Socceroos ‘B’
A lot has been made about Ange Postecoglou’s progressive 23 man squad that will be kicking off against Chile this morning. There will be another 23 Socceroos that won’t have the chance of getting selected because they weren’t able to make the cut. Here is the unofficial Socceroos B squad that could have featured in Brazil.
Goalkeepers
Brad Jones (Liverpool, 32 years old) – The Liverpool second choice keeper could feel hard done by not to get named as one of the three keepers in Ange’s squad especially considering he was solid enough against Ecuador back in March. You could argue that Jones hadn’t been getting regular game time but the same could be said for Borussia Dortmund back up keeper, Mitch Langerak who was picked.
Mark Birighitti (Newcastle Jets, 23) – The Newcastle Jet keeper surprised a few when he made his way into Ange’s 30 man provisional squad. The Perth born goalie could be a mainstay in future squads.
Adam Federici (Reading, 29) – After suffering from poor form in Reading’s Premier League relegation two seasons ago, Federici has been in and out of the now Championship side. He possess a quality kicking game so Ange would have considered him. At the age of 29, he will still have a few chances yet.
Defenders
Lucas Neill (Free agent, 36) – How it all went so so wrong for the Socceroo icon. The former captain appeared to have blood on his hand after the FFA sacked Holger Osieck and a string of poor performances against Brazil and France had the Australian footballing public on his back. His struggle to secure game time also would have played a huge part in him missing out of the squad.
Sasa Ognenovski (Sydney FC, 35) – The 35 year old has been left in the dark regarding his international future and that is unfair for a Socceroos who has been a vital cog in the Aussie defence since debuting back in 2010. His time at Sydney FC secured him game time and he performed well, organising a notoriously shonky defence. Could have been vital for the Socceroos in Brazil.
Curtis Good (Newcastle United on loan at Dundee United, 21) – Ange is a big fan of the 21 year old and if not for injury he could have been lining up tomorrow morning. While he will obviously be upset about not being fit for Brazil but he is so young and will surely be featuring in next years Asian Cup, fitness permitting.
Rhys Williams (Middlesbrough, 25) – This is the second World Cup that the Middlesbrough captain will miss after suffering from a recurring achilles injury. A defender of his talent should have 30 or 40 caps for the Aussies by now and once he gets on top of that, his natural ability will surely see him a part of the Socceroo set up.
Luke Wilkshire (Dinamo Moscow, 32) – This was the biggest surprise when the final 23 was announced was the axing Dinamo Moscow fullback Luke Wilkshire. The right back has 80 caps for the Socceroos which was seen as vital experience for the young Aussie back line. Even if he wasn’t to start over Ivan Franjic, he offered safe cover for left or right back.
Michael Zullo (FC Utrecht on loan at Adelaide United, 25) – He spent the season on loan at Adelaide United playing under Josep Gombau which you would imagine is a similar philosophy to Ange Postecoglou so it was a bit of a surprise when the 25 year never got a look in. Fast and astute tactically, Zullo was a valid option at left back which is notorious for being the Socceroos weak spot over the last decade.
Midfielders
Robbie Kruse (Bayer Leverkusen, 25) – He is the Cristiano Ronaldo of the Socceroos and was the only player that Ange Postecoglou would be playing on the right flank if he hadn’t suffered a season ending ACL injury back in January. The Bayer Leverkusen wide man has pace and skill that could liken him to Socceroos legend Harry Kewell and to see him out of this World Cup will have Socceroo fans grimacing. At 25, Kruse will be the key player at next years Asian Cup and hopefully Russia in four years time.
Brett Holman (Al Nasr, 30) – Holman was clearly told that he wasn’t a part of Ange’s plans moving forward and that must have left to his decision to call curtains on his international career. Holman was the star player out of the World Cup four years ago and it seems that everything has been downhill for the attacking midfielder since. I just feel he had something more he could offer the not very lethal Socceroos.
Tom Rogic (Celtic on loan at Melbourne Victory, 21) – If you rewind a year, Tommy Rogic would not have signed for Scottish giants Celtic and if he did you would have to question his mental state because it has all gone pear shaped since. He has bags of talent but the 21 year old has only made it on the pitch for a handful of games over the last year, either due to non selection of a nagging injury when he made a last ditch loan move to the Melbourne Victory, another poor piece of judgement. He was one of the last players cut due to his inability to prove he was injury free.
