Socceroos World Cup Squad Preview
Back in April I published my Socceroos World Cup squad ladder, with 50 players profiled (and 100 ranked) in order of their chances of being selected to represent Australia in Russia. Now the 23-man squad is finalised, and the starting XI taking shape, so here's what I wrote about them, with an extra bold line telling you their roles for the opening game against France on Saturday night.
(There are no photos, but trust me: apart from the shirt numbers and the handful of descriptions given, they all look pretty much the same from the distance afforded by television coverage.)
Probable starting XI
Matt Ryan (Shirt #1 - the keeper)
Keeper, Brighton (England) age 26, caps 42
A starting goalkeeper in the English Premier League, Ryan was largely unchallenged for Australia's number one jersey during the Postecoglou era. However, in the last fortnight the Mariners product has lost his place in three phases: first van Marwijk brought Brad Jones out of exile due to his Feyenoord form; then Ryan's horror show against Norway opened the door; finally Jones confirmed his pedigree in the first half against Colombia, and Ryan now finds himself warming the bench.
I got this wrong: Ryan retains his starting place in goal. Probably for the best.
Josh Risdon (19)
Right-Back, Western Sydney Wanderers (A-League) age 25, caps 6
We've already listed plenty of attacking talent and a couple of keepers, but Australia's defence looks a little light so far, and that's because uncertainty abounds regarding its selection. A right-back is required next, and Risdon is the marginal favourite for the position: he's technically the incumbent but is still unproven and would stand out worryingly as the only A-League player in the starting team; his biggest problem might be that the Wanderers [didn't] make finals, which would leave him bereft of competitive football as early as next week.
Fought off competition for the right-back berth but still a possible weak link.
Trent Sainsbury (20)
Centre-Back, Grasshoppers (Switzerland) age 26, caps 33
Sainsbury would be higher still had he not missed the two recent friendlies through injury. He has been Australia's senior centre-back since the 2015 Asian Cup victory, and maintained his form through the interminable qualification process. The former Mariner is primed to return to fitness and claim his place at the heart of defence; he just needs a reliable partner...
The team's central defensive leader, despite an own-goal in the warm-up against Hungary. He was captain in Jedinak's absence, and may be handed the armband again.
Mark Milligan (5)
Midfield, Al-Ahli (Saudi Arabia) age 32, caps 69
Jedinak's deputy in his preferred position of defensive midfield, but used at centre- and right-back in the recent friendlies, Milligan is another whose versatility confirms his selection. Having raised eyebrows with a January move to the Middle East, this experienced senior figure will nonetheless be an asset to the squad, but is unlikely to provide the tournament's most memorable moments.
Reinvented as a ball playing centre-back and adds experience to the starting team.
Aziz Behich (16)
Left-Back, Bursaspor (Turkey) age 27, caps 21
Surprisingly high on this list, perhaps, but the fact is that can Marwijk needs a left-full-back, and Behich has made the position his own. Since his debut in November 2012 he has been in and out of the team, but has gradually seen off various rivals while successfully pursuing his club career. Barring injury, he will start as the crucial defender-marauder on Australia's left side.
Yep, still starting left-back, like I said.
Mile Jedinak (15 - the bearded one)
Midfield, Aston Villa (England D2) age 33 caps 75
National captain and defensive midfield linchpin, Jedinak will start in the holding role in Russia. After a season stalled by injury, he has settled back into the heart of Villa's midfield as they chase promotion. More importantly for Australia, he was the talisman who sealed play-off victory over Honduras, and World Cup qualification, with his famed pseudo-hat-trick of two penalties and a deflected own-goal. The veteran Mariners product will take centre stage in June.
Didn't start either warm-up game following an extended season with Villa that ended in play-off final defeat, but his defensive steel will be vital against France's star studded attack.
Aaron Mooy (13 - the bald one)
Midfield, Huddersfield, (England) age 27, caps 32
The nation's most skillful player, and the only outfielder reminding us of the days when Kewell, Viduka, Cahill, Emerton, Schwarzer, Aloisi and Neill all graced the English Premier League together. Since narrowly missing the 2015 Asian Cup squad, he has proved a consistent creative force and dead ball weapon for Australia. This team must be greater than the sum of its parts, and even Mooy isn't a star around which it can be built, but he's the closest van Marwijk has to truly elite talent.
Will definitely start in central midfield, as the team's creative fulcrum and set piece specialist.
Tom Rogic (23)
Forward, Celtic (Scotland) age 25, caps 35
A talented attacking player, Rogic furthered his career in Europe in his early 20s after impressing at A-League level for the Mariners in New South Wales. As a deep-lying forward, he's a luxury among Australian players, and there's therefore no place for him in van Marwijk's classic Dutch 4-3-3, despite a record of seven goals in 35 appearances that places him fourth among the projected squad in both goals scored and goals-per-game, behind the prolific Cahill, penalty taker Jedinak and namesake Juric. Like Cahill though, his potential impact should see him make the squad.
