Asian Cup: Sydney clubs only lose Antonis, Spiranovic, Juric to Socceroos squad

GRAHAM Arnold and Tony Popovic must have been relieved when only three of their players were named in the Socceroos Asian Cup squad on Monday.

Matthew Spiranovic of the Western Sydney Wanderers poses after a training session in preparations for their match against Cruz Azul in the FIFA Club World Cup on December 11, 2014 at Hotel Le Diwan in Rabat, Morocco.

LET’S hope Graham Arnold and Tony Popovic have been practising their facial control, because it must have been hard for them to avoid a spontaneous look of relief when the Asian Cup squad came through to them on Monday.

Losing Terry Antonis for up to four games – assuming Australia does well – is something for Sydney FC to deal with; losing Matthew Spiranovic and Tomi Juric for a similar number is likewise a hassle for Popovic.

Terry Antonis is likely to play a back-up role.

But it could have been worse for both clubs, and no doubt both coaches will settle for how things have turned out.

Bernie Ibini, Nikolai Topor-Stanley and Nikita Rukavytsya were all on the 46-man provisional list from which Ange Postecoglou selected the final 23, and will all be on standby in case of injuries before the Socceroos kick off against Kuwait on January 9.

As it is, Antonis is likely to have largely a watching brief at the Asian Cup, given the seniority of Mile Jedinak, Mark Milligan and Mark Bresciano. But injuries to any - and Bresciano and Milligan both picked up knocks at the World Cup – could open the door for Antonis to be rewarded for his excellent form for the Sky Blues.

Spiranovic, of course, will have a central role to play six months after so impressing at the World Cup, key to Postecoglou’s vision of a team that plays out from the back and fresh from the Wanderers’ success at the Asian Champions League.

Juric though, like Antonis, will have to settle for a supporting role, in his case behind Tim Cahill. Nor is that just down to the seniority of Cahill, as the Socceroos’ most successful goalscorer – because Juric’s most incisive contributions since he returned to play in Australia have largely come off the bench.

His injury record over recent months at Western Sydney hints at a player still unable to cope with 90 minutes week in, week out. So it wasn’t such a surprise when Popovic named Juric on the bench at the Club World Cup, and introduced him after an hour.

Postecoglou has also surely noted the value of Juric as an impact player compared with his utility when starting.

For a tiring Kuwaiti defence, having faced an hour of Cahill’s huge goalscoring threat, the most unwelcome sight would be Juric’s arrival off the bench to add a fresh injection of power, aggression and directness.

Originally published as Asian Cup: Sydney clubs only lose Antonis, Spiranovic, Juric to Socceroos squad