Socceroos WC squad: Garang Kuol ready to create history, Danny Vukovic responds to critics

Club and national teammate Jason Cummings believes he has the “world at his feet” and coach Graham Arnold knows he’s found the Socceroos’ X-factor. But what does Garang Kuol think?

Vukovic (left) competes for possession while playing for Australia against Lebanon. Picture: AAP

When Garang Kuol explodes off the bench for the Socceroos in Qatar later this month, he’ll become the youngest Socceroo in history to feature in the tournament with only one goal: play without fear.

It’s a prospect that has left the 18-year-old ‘buzzing’ since he was woken up by a message on Tuesday morning declaring he’d made the cut for Graham Arnold’s 26-man squad.

But the prodigious talent is working out there’s still much to learn – on and off the pitch.

When Kuol was brought into the Socceroos fold for a debut in the September friendlies against New Zealand his celebratory phone call with brother Alou, who is plying his trade in Germany’s Bundesliga, didn’t go down especially well.

“What happened mate?” Garang jokingly childed his older brother, who had missed selection and is yet to feature for the Socceroos.

"I rang him and I'm just like: What happened, mate?!" 💀

"I want to inspire young children to dream big. Sky is the limit." 🥹

Garang Kuol 👏

🇦🇺 v 🇳🇿: 22.9.22 #GiveIt100#GoSocceroos#AUSvNZL#ThisIsQueensland#VisitBrisbanepic.twitter.com/ihdCKL18XS

— Socceroos (@Socceroos) September 14, 2022

It wasn’t particularly well received.

“Last time didn’t end well. He ignored me for a bit,” Garang said with a grin on Wednesday morning.

So there were no jokes to be made as Alou screamed ‘Garang Kuol’s in the World Cup!’ repeatedly down the line from Stuttgart.

This time it was purely the realisation of a dream that seemed a world away two years ago when Kuol was running around in Victoria’s semi-professional National Premier League 2 for the Goulburn Valley Suns.

Kuol has made a huge impact in a short amount of time in Australian football. Picture: Getty

In a fortnight Kuol could be lining up against the likes of French superstars Kylian Mbappe and Karim Benzema – household names around the world who command a level of respect Kuol hopes to one day earn after recently signing with English Premier League giants Newcastle.

“I wouldn’t say I’m hoping to meet them. It’s more like I’m excited to be versing them,” Kuol said.

“Every time you’re on the pitch you want to try and create something which takes a bit of (flair), and no fear.

“On the day, any team has a chance. Australian fans can be very excited.”

Garang Kuol and Jason Cummings will both be headed to Qatar this month. Picture: Getty

Central Coast and Socceroos teammate Jason Cummings believes “the world is at his feet”, and it seems Arnold agrees – having thrown the electric talent into the deep end after desperately trying to keep a lid on the hype after his Australia debut.

“He’s a player that has absolutely zero fear – he just goes out and he wants to entertain,” Arnold said.

“When we talk about an impact player … that can change a moment of a game, Garang Kuol is that one.”

SOCCEROO COMES OUT SWINGING OVER VICIOUS SNUB CRITICS

- By Joe Barton

Socceroos goalkeeper Danny Vukovic has responded to critics of his World Cup call-up, and the supposed snubbing of Mitch Langerak, with a simple message.

“I don’t care what people say, I don’t care what people think. I’m going to the World Cup.”

Vukovic booked his second World Cup berth on Tuesday when named among Graham Arnold’s 26-man squad, and the smile hadn’t been wiped from his face by Wednesday morning despite the furore around the goalkeeping selections.

“I’m 37, but it’s still a boyhood dream,” Vukovic said.

Danny Vukovic has returned to the A-League with the Mariners this season. Picture: Getty

Former Socceroo Tommy Oar led the charge about Langerak’s omission, suggesting it was a ‘jobs for the boys’ decision which left a ‘sour taste’ in the one-time dashing winger’s mouth.

But for Vukovic, who admits he feared his hopes of a national debut had been dashed after years in the wilderness before a belated call-up in 2018 led to a spot in the Russia World Cup squad, nothing will dull his joy at another appearance at football’s showpiece event.

And it is worth noting that Vukovic’s selection is not without merit.

He has been a permanent fixture in Arnold’s squads throughout the Socceroos’ arduous qualifying campaign and was told, upon missing selection for the recent friendlies against New Zealand, to keep his mind focused on the Qatar tournament as a priority.

“I was in my 30s and hadn’t been with the national team for seven, eight years - I think when that happens you tend to think it’s been and gone, and your chance has drifted away,” Vukovic said of being recalled in 2018, where a dominant season with Sydney FC put him back in the frame.

