in the football world last week because for the first time in more than two years, my wife Ashton and I decided to take a holiday.
It wasn’t a decision we arrived at lightly. With omicron running rampant and some genuine concerns about catching a flight in the current climate, we came very close to cancelling our trip – just like we had all our other holiday plans over the past couple of years.
But given that we’re tripled-vaxxed and figured the tourism operators could use some of our hard-earned dollars, we weighed up the risks and took extra precautions and decided to head down to Tasmania for the week.
It’s a terrific place full of some of the best football pitches you’ll find anywhere in Australia, and I can’t help but wonder if the A-Leagues haven’t missed a trick not adding a Tassie team given how parochial the locals are.
But the main reason we were in the Apple Isle was because I was celebrating my birthday. I’m reluctant to admit which one but let’s just say if we were playing tennis, the score after this one is deuce.
And while that ordinarily wouldn’t bother me, and I’m not so vain I haven’t realised that time marches on for us all, I toasted the occasion with a sobering realisation creeping into the back of my mind.
I’m too old now to make my debut for the Socceroos.
(Photo by Mohamed Farag/Getty Images)
It’s not like the thought hadn’t crossed my mind from time to time before. For one thing, the position I specialise in – sweeper – no longer exists.
For another, I haven’t kicked a ball competitively since I ran around as a ring-in for Shimizu Minami High School in the Shizuoka teachers’ after-school league more than a decade ago.
But despite having failed to win a towering header or play a defence-splitting pass for the past 15 or so years, I used to think that if the Socceroos were ever short on numbers for the night – say due to a COVID outbreak or because the team bus took them to the wrong Yokohama Stadium or whatever – I could be relied upon to do a job for the team.
I’m not saying I’d burst through midfield to play a one-two with Ajdin Hrustic and smash an unstoppable piledriver into the top corner to win the game.
(Photo by Koji Watanabe/Getty Images)
But if Arnie was down to his final substitute and it was between me or Kye Rowles to play out the remaining few minutes of stoppage time, I liked to think that I could hold my own – maybe make a challenge or two, play a nice square ball to Trent Sainsbury and run down the clock with a minimum of fuss.
At least, I used to think that. I know Tim Cahill was 38 when he played his final game for the Socceroos, but he enjoyed the advantages of modern sports medicine – not to mention the fact he was also a professional footballer.
But that hope for me is gone. I’ve come to accept that after decades of watching the national team, I’ve just blown out the candles on my chances of ever playing for them.
Football is a young person’s game. From now on I’ll be over there on the front lawn yelling at clouds.
Hudddo
Roar Rookie
What about goodwin?
sportstar111
Roar Rookie
doni grdic is not nearly good enough to play for the socceroos currently. has looked very poor in HNL imo.
Aiden
Guest
Very short sighted. You could always come on as a back-up goal keeper. Forgot the keepers Mike!
TheSecretScout
Roar Guru
current form - trewin and rowles are very similar across most individual stats, thats why i said brisbane being bottom while mariners are in the 6 shouldnt be used as measuring sticks when looking at those 2 players closely one thing the socceroos have going for themselves in asian qualifying is height and muscle. - im not a fan of ugly football, but if it gets australia to the world cup so be it - the coach can be sacked after getting the boys there bahogelou, wright & iredale are all playing in english lower leagues (standard isnt great) but all could be real threats at both ends of the pitch against undersized nations like vietnam in this qualifying campaign grdic has played several matches in the croatian first division this season as well. there are options, centreback is a position that australia isnt exactly short of currently
Tekkers
Roar Rookie
No doubt kai has excellent potential but by some unforeseen circumstance whereby our starting CB’s go down, would you really want Trewin coming in at international level? I wouldn’t going off current form against someone like Rowles. I’d like to know the other CB’s you’d take from overseas though
TheSecretScout
Roar Guru
if you're picking from the a league (which i wouldnt be doing if i was soceroos coach) its easy for multiple reasons, kai trewin hes 3 years younger, is better on the ball and has more versatility to play multiple positions if you want to go the league position as a factor, that a bit unfair given the mariners like all nsw sides have a padded draw and play the first 6 matches at home while brisbane has had a brutal run this season
TheSecretScout
Roar Guru
if you have ever followed my posts, you'd know what i feel about the mariners youth setup. my point is there are several other options playing overseas in bigger leagues and clubs then the a league and mariners (no disrespect to either)
Buddy
Roar Rookie
Mike, hope you enjoyed your birthday treat in Tasmania and had a great holiday. I’ve walked across a number of football pitches particularly in Hobart and sunk into the lush grass with roots that go down several inches into the soil reminding me of years gone by when I needed screw in studs - something I have never worn on the Australian mainland. I have advocated Tasmania, Canberra and Wollongong for A League growth every time the subject is raised. Spread the net and broaden the appeal. The level of support or crowd numbers would not be any lower than those of the latest two arrivals that were part of the “fish where the fishes are” mentality which imo is highly misplaced. If you want to resurrect a footballing career you should give FIFA a try. I’m a few decades older than you by the sound of things but have been into video games since the early days of home computing in the early 1980’s. These days Playing Fifa is so much fun especially in career mode. You create a player and make him look just as you please, develop him through training, are assigned to a club of your choice and the world is your oyster! My latest creation is currently on loan to AZ Alkmar and I just scored a brace in knocking Feyenoord out of the domestic cup competition - so much fun especially whilst isolating during these covid ravaged times!
Ten Tribes of Texas
Guest
Rowse played 117 of a possible 270 mins at the Olympics. Seems Arnold thought he wasn't good enough to play the majority of minutes available for the u 23s at the Olympics but is good enough for the seniors. Go figure that one out.
AGO74
Guest
Happy birthday Mike! A word of warning - I remember turning 40 and thinking this is fine and I didn’t know why people worry about turning 40. Now as I’m rapidly bearing down on 50 wondering where my 40s went - time seems to move a lot faster in your 40s. To quote the great 20th century philosopher Ferris Bueller “life moves pretty fast. If you don’t stop and look around once in a while you could miss it.” Never mind about the Socceroos- I’m sure there’s always a masters games you can target.
Tekkers
Roar Rookie
Disagree on Rowles probably the best young Aussie CB we have domestically who is consistently playing 90 min. Name me someone domestically at CB that should replace him in the squad? Not saying hey should play but he deserves the chance
Mike Tuckerman
Expert
He deserves his chance.
Hudddo
Roar Rookie
Are you serious about rowles??? The bloke stops almost everything. The fact you have said this shows you do not watch mariners matches.
Tigertown
Guest
Indeed, Tasmania is a beautiful place. Maybe one day they will have an A-League team. Happy Birthday.
Tim Carter
Roar Pro
At least he could run.
Hopper
Roar Rookie
My brother said to me when playing on into his late 40’s “I feel like an old man when I run” to which I replied “ mate, you look like an old man when you run.” He never played another competitive game after that.
The Late News
Roar Rookie
We all were Mike!
The Late News
Roar Rookie
A sad day young man. Truly. Perhaps you could debut as a masseuse?
Stevo
Roar Rookie
Nailed it LOLz :laughing:
Lionheart
Roar Rookie
Well done Mike. I've got to say, you're quite the youngster. I've got kids older than you and don't remember those days, other than to say that I was way fitter in my forties than in my twenties, it's a great decade that one, live it.