A-League Tackle: Why Aussie pair are unlucky to not be named in Socceroos squad

While the Socceroos squad may have already been named for this month’s World Cup qualifiers, Robbie Slater and Marco Monteverde believe a couple of in-form young guns are unlucky omissions. It’s all in The Tackle.

While the Socceroos squad for this month’s World Cup qualifiers against Indonesia and China may have already been named, Robbie Slater and Marco Monteverde make a compelling case as to why two in-form young guns should have been included. It’s all in The Tackle.

Injustice for Irankunda

Congratulations to all the players that have been picked in the Socceroos squad for the FIFA World Cup qualifiers against Indonesia and China – but the fact that former A-League prodigy Nestory Irankunda isn’t among them is astonishing.

Let’s hope Socceroos coach Tony Popovic has reached out to Irankunda to let him know why he hasn’t been picked.

It’s the least the teenage sensation deserves, but the reality is that whatever the reason for his omission was, it doesn’t stack up.

Despite playing for Australia in October 2024, Nestory Irankunda was left out of the Socceroos squad for March’s World Cup qualifiers. (Photo by Maya Thompson/Getty Images)

Irankunda is a matchwinner, and Australian football doesn’t have many of them. The impact he could have had, even off the bench, in these crucial matches against Indonesia and China cannot be underestimated.

If the former Adelaide United star wasn’t playing regular football, you could perhaps understand his non-selection.

But Irankunda is not only playing every week for famous Swiss club Grasshoppers, but such is his form, he won player-of-the month honours in February.

The jury was out on whether Irankunda was ready for his headline-making move to German giants Bayern Munich last year.

And while he didn’t make their first-team, he had some great experiences and is now adding to them with his loan spell at Grasshoppers.

Make no mistake – Bayern knows how good Irankunda is, and knows how much better he will be when he returns to them at the completion of his loan spell.

It doesn’t make sense that Popovic has not considered him worthy of a spot in an extended Socceroos squad of 26 players.

Let’s hope that the sometimes fragile Irankunda’s confidence isn’t shattered by this latest Socceroos setback as it could have an adverse effect on his form.

That’s the risk that has been taken by Popovic in not selecting him.

Elite players needed

While it’s good recognition for the A-League to have 10 players from the competition named by Popovic in the national squad, it’s also a glaring indication of the lack of Australian footballers playing at an elite level overseas.

Injuries to the likes of Harry Souttar, Alessandro Circati and Riley McGree have also contributed to more A-League players being picked.

However, there’s no denying that Australia needs more players competing at a higher level week in, week out.

Socceroos head coach Tony Popovic named his squad on Friday. Photo: William West

If and when that happens again, the Socceroos will become stronger and have a legitimate chance of again being the best team in Asia.

Arzani’s puzzling pick

Popovic’s decision to select Melbourne Victory playmaker Daniel Arzani in his latest squad is curious.

It was only a few months ago that Popovic slammed Arzani for his “poor level” of training at an October camp, and left him out of the subsequent Socceroos squad.

Since then it’s been a mixed bag for Arzani at A-League level.

His undeniable talent has been obvious at times, with a perfect example being the way he set up the Victory’s second goal in his team’s 4-2 weekend loss to Western Sydney Wanderers.

However, too often he has been fading from games, as was the case again on Saturday night, when he was replaced after an hour.

We often hear about the untapped potential of Arzani.

Well, he’s now 26, so the time has come for him to deliver on that potential.

Let’s see what he brings to the table in these games against Indonesia and China.

If he stars, his selection will be considered a genius move by Popovic, but if he again fails to deliver, the Socceroos coach will be rightly questioned.

Botic just a phone call away

No prizes for guessing who Western United striker Noah Botic was suggesting should give him a call by putting his hand up to his ear after scoring the first goal in his team’s 6-2 thrashing of Newcastle on Sunday.

