New leader? Crystal Palace's Mile Jedinak looks set
to captain Australia at World Cup
Photo: GETTY IMAGES
It has the biggest audience of any team sport
competition and only weeks remain until the football public shifts focus to living,
eating and breathing the world game for an entire month. In Australia the
game of football or soccer is often referred as “The Sleeping Giant” but the
game’s strong and rapid growth could soon see it referenced to the 1970’s
colloquially-titled General Motors advertisement “Football, Meat pies,
Kangaroos and Holden Cars”.
With the final squad announcement due this week,
the Socceroos side has gone about a well-documented “changing of the guard” as
coach Ange Postecoglou’s future vision beyond the World Cup starts to take
shape.
Some well-timed pre-emptive taps on the shoulder by
Postecoglou has seen the revolving door close on Socceroos stalwarts Brett
Holman and Lucas Neil’s international careers. The move wasn’t swift by the new
gaffer, but with wonderful service given to the national shirt, respect was
shown to two very popular Socceroos veterans. Sadly Neil has been left stranded
just four games shy of recording 100 caps for his country. In typical stoic
Neil fashion he has given strong assurances to play on in a vain hope of
gaining selection for January’s Asian Cup tournament.
The talk this week has centred on goalkeeping
incumbent Maty Ryan, who has been linked with Spanish giants Real Madrid of all places.
Ryan’s career has gained plenty of momentum after securing a starting role with
Belgium side Club Brugge this season, but the Madrid move is purely speculation. Ryan has
been on the radar of many European clubs but a final decision on his future
seems unlikely until after Brazil.
His debut season saw him impress with 13 clean sheets from 37 matches.
The local Australian A-League competition wrapped
up in style last weekend in Brisbane with the Premiers Brisbane Roar hosting
the Western Sydney Wanderers in front of over 51,000 passionate fans. The Roar
claimed a third Grand Final win together with two premierships and look likely
to provide Ivan Franjic and Matt McKay with spots in the 30 man Socceroos
squad.
Postecoglou has not been hurried in his quest to
name a captaincy replacement, but it is looking likely that Crystal Palace
based midfielder Mile Jedinak has the runs on the board to fill Neil’s shoes.
Other notable contenders could be veteran Tim Cahill or experienced defensive
midfielder Mark Milligan. Unfortunately for Jedinak he was forced from the
field in Palace’s final match with a groin strain that could see him miss the
final Socceroos hit out at home against South Africa on May 26.
The possible “bolters” for a ticket to Brazil include Newcastle Jets Adam Taggart after a stellar
year in the A-League after winning the coveted “Golden Boot” trophy for netting
16 goals. Fortuna Dusseldorf based winger Ben
Halloran is also gaining plenty of attention with a fine season in the
Bundesliga 2 league with six goals and 23 games this season in Germany.
Australia’s first
opponent sees them with their best or some say only chance of snatching a point
in the tournament. In what will give some hope to fans Down Under, no
Australian team has ever returned home from the World Cup pointless since their
opening campaign back in 1974. Chile’s FIFA ranking of 15 places them well
above the Socceroos on 63, but with news of injury concerns to Chile’s Arturo
Vidal, could mean a welcome reprieve for the Aussies before Chile play their remaining pool matches against Spain and the Netherlands. They will still have
the likes of Barcelona
star Alexis Sanchez and the talented David Pizarro to cope with.
The giant battle for midfield possession and
strengthening the obvious defensive frailties will be Postecoglou’s biggest
challenges. He will be hoping the Socceroos's proud unbeaten record against the
Dutch can continue. Although with Robin Van Persie and Arjen Robben anchoring their
attack the “Clockwork Orange”
will again be at the peak of their powers and one of the favoured sides to
progress towards the semi-finals.
The ultimate test will be saved for last when
Ange’s men take on football super powers and current European and World Cup
Champions Spain in Curitiba. With last
year’s 6-0 defeats to Brazil
and France
still etched in the memories of many, fans will be hoping for nothing more than
a competitive showing over an unrealistic and euphoric upset victory over
"The Red Fury”.
This World Cup has garnered unprecedented interest
from Australian football fans here and abroad but not for a high expectation of
success. You can be certain the beaches of Copacabana and Ipanema will be
filled not just with the green and gold of Brazil but a healthy splattering of
Socceroos jerseys and Aussie football tragics.
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