Adam Sarota (FC Utrecht, 25) – The Utrecht midfielder has been a bit of an enigma for Socceroo fans. He has the talent to be a really good footballer but nothing is really eventuating for the 25 year old who was a part of the original 30 man squad. He only has 3 caps for the Socceroos but his pass and move playing style will have him in the back of Postecoglou mind moving forward.
Harry Kewell (Melbourne Heart but now retired, 35) – The 35 year old is the Socceroos greatest ever player and it was a shame to see him retire and shut the door on any chances he had of making the World Cup. Admittedly Ange was unlikely to pick the Melbourne Heart captain who has a typically injury ridden season but the man has class and no Australia would be stupid enough to back against him in the crunch moments. I still here the line “It just had to by Harry Kewell” as the Socceroos celebrated his equaliser against Croatia back in 2006.
Chris Herd (Aston Villa, 25) – When you talk about Aussies playing abroad the name Chris Herd often pops up. The Aston Villa midfielder has 42 games for the Birmingham club and has had some Socceroos fans waiting for him to receive a call up. To date the 25 year old is yet to earn a cap for the Socceroos despite being in his fair share of squads over the last few seasons.
Jackson Irvine (Celtic on loan at Kilmarnock, 21) – Another Celtic midfielder on loan to league rival Kilmarnock, Irvine was the last real surprise selection by former coach Holger Osieck. His 10 minutes against Canada put his foot in the door and while he still isn’t a household name the Victorian youngster could earn a few more caps over the coming years.
Josh Brillante (Newcastle Jets, 21)- The boy with the last name is a player for the future. To date he has the one Socceroo cap but his selection in the original 30 man squad is an indicator that Ange is keen on the Queenslander of Italian heritage who has been a regular in the Australian youth set ups
Luke Brattan (Brisbane Roar, 24) – One of the rising stars of the last A-League season, the Brisbane Roar player knows how to command a midfielder as he was the unlikely vital player in a team of stars. The 24 year has yet to earn a Socceroo cap however that is likely to change sooner rather than later, especially if he can continue churning out high quality displays in the best midfield in the country.
Nikita Rukavytsya (Mainz 05 on loan at FSV Frankfurt, 26) – You remember the name and when you watch him player you certainly remember the player. He is lightening quick and that is something that when things are going against you can really make an impact. His lack of game time for FSV Frankfurt due to niggling injuries proved costly for the 26 year old of Ukrainian heritage who was hoping to add to his 12 Socceroo caps.
Neil Kilkenny (Preston North End, 28)- The Preston North End midfielder has a strong work ethic that had a select group of Aussie fans really backing him for a call up. He has featured numerous times for the Socceroos since 2006 but at the age of 28, Kilkenny probably has not improved as a footballer to the extent he was expected to.
Forwards
Josh Kennedy (Nagoya Grampus, 31) – In my opinion, Kennedy is the Socceroo best striker because he knows how to plays as an out and out centre forward. His 17 goals in 33 international matches is really impressive and his goal against Iraq will go down in history, it would be in the top 3 sporting moments I have seen live. He has had continual back problems which is what is suggested to have seen him as one of the final players cut. You just feel that he was a player the Socceroos could have really utilised, all 6ft 4 of him.
Archie Thompson (Melbourne Victory, 35) – What a servant for Australian football, Thompson is the Socceroos third highest scorer and even if 13 of them were in one match, you still gotta score em! The 35 year old has probably reached the end of his international career but most fans will appreciate the men’s high intensity efforts in the green and gold.
Scott McDonald – (Milwall, 30) Maybe he is cursed, the diminutive striker scored for fun in the Scottish Premier League however he was never able to find the back of the net in his 26 caps for the Socceroos. At the age of 30 you can assume the his time has past to make an impact but it the thing that nags at the back of every Socceroos fan regarding the now Millwall player is, what if he got one. . .
Tomi Juric (Western Sydney Wanderers, 23) – The time will come for the bulky forward the everyone seems to be calling the next Mark Viduka. The 22 year old had a solid season for the Western Sydney Wanderers scoring 8 goals in 17 as well as earning his first 3 Socceroos caps and a goal to boot. Juric is the player to lead the line in four years time.
The four main reasons for these players missing out include; injury, the tournament came too soon, too late or they have been seriously unlucky. You can decide which one fits who.
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