From being the last team to qualify for the 2006 world cup Australia is the second team to qualify for this world two hours after Japan did.
These are the players i would chose to go to South Africa.
First 11
GK. Mark Schwarzer, Club- Fulham, Age at World Cup (AWC) 37. Arguably the EPL goalkeeper of the season after his performances for Fulham over the last 12 months.
RB. Luke Wilkshire, Club- Dynamo Moscow, (AWC) 28. Provided over half of Australia's crosses in the qualification campaign, and a number of assists.
CB. Craig Moore, Club- Brisbane Roar, (AWC) 34. Has survived a testicular cancer scare to continue his football career.
CB. Mark Milligan, Club- Shanghai Shenhua (China), (AWC) 24. Since moving to his Chinese club Milligan has started to fulfill his potential.
LB. Scott Chipperfield, Club- Basel, (AWC) 34. While playing for Wollongong he also worked part time as a school bus driver.
CDM. Vince Grella, Club- Blackburn, (AWC) 30. Made his debut for the national, in the famous match when Australia beat England 3-1.
RM. Brett Emerton, Club- Blackburn, (AWC) 31. Has reverted to a more attacking role for Australia since the last world cup.
LM. Harry Kewell, Club- Galatasaray, (AWC) 31. Wants to show the world his best after he was limited by injury at the last world cup.
CAM. Tim Cahill, Club- Everton, (AWC) 30. Is Australia's star player, is extremely dangerous from set pieces.
St. Josh Kennedy, Club- Nagoya Grampus (Japan), (AWC) 27. Is 1.94 meters tall and a good header of the ball, the opposition will know what he's about, but the question is can they stop him.
St. Scott McDonald, Club- Celtic, (AWC) 26. Is yet to find his Celtic goal scoring form for Australia, but if he does Australia's chances of success at the world cup will increase dramatically.
Subs
GK. Michael Petkovic, Club- Sivasspor (Tuk), (AWC) 33. Sivasspor were runners up in the 2008-09 Super Lig season.
GK. Adam Federici, Club- Reading (Championship), (AWC) 25. Looks set to be Reading's first choice goalkeeper in the coming season.
CB. Matthew Spiranovic, Club- Nuremberg, (AWC) 21. Although he only played 8 games in the just completed season, Nuremberg have shown their belief in him by offering him a two year contract.
CB. Chris Coyne, Club- Perth Glory, (AWC) 31. Is looking to move to play in a league with a better standard of play.
RB. Rhys Williams, Club- Middlesbrough (Championship), (AWC) 21. After making 10 appearances for the Wales under 21 side, Williams decided to represent Australia the country of his birth.
LB. David Carney, Club- Sheffield Untied (Championship), (AWC) 26. Played alongside Wayne Rooney for Everton in the 2002 FA Youth Cup.
CM. Jason Culina, Club- Gold Coast Untied, (AWC) 29. Will find it more difficult to keep his starting spot for Australia because of his move back to the A-league.
RW. Richard Garcia, Club- Hull City, (AWC) 28. Scored Hull City's first ever premier league away goal.
LW. James Troisi, Club- Kayserispor, (AWC) 21. Troisi's move from Newcastle Utd to play in the Turkcell Super Lig lead to his breakthrough season in 2008/09, making 29 appearances for club Genclerbirligi.
CAM. Mark Bresciano, Club- Palermo, (AWC) 30. Scored the goal for Australia that leveled the 2005 world cup qualification tie against Uruguay.
CF. Bruce Djite, Club- Genclerbirligi, (AWC) 23. As well as being eligible for Australia, Djite could of also played for the USA, Cote d'Ivoire and Togo.
St. Nikita Rukavytsya, Club- FC Twente (AWC) 22. With Australia's low striking depths there are great hopes Rukavytsya will quickly fulfill his potential.
The Coach.
Australia's manager is the Dutchman Pim Verbeek. Previously Pim Verbeek has been the manager of the Netherlands Antilles and South Korea national teams. Before this Pim Verbeek was club manager of various clubs in Japan and Holland. This will be the first world cup Pim Verbeek is a manager at, however Verbeek went to the 2002 world cup as an assistant to Guus Hiddink with South Korea and also with South Korea at the 2006 world cup as an assistant to Dick Advocaat. With Australia Pim Verbeek has usually played a defensive formation with one striker and two holding midfielders and a cautious style. He used a similar style while managing South Korea.
Australia's strengths
Experience, of the first 11 I've chosen 10 of them played at the 2006 world cup, 2 of the 12 subs also played at Germany to give over half the squad the experience of playing at a world cup. Defence, in the final group stage of Asian Cup qualifying Australia is yet to concede a goal keeping 6 clean sheets.
Australia's weakness
Australia's main weakness is at left back especially if something was to happen to 34 year old Scott Chipperfield. Australia's left side of midfield also does not have much depth. Australia is also lacking at the moment in the front third, if teams can stop the crosses getting to Josh Kennedy his impact is greatly limited.
Notes
Although i have selected a 4-4-2 formation in reality Australia is more likely to play with a 4-2-3-1 formation. Midfielder Brett Holman is not included in squad however he is one of Pim Verbeek's favorite players especially to bring off the bench late in a match and is highly likely to be included in the real squad. Mark Viduka was not considered since he hasn't indicated whether he will continue playing football next season. If Uruguayan - Australian footballer Richard Porta decided to play football, at the moment I would chose him before Nikita Rukavytsya.
Exclusions and Inclusions
As of September the 5th 2009 Lucas Neil dropped from the entire squad since he doesn't currently have a club. Mark Milligan included in the first 11 for his outstanding form with his club in China.
No comments:
Post a Comment