Future Socceroos – Part 1

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If history is anything to go by, then at least a handful of this Olyroos squad will go on and become important future members of the Socceroos. I will go through the squad and look at the prospects of each player. I won’t go through the over-aged players as their role in the senior team is pretty much already determined.

Definitely Maybes

The players in this group should definitely have some part to play in the future of the national team. Some players’ futures are seemingly more assured than others, but nothing is certain. Other than Spiranovic, all the other players do have some kind of major barrier preventing them from breaking into the senior team.

Matthew Spiranovic – Thank God that we locked in him. He already has qualities that many defenders take much longer to develop, if ever. His excellent reading of the play makes up for his lack of acceleration and pace, his composure on the ball, technical and passing ability really suits a style of play that builds from the back. He is also the right height for a centre-back although he probably needs to build on his slight frame. There is something about his presence that makes me feel assured. He should be fast-tracked into the senior team as I think he should already be ahead of Beauchamp in the pecking order. He is more of a definite than a maybe.

Stuart Musialik – He was the fulcrum of the team and was instrumental. He really grew in stature as the tournament developed. The problem for Musialik is the host of quality players Australia currently have in defensive midfield. Given that Valeri is only 23 and Culina and Grella are both 28, it could be slim pickings for Musialik in terms of Socceroo caps for the foreseeable future. Realistically, he might have to look to the 2012 Asian Cup campaign to establish himself. By that time, Culina and Grella will be in their 30’s and Valeri and Musialik will be in their prime. In terms of his ability, his vision, passing ability and composure are his key strengths. I think what he needs to at is the ability to carry the ball up field when required. Great play making defensive midfielders like Pirlo and Riquelme have this attribute and it is something that Musialik needs to develop to around out his game. Developing this will make him much more dangerous as it will keep the defence honest. They won’t be able to just drop deep and cut off his passing options. Someone will need to close him down to stop him potentially making a run and drawing such a player out will open up more passing options for him.

Adam Federici – The Socceroos is lacking a true understudy to Schwarzer. Could Federici be the man? The other candidates are Velaphi, Vukovic, van Strattan, Jones and Coe. Like the current incumbent, Federici is a good shot-stopper although there were also instances during the Olympics when he showed that he is also liable to making critical blunders. His willingness to come for aerial balls also suggests that he is more confident in the air relative to Schwarzer. The major hurdle facing Federici is the big American, Marcus Hahnemann, who is still at Reading despite speculation that he would move on after an excellent season despite his club’s relegation. At 23, Federici needs to start finding first-team football if he hopes to become Australia’s next number one.

Billy Celeski – I thought he was a bit of a surprise selection but his excellent tournament has really propelled him into the category of being ‘one to watch’. Probably the biggest barrier facing Celeski is that he is far from guaranteed a spot for the Victory. The starting midfield quartet for Melbourne seems to be Lopez, Hernandez, Ward and Pondeljak. Let’s hope that Celeski’s career does not stagnate like Patafta’s did at the Victory last year. As attacking midfielder, Celeski clearly out-shone the likes of Troisi, Sarkies and Kilkenny. It is no exaggeration to say that most of Australia’s best moments involved him. He really had a free-role on the field, roaming on the right or drifting infield. The great thing was that the Olyroos’ didn’t lack width on the right despite Celeski often playing centrally. Getting the right balance between playing wide and playing centrally when given such a free-role requires a good footballing brain and his performances definitely suggested that he has it going on upstairs. Attacking midfield is also a position where the senior team definitely has room for a few youngsters to raise and challenge the incumbents. Holland and Troisi have had their chance. Celeski should get his.

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