Sharing creative responsibility with Mooy in a more advanced central role.
Matt Leckie (7)
Forward, Hertha Berlin (Germany) age 27, caps 51
What's more impressive? The fact that Leckie maintains a presence as an overseas player in the high calibre Bundesliga? or the consistent quality of his international performances in the face of perpetual regime and system change? He was Ange Postecoglou's right-wing-back of choice in the side's previous formation, showing his versatility and defensive nous. As a right-sided forward under the new boss he is even more comfortable, and will be crucial to the Socceroos' chances.
A key attacking threat on the right side of van Marwijk's preferred front three formation.
Andrew Nabbout (11)
Striker, Urawa (Japan) age 25, caps 2
Although technically an overseas based player, Nabbout's recent selection was among those which proved that A-League form can earn international recognition, and further evidence that Australia haven't had a reliable specialist striker since John Aloisi's retirement forced Cahill to advance from midfield. If Nabbout starts (and finishes) well in Japan, he could challenge Juric for a starting berth.
Started both warm-ups while Juric recovered from injury, and took his chance well. Offers more pace than Juric - useful against France where counter attacks will be the best hope.
Robbie Kruse (10 - the one who looks like Kevin Bacon)
Forward, VFL Bochum (Germany D2) age 29, caps 62
The fourth most capped player in the projected squad has achieved this through consistently solid performances at international and, mostly German, domestic level. He lacks the flair of Rogic or the game-changing intensity of Cahill but is more likely to start in Russia than either, because he combines what ability he has with tireless energy on the left side of attack. If anything, the reversion to 4-3-3 under the new coach only cements Kruse's position in the Socceroos XI.
Still the left-sided attacker, mostly for his work rate and additional defensive contribution.
Possible alternative starters
Tom Juric (9)
Striker, Lucerne (Switzerland) age 26, caps 34
It's hard following the Socceroos' fluctuating diaspora of players, but help is at hand: let's separate these two 'Tom-ic's from each other, shall we? Juric is a talented attacking player who furthered his career in Europe in his early 20s after impressing at A-League level in New South Wales. As an out-and-out striker, he's a rarity among Australian players, and will therefore lead the line in van Marwijk's classic Dutch 4-3-3, despite a meagre record of eight goals in 34 appearances that nonetheless places him third among the likely squad in both goals scored and goals-per-game.
Just back from an unfortunately timed injury, but had consistently led the line up to this point and his experience may still earn a starting opportunity over Nabbout against France.
Massimo Luongo (8)
Midfield, Q.P.R. (England D2) age 25, caps 34
Since being named Player Of The Tournament after Australia's victorious hosting of the 2015 Asian Cup, and his subsequent upward move from Swindon to QPR, Luongo has struggled to consolidate his starting place in the national team, drifting instead between the ever-shifting midfield lines of Ange Postecoglou's tactical experiments. Even now his place in the XI is only predicted rather than guaranteed, but he showed his class against Colombia and might be timing his run to perfection.
Started both warm-ups in Jedinak's absence and offers more attacking threat, but the coach will play safe and select his captain, with Luongo a second-half substitute option.
Daniel Arzani (17)
Forward, Melbourne City (A-League) age 19, caps 0
What, then, is the excuse for omitting Arzani? It can only be that the absurdly talented teenager hasn't yet accumulated a sufficient number of 90-minute performances. He only broke into City's team mid-season, but since then he has been devastating, creating chance after chance for teammates. If he maintains this form into finals, the clamour to select him will be deafening.
#31 on my initial list, his form proved irresistible. Two impressive substitute appearances, including a goal and assist within minutes of his introduction against Hungary, have fans now insisting that he should start ahead of Kruse. The youngest player at the whole tournament, his pace, skill and anonymity will be best used in short bursts from the bench.
On the bench
Brad Jones (12)
Keeper, Feyenoord (Netherlands) age 36, caps 5
Until last week, the most recent of 36-year-old Jones' four caps had come four years ago, after he had spent a large part of his career warming Liverpool's bench, but his impressive resurgence between Feyenoord's posts convinced the new Dutch Socceroos coach that he was worth another look. Against Colombia last week he took his chance, and suddenly the gloves appear to be his.
Ryan was already restored between the sticks before Jones' error for Hungary's goal.
Matt Jurman (6)
Centre-Back, Suwon (Korea) age 28, caps 4
With our 16th name the projected starting XI is finally complete, but by no means certain. Before injury ruled him out of the recent friendlies, Jurman was one of three preferred centre-backs, with all four of his caps coming in qualification play-offs - high competitive intensity, granted, but limited opposition in Syria and Honduras. The coach has spoken about him in the same breath as Sainsbury as an important returnee from injury, and that's the best we have to go on for now.
