Socceroos great Harry Kewell ‘sure’ Tom Rogic wants to be part of World Cup squad

Socceroos legend Harry Kewell hopes Tom Rogic is selected in Australia’s World Cup squad, but only if the playmaker is prepared “mentally and physically”.

Tom Rogic is running out of time to launch a World Cup selection bid. Picture: Robert Cianflone / Getty Images

Harry Kewell is “baffled” and concerned by the plight of Socceroos playmaker Tom Rogic, who remains without a club just three months out from the World Cup.

Since his last-minute withdrawal for undisclosed “personal reasons” from Australia’s successful World Cup playoffs campaign in June, Rogic has been off the radar.

No longer at Celtic after leaving the Scottish giants at the end of last season, Rogic has been linked to clubs in Indonesia and Cyprus, but nothing has eventuated.

There is speculation that at just 29, Rogic is set to retire from football.

It’s a situation which worries Socceroos legend Kewell, who soon after Rogic’s departure from Celtic, joined the Hoops as part of Ange Postecoglou’s coaching staff.

“You mention Tom Rogic around Celtic and they all love him,” Kewell said.

“He was a player that a lot of his teammates respected. They enjoyed playing with him.

“I’m a little bit baffled to know what’s happening with him. I hope he sorts himself out and I hope he’s ready. because I’m sure he wants to be there (in Qatar for the World Cup).

“I’m sure he wants to be part of it, but it’s going to be down to him. He needs to be right mentally and physically if he wants to be part of this Australian squad.”

Harry Kewell is concerned about Tom Rogic. Picture: Martin Rickett / PA Images via Getty Images

Kewell, who was part of the Socceroos’ 2006 and 2010 World Cup squads, hopes the Socceroos “shock” the footballing world with strong performances in Qatar after the criticism of coach Graham Arnold and his squad during a gruelling and rocky qualifying campaign.

“A lot of people forget that you’re qualifying for a World Cup; qualifying to play in a competition against the world’s best teams,” Kewell said.

“Does every person want their team to qualify (directly) through the qualification (group) stages with all wins, feeling great, on top of the world and with no problems? Of course, but unfortunately that doesn’t work.

“Every single team qualifying now is pushing to get to that level, and you’d have to be at your very best and sometimes things don’t work out that way, but the most important thing that you must do … is actually qualify.

“It doesn’t matter how you get there. It’s just making sure you’re on that plane, going to the World Cup and that’s what Australia have done.

“It’s not ideal we did that (through the playoffs), but sometimes you have to do that.

“What they did in their last games (against the UAE and Peru) was prove a lot of people wrong.

“Sometimes you’ve just got take a little step back and realise that these guys are giving it their all, they’re representing their country and they’re trying to do their best for that country.

“We should appreciate that and give them that joy that they’re about to play in another World Cup, which is fantastic.

“I cannot wait to see Australia go out there in Qatar, and I really do hope they shock a lot of us.”

Former Leeds and Liverpool great Kewell will be a “hero” – a feature celebrating “football’s most memorable players” – in EA Games’ FIFA 23, which is set for release on September 30.

Originally published as Socceroos great Harry Kewell ‘sure’ Tom Rogic wants to be part of World Cup squad