Socceroos World Cup warm-up: Garang Kuol stuns New Zealand, puts hand up for Qatar ticket
An all-time clanger has been erased by the most exciting Socceroos debut in years - as Graham Arnold ponders calling on a World Cup bolter after a scintillating display.
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Got a Panadol? Socceroos coach Graham Arnold admits he might need a few, with World Cup selection headaches to dominate his thoughts over the next six weeks.
Teen sensation Garang Kuol added another one on Sunday with a stunning 18-minute cameo in Australia’s 2-0 win over New Zealand in their final World Cup warm-up.
The 18-year-old is being courted by the Premier League’s richest club, Newcastle, on a $43,000-a-week five-year deal – and showed why he’s one of the game’s hottest commodities with a blistering debut.
With his first touch the electric forward took the ball from inside the Socceroos’ half, zipped past a defender and scorched his way towards goal – calmly crossing to set up a chance for fellow debutant Jason Cummings, who converted a penalty earned via a handball from his shot on goal.
It was the most exciting Socceroos debut in years, from Australia’s youngest debutant since Harry Kewell in 1996, but Arnold was cautious when praising Kuol after the match as chatter began that he may have found a dynamic spark plug to ignite Australia’s campaign.
“This is not even the first step for the kid. He’s got a hell of a long way to go,” Arnold said.
“He’s still going to put on some beef and muscle. He’s quick, obviously, but at the same time (he has to) improve his decision making and his defensive efforts.”
At the last World Cup, four years ago in Russia, 19-year-old Daniel Arzani was given key minutes off the bench as the Socceroos’ youngest performer.
But Kuol would be an even bigger bolter, having not yet started an A-League match – something which is sure to change when the competition returns in a fortnight – but he’s already part of the Socceroos’ family according to Arnold.
“I just wanted to bring him in to give him the experience of the culture of the Socceroos,” Arnold said.
“He’s come in and settled in very, very well. All the boys love him.
“He felt very relaxed when he went out on the pitch because he’s already part of the family.”
Arnold will take 26 players to Qatar, and several players on Sunday put their hands up to join the “15 or 16” he already has pencilled in for the flight – along with the hopeful additions of injured defenders Kye Rowles (foot) and Harry Souttar (ACL), and potential availability of mercurial midfield star Tom Rogic.
Defenders Thomas Deng and debutant Harrison Delbridge responded to Arnold’s call for more physicality with impressive displays in shutting down New Zealand’s attacking raids.
Young midfielder Connor Metcalfe also put his hand up, having created several chances, including a superb curling cross for Mitchell Duke to break the deadlock early in the second half.
It leaves Arnold with plenty to ponder as his players return to clubs across the globe.
“I’m going to reach out to Panadol as my new sponsor because I’m going to have quite a number of headaches to fit into a 26-man squad,” Arnold joked.
“But today is not the last day for the players to get chosen.
“The boys have to go back to their clubs. They’ve got seven weeks.
“They’ve got to play and they’ve got to be fit. They’ve got to be probably the fittest they’ve ever been.
“And thankfully, finally, the A-League starts and I can actually watch the A-League and pick players on form, not on reputation.”
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Originally published as Socceroos World Cup warm-up: Garang Kuol stuns New Zealand, puts hand up for Qatar ticket
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