Probably first reserve at centre-back if Sainsbury or Milligan is injured.
Milos Degenek (2)
Centre-Back, Yokohama (Japan) age 24, caps 17
What about Degenek though? The younger centre-back faced the attacks of Norway and Colombia, and, at least in the latter game, acquitted himself well. Now playing under Postecoglou in Japan, he's been a regular in defence since his international debut two years ago, and completes a four-way tussle to partner Sainsbury in the middle when the tournament begins.
Additional centre-back cover, but also now first reserve at right-back - it's a problem position.
James Meredith (3)
Left-Back, Millwall (England D2) age 30, caps 2
Saw no action in the friendly window, having won both of his caps back in 2015. He has painstakingly ascended the English lower leagues, mostly in Yorkshire, but is now in the form of his life. Everyone knows that you always take a second specialist left-back to a tournament, and Meredith seems to have the nod, provisionally. Training alongside the influential Cahill at Millwall can't hurt either.
Cover for Behich at left-back, but can play centrally too, especially if a back three is deployed.
Jackson Irvine (22 - the one with the pony tail)
Midfield, Hull (England D2) age 25, caps 17
A defensive midfielder with an eye for goal is a curious creature indeed, and Irvine's double-threat has kept him in contention, while the form for Championship arrivistes Burton that first earned him national selection also secured his move to a slightly bigger club. A danger at set pieces, his headed goal against Norway was the false dawn that preceded defensive collapse in Oslo.
An extra defense midfield option, with a bit more energy and attacking verve than Jedinak.
Tim Cahill (4 - the one who looks like TIm Cahill)
Forward, Millwall (England D2) age 38, caps 105
Highly unlikely to feature in the starting XI on June 16th, but nonetheless a near certainty to board the plane to Russia. There's a slim chance that van Marwijk will wield his authority by omitting a man whose best football is a distant memory, and who in January swapped Melbourne City's bench for Championship Millwall's in a clumsy attempt to reignite his first professional flame. Realistically though, a few words in the coach's ear from those within Aussie football culture, about the esteem in which Cahill is held, his talismanic effect on those around him, and his genuine potential to make history off the bench with a match-winning header, will see him selected one last time.
Will play the last 10 minutes of every game as Australia desperately thump crosses towards his head in the box. If he scores, he'll be the fourth man in history to net in four World Cup tournaments; one fears that this might be the team's sole motivation when all else is lost...
Jamie MacLaren (14)
Striker, Hibernian (Scotland) age 24, caps 5
MacLaren in particular can leapfrog a couple of peripheral strikers into the World Cup squad with a strong finish to the Scottish season. Having previously impressed for Perth and Brisbane, he has the potential to surpass Juric as Australia's chief goal threat in the longer term.
#28 on my initial list, and omitted from the squad until Juric's injury scare; a spare striker.
Dimi Petratos (21)
Forward, Newcastle Jets (A-League) age 25, caps 1
Nabbout's partner in crime as Newcastle made second place their own in Australia, Petratos is the closest challenger to Kruse for the left-sided attacking role. He thoroughly deserved his international debut, but was quiet in Oslo, and needs to reignite his domestic form to ensure World Cup selection.
An alternative wide forward, or in the Rogic role, but now behind Arzani in the pecking order.
Danny Vukovic (18)
Keeper, Genk (Belgium) age 33, caps 1
Having first been selected for a Socceroos squad 12 years ago, Vukovic became Australia's oldest debutant in 60 years; then, as a creditable scoreless draw loomed, he gifted Colombia a penalty in the dying moments - and promptly saved it... on his birthday. The fairy tale looks set to continue.
Third choice keeper. It's basically a holiday.
Not selected:
Bailey Wright
Right-Back, Bristol City (England D2) age 25, caps 22
Wright had a shocker against Norway in his first international appearance on the right side of a back four, but it's no surprise that he was given the opportunity, having operated securely in the same position in the Championship - a cut above the A-League, despite Australia's improving domestic product. He is no wing-back in the Leckie mould, but was a consistent selection on the right of Postecoglou's back three, and this versatility will keep him in the squad. He may get another chance at right-back, but is also one of numerous contenders to partner Sainsbury in the middle.
#14 on my initial list, but that Norway game really cost him. Still, a shock omission.
23) James Troisi
Forward, Melbourne Victory (A-League) age 29, caps 37
The adjective 'mercurial' becomes increasingly pejorative as a footballer ages, and at 29, Troisi needs to redefine himself, having flattered to deceive since that extra-time Asian Cup final winner in 2015. At his best he could be a key attacking threat in Russia, but the time for potential has passed.
#23 on my initial list but didn't convince the coach. He's yesterday's man, Arzani the future.
Okay, here's one photo. Outfield players in yellow, sorry, gold. Crikey, that's a lot of support staff...
