David Davutovic wraps up the 11 biggest talking points in world football and the A-League
Socceroos boss Graham Arnold is yet to make a call on Australia’s permanent skipper after the retirement of Mark Milligan. Who should follow in the footsteps of Mile Jedinak, Lucas Neill and Mark Viduka? David Davutovic on the 10 hottest topics in football.
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Could Western United be the A-League’s next fairytale story?
With an astute coach in Mark Rudan, an inspirational playmaker in Alessandro Diamanti and big personalities such as Besart Berisha, the real question is why not?
David Davutovic looks as three reasons the A-League’s newest club can make history in their maiden campaign in his latest edition of Duva’s XI.
Plus a former A-League prodigy’s Bundesliga debut, the latest on Australia’s Women’s World Cup bid and where Kevin Muscat’s coaching future could lie.
1. WESTERN UNITED
There are three reasons Western United can win A-League title in their debut season.
Former Italy and West Ham star Alessandro Diamanti, impressive squad depth and a stellar away record (three wins, one loss).
They’ve shown game plan variations and an ability to win while under pressure.
Diamanti possesses the A-League’s best left foot and his cross for the opener was world class, putting it on a plate for Connor Pain while planting doubt in Roar keeper Jamie Young’s mind.
Like their other big personalities (Besart Berisha, Panagiotis Kone, Ersan Gulum, Andrew Durante, Scott McDonald), Diamanti will relish big games.
Apostolos Stametolopoulos and McDonald both scored in a friendly on Saturday, while Young Socceroos captain Seb Pasquali and Connor Chapman were absent from the senior squad.
2. STEP UP MAT RYAN
Brighton and Hove goalkeeper Mat Ryan looks set to emerge as the Socceroos’ spiritual leader in the wake of Mark Milligan’s retirement.
Socceroos boss Graham Arnold is yet to make a call on the permanent skipper, to follow in the footsteps of greats like Mile Jedinak, Lucas Neill, Mark Viduka, Johnny Warren and Peter Wilson.
Ryan, who’s become the Socceroos’ 62nd captain post Milligan, is vocal and among the most aware of the players’ responsibilities to promote the game and the Socceroos brand.
Australia has produced a succession of world class shot-stoppers, led by Mark Bosnich and Mark Schwarzer, and Ryan is on track to smash the Socceroos games record, currently held by the latter, whose 109 caps is one more than Tim Cahill.
He will make his 89th league appearance for Brighton tomorrow (Tuesday) away to Crystal Palace.
3. SOCCEROOS SOS
Mark Milligan revealed how a phone call on the Greek Islands convinced him to play on, before a growing Socceroos WhatsApp group finally convinced him to retire.
“I’d pretty much made up my mind. Arnie rang me a few days after the World Cup when I was on holidays with the family on Crete,” Milligan said.
“He convinced me to play on to help get this group get more experience, which many have done.”
So who’s stepped up?
“My leadership group on WhatsApp is basically the (whole) squad now,” Milligan laughed. “It’s good. That’s where we wanted them to be.”
4. DUTCHY BASHING DOWN DOOR
Austrian-based midfielder James Holland continues to push his Socceroos recall claims, as Australia’s form European player with LASK, who enter the Europa League knockout phase seeded.
Holland has already played 30 games – more than an A-League season – in 2019-20 and was due to play this (Monday) morning against Sturm Graz, in a league that includes Erling Haaland, who’s being chased by Manchester United.
Age 30, Holland is a natural leader and was highly respected leading the Young Socceroos at the 2009 FIFA Under 20 World Cup, a squad that included Aaron Mooy and Rhyan Grant.
MORE DUVA’S XI:
Duva’s XI: FFA chief David Gallop’s polarising seven-year tenure as FFA chief executive ends
Duva’s XI: Victory in trouble, Jamie McLaren flying and banned Olyroos step out for first time
Duva’s XI: Aaron Mooy’s midfield dominance at Brighton will be drawing attention from top clubs
David Davutovic takes a look at the biggest talking points in local and world football
5. A-LEAGUE KIDS EXCEL
It was a big A-League Round 10 for the next generation of Australian talent.
