World Cup qualifiers: Craig Goodwin keen to make up for lost time and consolidate Socceroos spot
After earning a call-up to Graham Arnold’s squad for the opening qualifier for the 2022 World Cup, Craig Goodwin knows it’s now-or-never if he wants to go from fringe Socceroo to national team regular. And he won’t be taking Kuwait lightly.
Time is a factor for Socceroos winger Craig Goodwin if he wants to realise his ambition of playing for Australia at a World Cup.
The former Adelaide United winger, 27, was an unused substitute in several of Australia’s qualifiers on the way to Russia 2018 but didn’t make it into the squad for last year’s tournament.
Having made an impact upon his return to the Reds in last year’s A-League campaign, Goodwin forced his way back into the national team and picked up his fourth cap in June’s 1-0 friendly defeat to South Korea in Busan.
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It was Goodwin’s first appearance for Australia since the May 2016 friendly loss to England at Sunderland’s Stadium of Light.
Having earned a call-up to Graham Arnold’s squad for the opening qualifier for the 2022 World Cup against Kuwait next week, Goodwin knows it’s now-or-never if he wants to go from fringe Socceroo to national team regular.
“I think now I’m in my prime as such and I’m (playing) the best football I think that I’ve produced in my career,” Goodwin said.
“It’s a pivotal time and to be involved in these World Cup games from the start is very crucial.”
Goodwin says Kuwait’s recent loss to a-semi professional outfit doesn’t mean the Socceroos will have it easy on the opening night of the 2022 FIFA World Cup qualifiers.
Goodwin was among the first Socceroos to land in coach Graham Arnold’s camp in the United Arab Emirates before they play its first match on the long road towards Qatar in searing heat in Kuwait next week.
Kuwait has played nine matches this year including friendlies against English clubs, minnows Maidenhead United in the fifth tier which it lost 1-0, a 1-0 win over sixth tier Hungerford Town and a 2-1 win over Premier League outfit Aston Villa.
Australia is FIFA ranked 46th and Kuwait is 156th.
“No matter who the opposition is we can’t take it lightly,’’ Goodwin said after flying in from Saudi Arabia to the UAE where he is contracted to Al-Wehda.
“It’s the worst thing you could do coming in and starting this campaign, taking an opposition lightly and thinking it’s going to be a definite win by a number of goals.
“We’ve got a good amount of training time before the game to gel together as a team and we have to be ready on what Arnie what’s us to do.”
With forecast daytime temperatures in Kuwait hovering between 43C and 47C until the game, Goodwin said part of the motive behind the Socceroos UAE camp was ensuring players became acclimatised to the heat.
The ex-Reds gun at this time last year was in super-hot form under former United coach Marco Kurz after returning from a two-year stint with Netherlands club Sparta Rotterdam.
In a season where Goodwin jagged 15 goals and nine assists, five of those goals arrived in the FFA Cup where the Reds hoisted the trophy after the Munno Para City junior scored a brace in the final.
Goodwin was then headhunted and signed by new Al-Wehda boss, former Croatian international Mario Cvitanović with the cashed-up club taking advantage of the winger’s estimated $450,000 buyout clause.
Goodwin’s market value is $1.23 million.
The four-time capped Socceroo also enjoyed a short pre-season abroad in Slovenia with his new club but still keeps in contact with his former Adelaide teammates that were expected to conduct some of their four month pre-season in summer, close to its sister club Qingdao Red Lions in China.
“I try and watch their FFA Cup games and they progressed to the quarterfinals which is good,’’ Goodwin said.
“I hope they can do really well and reach the final but I keep up to date.
“They lost Isaias and myself and it was a really good transition period last season, winning the FFA Cup and just missing out on the grand final, now it’s a different period with their new coach (Gertjan Verbeek) stepping in.
“I heard the new coach is doing things differently and from everything I hear it’s attacking and free flowing I hear they need a couple more players (to sign) and time.”
Goodwin has featured in both of his club’s opening two matches of the season but knows regular game time is required if he’s to stay in the Socceroos setup beyond the September 10 clash in Kuwait.
With Celtic pair Tom Rogic and Daniel Arzani, as well as Melbourne Victory recruits Robbie Kruse and Andrew Nabbout among those who will be pushing for attacking spots in Arnold’s future squads, Goodwin is banking on his versatility to ensure he stays in the picture until the 2022 World Cup.
“I have the ability, I believe, to play in different roles, and obviously I know the style that Arnie likes to play and the wingers are very inside and very versatile and adaptive but I can also play high and wide as well,” he said.
“I think as I’ve progressed in my career I’ve had the different styles and different places of countries to learn different ways of playing.
“I do have that versatility and hopefully I do have the chance in this game to show it.”
Originally published as World Cup qualifiers: Craig Goodwin keen to make up for lost time and consolidate Socceroos spot