Botic, currently the A-League’s most prolific striker with eight goals in his past nine matches and 11 for the season, was no doubt letting Socceroos coach Tony Popovic know that he’s just a phone call away after being overlooked for selection in Australia’s squad for the FIFA World Cup qualifiers against Indonesia on Thursday night in Sydney and on Tuesday week against China in Hangzhou.

Noah Botic is one of the A-League’s most in-form players. (Photo by Robert Cianflone/Getty Images)

The 23-year-old can consider himself extremely unlucky not to have been called into a Socceroos squad for the first time, with Popovic preferring Portsmouth’s Kusini Yengi and Perth Glory’s Adam Taggart as his two out and out centre-forwards in his 26-man contingent.

All Botic can do is keep scoring, and eventually he’ll get the call from Popovic.

In the meantime, he’s got an A-League title to chase, with second-placed Western United cutting the gap between themselves and leaders Auckland FC to four points on Sunday thanks to their big away win, which included a brace from midfielder Rhys Bozinovski.

Earlier, Auckland had to settle for a 2-2 draw with the gallant Central Coast Mariners at Go Media Stadium.

Wanderers on a roll

The Victory will be kicking themselves for letting a two-goal lead slip on Saturday night, but there can be no denying the force the Wanderers have become under Alen Stajcic.

While there are still some defensive issues Western Sydney needs to sort out, when you score four goals – as the Wanderers have in their past three matches – you’re going to win 99 per cent of your games.

The Wanderers also have goals on their bench, and it was Stajcic’s substitutions that proved the difference against the Victory.

Nicolas Milanovic and Marcus Antonsson scored the game’s final two goals after coming on in the second-half.

Such form off the bench is also a sign of a happy team.

While Milanovic and Antonsson would obviously prefer to be starting, their contributions prove that they haven’t spat the dummy, and will do whatever’s required to help their team win.

The atmosphere at CommBank Stadium also contributed to Western Sydney’s win.

It was only the second time this season that the Wanderers, who have won their past four matches, have attracted a home crowd of more than 10,000.

While the Victory had a healthy travelling contingent, there’s no doubt the Wanderers are slowly but surely winning back their fans.

And that’s good for not only the club, but also the A-League.

Reds in a mess

In contrast, Adelaide United’s home crowds are dipping as the club’s form woes continue.

The Reds, who not that long ago were in second spot, have dropped to sixth place, having won just one of their past eight matches.

Their defending in Friday night’s 5-4 home loss to Macarthur ­FC – a game watched by only 6125, the club’s lowest attendance this season at Coopers Stadium – was horrible.

Reds coach Carl Veart has plenty to ponder over the international break. His team has conceded 40 goals this season. Only last-placed Perth Glory (48) have conceded more.

Unless Veart fixes Adelaide’s obvious defensive issues, the Reds won’t play finals football this season.

Sam’s the man

Brisbane Roar have had little to smile about this season, but the emergence of Samuel Klein is something they can savour.

The box-to-box midfielder looks every bit an A-League player, and added to his credentials with an impressive brace in the Roar’s 3-1 away win over fellow battlers Perth Glory on Saturday night.

It was the perfect way for the Gympie product to celebrate his 21st birthday on what was a rare night of joy for the Roar.

It’s little wonder Brisbane officials already have Klein under contract for another two years.

Team of the week: (4-1-4-1) Lawrence Thomas (Western Sydney Wanderers); Tomoki Imai (Western United), Lucas Herrington (Brisbane Roar), Anthony Pantazopoulos (Western Sydney Wanderers), Lucas Mauragis (Central Coast Mariners); Luke Brattan (Macarthur FC); Riku Danzaki (Western United), Samuel Klein (Brisbane Roar), Rhys Bozinovski (Western United), Brandon Borrello (Western Sydney Wanderers); Noah Botic (Western United). Coach: Alen Stajcic (Western Sydney Wanderers)

Player of the week: Rhys Bozinovski (Western United)

Originally published as A-League Tackle: Why Aussie pair are unlucky to not be named in Socceroos squad