Australia
coach Ange Postecoglou has a number of difficult decisions to make as he looks
ahead to Brazil
and beyond
The era of World Cup campaigns of
the past is slowly morphing to a new future for the Socceroos. The ageing
stalwarts and stable choices have seen the writing on the wall or decided to
call it a day as new coach Ange Postecoglou looks ahead to Brazil and
beyond.
Following Mark Schwarzer back in
November, it was Harry Kewell’s turn last week. The former Leeds United,
Galatasaray and Melbourne Heart midfielder drew the curtain on a wonderful
career that saw him gather 56 caps for his beloved Socceroos.
Kewell’s record speaks for itself.
As a player, he lured a new generation of non-footballing types in following
the game here and abroad. His legacy to the game in Australia
was wide reaching from his early days with Socceroos team-mate Mark Viduka at
Leeds United to proudly wearing the red jersey of Liverpool
on 98 occasions.
The weight surrounding Kewell’s
future centred on whether he could regain the form and fitness needed to
represent his country for one last time in Brazil. Like in life, sporting
fairytale finishes are few and far between. Despite his fine unwavering service
to his country, time eventually ran out for the man they called “H”.
Captain Lucas Neill’s plight is
looking more desperate by the hour with the veteran defender agreeing to a last
ditch month-long loan deal with English Championship battlers Doncaster Rovers.
The Socceroos now prepare for a
farewell friendly against the Bafana Bafana of South
Africa in Sydney
on May 26. Following the miraculous “game of two halves” Ecuador
experiment last month, Postecoglou will be looking to settle on a final squad
and will have all his fingers and toes crossed against further injury woes
An entire Australian football
community sighed when learning that the injury to the most valuable hamstring
of Socceroos star Tim Cahill wasn’t as bad as first feared. Cahill left the
pitch early after straining the muscle against MLS side Chivas USA. Initial
reports said he may miss the World Cup, but Postecoglou can now breathe a
little easier knowing the prognosis will sideline the dynamic midfielder for
two to three weeks.
The big question though is who
will be wearing the gloves in Brazil.
The long and necessarily dormant succession plan kicked in after Schwarzer’s
predicted retirement from International football.
A young Maty Ryan has been the
front-runner since joining Belgian Jupiler League side Club Brugge this season
as their new No 1. The side have only conceded 28 goals in 29 games this season
with Ryan claiming 10 clean sheets including five straight over the November to
December period.
Most agree a starting keeper
should be at the peak of their powers and banking plenty of regular game time.
Mitch Langerak’s moment of madness against Ecuador highlighted by a defensive
brain fade left the vastly inexperienced back line struggling for cohesion. His
"overzealous" challenge marked a player in need of game time –
something he is not getting too much for his adopted club side Borussia
Dortmund.
A positive sign for Socceroos
fans and the Football Federation of Australia (FFA) is Australia have claimed second place to the USA in total ticket
sales for the World Cup. Aussies to date have secured 40,681 tickets across
various matches over the tournament despite their almost impossible “Group of
Death” draw with Spain, Holland and Chile.
With the AFC Asian Cup tournament
to be hosted by Australia in
January next year, organisers will be encouraged by fan numbers desperate to
watch the Socceroos both in Brazil
and back home down under.
And finally … The Socceroos have
unveiled their new “away” strip to the world.
Launched on April 2, Nike claim:
"The new dark 'obsidian blue' away jersey was inspired by the design worn
by Australia when they
qualified for their first-ever finals in West Germany 40 years ago.”
The shirt boasts a stylish and
modern yellow johnny collar, as another reference to the iconic 1974 national
team.
It may not dazzle like the Dutch
orange or sizzle with the red of Spain, but both kits represent a
valuable connection with the pioneers of the past through an innovative
futuristic design.
The “obsidian blue” doesn’t quite
roll off an Aussie tongue like the more favoured dinky-die “green and gold” kit
but one thing is for certain/; The contingent of Aussies in Brazil will cheer
loud and proud and be “True Blue” to their cause.
