Australians are used to the heat,
but even those enduring eternal damnation in the fires of Hades might posit
that this
January has been atypically warm. While the Australian wilderness bakes, new
Socceroos manager Ange Postecoglu must be sadly regarding his kitchen’s
increasing temperature: first, he was dealt a truly petrifying group and in the
past ten days, he has lost two key players for the onrushing World Cup.
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The pair, Australia’s most
eligible leaders, were the fresh faces of Postecoglu’s new Socceroos. The
manager’s initial remit was to
overhaul a staid national setup, with the two players most liable to
benefit most from a divestment of “leadership”
were Kruse and Williams. Mainstream Australia could identify with the pair – good
players in excellent competitions, with the bonus of representing the Socceroos
for long enough to be recognizable while not being members of the burnished
Golden Generation.
The enforced withdrawals remove a
vast element of class from any potential World Cup squad. While the A-League –
and, indeed, most Asian football leagues – are improving in quality, there’s little
question that the cream of Australian footballers ply their trade in Europe,
and are regarded by Skippies with a certain amount of expectation. With Kruse
and Williams sidelined, more of that responsibility sits awkwardly on the
shoulders of unproven midfielders Tommy Oar, Tom Rogic and James Holland.
There is likely one silver lining
from a dark week in Australian football: the squad that Postecoglu will select
for Brazil will likely be comprised of very familiar names – old ones yukking
up proto-retirement in the Emirati leagues (you’re
excluded, Mark Bresciano), and younger players who appear in local
competitions. That group includes interesting names such as left-back Ivan
Franjic, Robbie Cornthwaite, Aaron Mooy and “Viduka-lite” Tomi Juric.
The post-World Cup boost Australian
soccer received in
2006 was palpable around the then-nascent A-League, even though only one local
made the squad. With half the squad in the general vicinity and a more unified
outlook brought about by Postecoglu’s share-the-wealth game plan, Australian
football can look upon the past week’s terror as an opportunity – albeit a sad
one – to expand its brand and showcase the talent on display at home.