Vukovic (left) competes for possession while playing for Australia against Lebanon. Picture: AAP

“That opened some doors up, I got back into the national team under Ange Postecoglou and the door opened to go back to Europe.

“Since then I’ve been a part of the national team throughout the whole thing and that’s kind of been forgotten in recent days.

“But I don’t care what people say, I don’t care what people think. I’m going to the World Cup, and the people that matter the most to me, my friends and family, they’re proud of me and that’s all that matters.”

Michell Langerak was said to be dumbfounded by his omission. Picture: Getty

The Central Coast Mariners star said he always believed he would be part of Arnold’s three-strong goalkeeper group, which includes captain Mat Ryan and penalty specialist Andrew Redmayne, despite Langerak’s involvement in the September friendlies.

Discussions with Arnold and goalkeeper coach John Crawley made sure of that.

“I was disappointed to not be there the last two games (against New Zealand) but they told me to focus on November. That’s what I’ve done,” Vukovic said.

“There’s been a lot of talk about the reserve goalkeeping spot for the World Cup, more so than I think is needed. 26 men have realised a lifelong dream and the focus has been on (the negative), which is disappointing.”

PRODIGY SNUBS SOCCEROOS DESPITE LAST-DITCH EFFORT

Socceroos coach Graham Arnold was negotiating with 18-year-old prodigy Cristian Volpato until the stroke of midnight before finalising his World Cup squad – only to have the Sydney-born star confirm his snubbing of Australia.

Volpato, once a member of both Sydney FC and Western Sydney Wanderers’ youth academies, has enjoyed an extraordinary rise in Italian football since being overlooked by A-League clubs and is now starring for Jose Mourinho’s AS Roma in Italy.

The talented teenager has earned the trust of Mourinho as a bench weapon for the Serie A powerhouse, producing on the scoresheet as he cements himself as one of the brightest young talents Australia has produced in recent years.

Arnold was eager to include Volpato in his 26-man squad, announced on Tuesday, and spent days on the phone in a bid to convince the youngster to pledge his allegiance to Australia over Italy.

But instead Volpato appears destined to join the likes of Josip Simunic (Croatia) and Christian Vieri (Italy) in the catalogue of Australian ‘what ifs’.

Cristian Volpato snubbed a late World Cup call from Graham Arnold.

Like Simunic, Volpato is Australian born. But it seems inevitable that he will follow in the footsteps of Vieri, who was born in Italy but raised in Australia, in representing the Azzurri, who have failed to qualify for the past two World Cups.

“It’s not my decision,” Arnold said of Volpato, who has already played for Italy’s youth teams, and could feature in upcoming friendlies for the national team that will tie him to Italy for life.

“I spoke to Cristian yesterday three times. Right up until 11pm. Before that I spoke to him on numerous occasions. I pretty much told him (on Monday) that he was in the 26-man squad.

“He wanted to go away and think about it. He wanted to speak to the people around him that help guide his career and he came back last night and declined the offer to come and play for Australia at the World Cup.

“That’s his decision at the end of the day. I’d rather look at the young boys we’ve got in and the young Australian boys who will come into the camp.

“Cristian feels at this time of his career it’s such a massive decision and at this moment of time he doesn’t want to make this massive decision which is all his right.”

Cristian Volpato celebrates scoring in the Serie A.

YOUNG TALENT TIME ARRIVES FOR SOCCEROOS

Arnold’s work with Australia’s youth teams has helped him oversee the development of the next generation of players, and the pay-off is that he will be bringing a stunning 17 World Cup debutants to Doha this month.

News of his call-up brought 24-year-old midfielder Cameron Devlin to tears, while Arnold hopes Kuol could be the X-factor Australia desires off the bench as he capped a remarkable rise to win selection.

Kuol’s inclusion is the culmination of an extraordinary 12 months in which the youngster burst on to the scene to secure a monster contract with Premier League giants Newcastle and now an incredible World Cup berth.

Cameron Devlin was reduced to tears when told he had made the Socceroos squad.

Even six months ago it would’ve appeared fanciful, but the Central Coast starlet’s incredible rise – including an electrifying cameo on Socceroos debut against New Zealand – saw him demand selection as the squad’s biggest bolter, alongside midfielder Keanu Baccus and Scotland-born striker Jason Cummings.

“An 18 year old kid who’s just come out of nowhere and is on a new journey in life,” Arnold said of Kuol.

“We’ve seen this type of thing happening many times before at World Cups and massive games, where players who are unknown come out and shock the whole of the country.”

Originally published as Socceroos WC squad: Garang Kuol ready to create history, Danny Vukovic responds to critics