Wellington Phoenix’s feisty Aussie midfielder Cameron Devlin, 21, made an impressive debut start after 11 substitute appearances, giving as good as he got in the 0-0 draw at Melbourne Victory.
Another former Sydney FC product, Jerry Skotadis, 19, excelled in his second start for Western United, with another high-octane box-to-box performance. United beat Brisbane Roar, whose Joeys left-back Jordan Courtney-Perkins, 17, continues to get exposure.
Victory midfielder Anthony Lesiotis, 19, had a solid outing as makeshift right-back.
Central Coast were decent at Sydney FC, with teenage trio Dylan Ruiz-Diaz, Samuel Silvera and his replacement Lewis Miller appearing.
The Sky Blues’ talented right-back understudy to Grant, Harry van der Saag, 20, made a late debut.
6. VICTORY DESPERATE
It is difficult seeing Victory anything more than a finals also-ran unless they sign players in January.
Victory has improvement left in it, with key defender Thomas Hoogland and Tommy Deng yet to return.
But Victory’s unbalanced and thin squad needs an injection of quality, especially if Victory is to advance to the Asian Champions League.
7. WOMEN’S WORLD CUP BID
Australia has emerged as a serious 2023 Women’s World Cup contender, with a decision set for June 2020.
Just four bids were submitted by Friday’s FIFA deadline, with Brazil, Colombia and Japan the official rivals of the joint Australia-New Zealand bid.
While Matildas fans are waiting for the next generation to emerge, the golden generation of Sam Kerr, Steph Catley, Caitlin Foord, Emily van Egmond, Alanna Kennedy and Tameka Yallop will be in their prime for the 32-team tournament in 2023.
8. ANGE’S DISCIPLES
Ange Postecoglou will announce a new Aussie assistant within days, after losing his trusted lieutenant with his full blessing.
Long-time Postecoglou assistant Peter Cklamovski, 41, has joined Japanese rivals Shimizu S-Pulse, propelling him to the top of the Aussie coaching ranks.
Cklamovski was so off Broadway in Australia, no A-League club has ever considered him for a senior role, despite having worked at Perth Glory, Adelaide United and Melbourne Victory, albeit as a fitness coach before transitioning to a bona fide assistant.
9. MUSCAT MEETINGS
Kevin Muscat has held a series of meeting with clubs in Europe in recent weeks.
Primarily England and Scotland, where he enjoyed a successful career with Wolves, Crystal Palace, Glasgow Rangers and Millwall.
He attended the Wolves’ clash with Tottenham overnight (Monday morning), the club where he spent five years, playing over 180 games.
For fans curious whether a Victory-Muscat reunion is possible in the foreseeable future – no chance, with both parties having amicably moved on after 14 years together.
Western Sydney could be an option for Muscat if that job becomes vacant, with pressure mounting on Wanderers boss Marcus Babbel after a fifth straight loss.
10. MBAPPE – PETULANT OR WINNER?
French whiz Kylian Mbappe turns 21 on Friday and his insatiable appetite to win was on show in PSG’s 3-1 win over Montpellier last week.
He fumed and ignored coach Thomas Tuchel – for being substituted in stoppage time.
It is interesting to ponder how such a reaction might have gone down in Australia.
While discipline is vital, it talks to the increasing gap in the winning mentality between Australia and some of the world’s top nations.
MORE FOOTBALL NEWS:
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As soon as European kids start playing, they are taught that winning matters.
In Australia, ladders have been ditched and are not introduced until Under 12s at community level and U13 in the NPL (in Victoria).
While I am one of the biggest advocates of kids getting more opportunities, I consistently hear from A-League types that youngsters do not train hard enough, and demand selection.
Real Madrid are leading the charge for the world’s hottest young talent, who comfortably beat Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi to the 100 goal mark.
11. A-LEAGUE’S BUNDESLIGA DEBUTANT
Ex Wellington Phoenix attacker Sarpreet Singh debuted for Bayern Munich yesterday, coming on for hat-trick hero Philippe Coutinho late in the 6-1 win.
The German giants signed the New Zealand international in pre-season.
It’s great to see a young talent and such a good kid get an opportunity at such a huge club. It could also be argued that the A-League has done a lot more for NZ football than vice versa.
Originally published as David Davutovic wraps up the 11 biggest talking points in world football and the A-League