2015 Asian Cup: Five things we learnt as Ange Postecoglou named preliminary 46-man Socceroos squad
ANGE Postecoglou names four debutants in his preliminary Asian Cup squad and urges the 46 players named to grab their chance. Five things we learnt.
ANGE Postecoglou couldn’t have made his message to the players chosen in his preliminary Asian Cup squad any clearer – give me a reason to pick you in the final squad.
The Socceroos coach named four uncapped players, 16 A-League stars and all 23 members of his final World Cup squad in his 46-man party on Monday.
With that number to be cut in half by December 30, players have less than a month to give themselves a shot at facing Kuwait in the tournament opener on January 9.
ANGE NAMES 46-MAN SOCCEROOS ASIAN CUP SQUAD
Here are five things we learnt from Ange’s provisional squad.
1. Ange has one eye on the future
“Four-year cycle” was the most repeated phrase during Postecoglou’s press conference on Monday and throughout his year-long tenure in the job.
“We want to be successful in the Asian Cup but it’s not just about this tournament,” he said.
“We need to build from that. We need to keep improving.”
“The players picked, even if they don’t make the final 23 this time round, have a chance to become part of the side in the future.”
Consistent with his rebuilding mandate, there is plenty of youth in the squad, with only seven players - Mark Bresciano, Tim Cahill, Josh Kennedy, Matt McKay, Carl Valeri, and goalkeepers Eugene Galekovic and Brad Jones – aged over 30.
2. The chance is there … take it
Ange used Monday’s press conference as a sort of rallying call to the 46 players.
“We want to cover every base heading into the Asian Cup. There’s still plenty of football until the tournament,” he said.
Asked about Perth Glory starlet Daniel De Silva – one of the four uncapped players, along with Mustafa Amini, Josh Risdon and Luke Brattan – Ange admitted that in selecting them he was hoping to motivate them to take their game to another level.
“If his (De Silva) form warrants it, he’ll get selected.
“Hopefully he – and the others - can take his game to another level now that he knows he’s on our radar.”
3. Ange repays faith to injured stars
With the luxury of being able to pick a big squad until the end of December, Postecoglou is giving injured players and those struggling to get game time every possible chance of pressing their claims.
Robbie Kruse, Rhys Williams and Josh Kennedy all missed Brazil 2014 with injury, but the trio were named on Monday.
Kennedy is due to arrive in Australia shortly to link up with Melbourne City, and Postecoglou says the proven international goalscorer will know if he’s ready come January.
“Our medicos are in touch with him,” he said.
“We’ll monitor his progress but he knows his body and we’ll know in the next two weeks.”
On Rhys Williams, Postecoglou said: The information we’ve received is that he’s almost back to full training. With him and his history, a conservative approach is important.”
Robbie Kruse continues to struggle to force his way into Bayer Leverkusen’s first team, but after being selected in the recent Middle Eastern friendlies, barring an injury setback, he’s considered a lock for the final 23.
4. Plenty of firepower at Ange’s disposal
The Socceroos an over-reliance on Tim Cahill is well documented, so who will step up in the striking department?
Postecoglou has picked a squad full of firepower up front, with Cahill joined by forwards Nathan Burns, Tomi Juric, Josh Kennedy, Robbie Kruse, Matthew Leckie, Dario Vidosic, Adam Taggart, Nikita Rukavytsya, James Troisi and Tommy Oar.
Burns’s eight goals in nine A-League matches since returning to the A-League with the Phoenix has him well and truly in the mix while in Wanderers striker Juric, Ange has a real killer instinct.
The intriguing one is Josh Kennedy, whose pedigree at international level might be too good to resist, despite injury ever-present concerns and lack of playing time heading into the tournament.
“Kennedy is a proven goalscorer at international level, of that there is no doubt. You can talk about a change in style when he plays or whatever you want, the fact is he does score goals at international level. Now the big question mark is can Josh be fit for a tournament in January where the games come thick and fast and can he train for what you need to in a national camp,” former Socceroo Robbie Slater told Fox Sports News on Monday.
5. Home comforts will help Roos
As Postecoglou’s team await the best sides in Asia converging on our soil for the tournament, he can take solace in the fact Australia is unbeaten in its last 12 competitive matches on home soil – a run dating back to March 2009.
The coach admitted on Monday he’d be taking full advantage of home ground advantage – not only during the tournament but also the build-up.
“The conditions will suit us here,” he said.
“We’ll be comfortable and we’ll be well prepared.”
“I’ll know what every player will be doing every minute of the day, even if they don’t like it.”
Robbie Slater added: “We are one of the favourites and one of the big reasons we are is because it’s on home soil and we have a wonderful record - whether it be World Cup qualification, whether it be Asian Cup qualification - at home. Therefore I think we’re a chance to win the whole thing.
“Japan for me are the favourites, they showed that in our last game against them. South Korea will be strong, Iran will be strong. I think they’re the four nations that are the favourites.”
Originally published as 2015 Asian Cup: Five things we learnt as Ange Postecoglou named preliminary 46-man Socceroos squad
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