Gloryroos

After another all-too-early end to the Perth Glory season in which an extra seven games including one final couldn't hide the fact that two previous wooden spoon winners have gone further than us, my attention has been swiftly turned to the Australian national team.  While I might've been denied the chance to drive from my Brisbane home down the Pacific Motorway to Robina for a Gold Coast versus Perth final, I will have the chance to attend the "Socceroos" versus Indonesia match on Wednesday (a game that should probably have been played at ME Bank Stadium in Perth, but hey I'm not complaining!). 

Of course, I won't be watching the real Socceroos.  While Josh Kennedy and Luke Wilkshire will be in action, there is a chance that so too will my eyes be insulted by Shannon Cole, Matt McKay and Michael Marrone in the green-and-gold.  Even young up-and-comers like Oar, Leckie and Jamieson don't do a whole lot for me given they're standing in for the likes of Kewell, Cahill and Chipperfield.

It is, however, the presence of three Perth players in Mile Sterjovski, Jacob Burns and Daniel McBreen that has got my mind ticking over.  Unlike cricket, where I will often tend to follow the fortunes of home-grown West Australian players like Marcus North, Mike Hussey and, erm, Mitchell Johnson and Chris Gayle rather than the national team itself, in football it's rare indeed to get a chance to see Perth heroes representing their country.  Admittedly, unless Kennedy breaks both ankles, I'll be unlikely to see McBreen in action.  But Sterjovski certainly and Burns possibly will feature against Indonesia.  Which makes me wonder just how likely we are to see Perth Glory players making a *full* Socceroos team to head to South Africa for the World Cup.  I've decided to review the chances of our "Gloryroos". 

Mile Sterjovski

Caps: 42 (8 goals)

Rivals for a position: Brett Emerton, Brett Holman, Richard Garcia, Dario Vidosic

With Brett Emerton a clear first choice as right forward in the 4-3-3 formation, Sterjovski will be hoping his versatility and experience give him the edge as back-up.  Verbeek favourite Brett Holman should also be in the squad as a versatile midfielder, but Verbeek might aim to pick one more winger who is also capable of acting as a pinch-hitting striker.  Vidosic and Garcia loom as the most likely obstacles to a Sterjovski call-up with both getting first-team football in Europe, even if it is only inconsistently.

Season rating: D. For any other player he could've been a C, but as the marquee man Sterjovski should've contributed a lot more.

Chances: 30%.  If Verbeek opts for experience, Sterjovski should get the nod.  But a poor A-League season and possibly no loan move between now and the World Cup give Garcia and Vidosic a distinct advantage.

Jacob Burns

Caps: 10

Rivals for a position: Vince Grella, Jason Culina, Carl Valeri, Mile Jedinak, Kasey Wehrman

With Verbeek selecting 2 starting defensive midfielders, the theory of 2 players for every position would suggest a whopping 4 negating midfielders in the World Cup squad.  However, with Wilkshire and Bresciano also capable of slotting in I expect only three to go to South Africa.  Burns is possibly the closest thing to a Grella-clone Australia has but is probably more limited going forward than the other options.

Season rating:  A. Velaphi copped a lot of stick from casual A-League observers and some Glory fans, but his ability to perform the "shut-down" role in midfield is in my opinion second to no other in the A-League.

Chances: 20%.  With Grella back into the Blackburn side and Culina apparently having secured a loan move to maintain match fitness, two seats are taken.  Jedinak's goalscoring threat and Valeri's competent previous performances for the Socceroos give them the edge.

Chris Coyne

Caps: 7

Rivals for a position: Lucas Neill, Craig Moore, Pat Kisnorbo, Matt Spiranovic, Mark Milligan, Simon Colosimo, Jon McKain, Michael Beauchamp, Adrian Madaschi

The number of potential selections in the central defensive position shows just how difficult it has been for Verbeek to find a reliable partner to Lucas Neill.  The importance of the backline to Verbeek's game-plan mean 4 men will almost certainly make the trip to South Africa.  Coyne's experience, leadership and aerial strength make him something like a second Craig Moore.  A lack of mobility and pace however makes Chris an unlikely starter against Ghana while a lack of experience against world class opposition make him a risk against Germany.

Season rating: A-. Coyne had a very good season at the back despite a short run of woeful form coinciding with a trial in China.  The fact that he was second best to a 35-year-old uncapped Englishman is a concern though.

Chances: 10%.  Neill is an automatic selection, and Moore will almost certainly be chosen for his experience.  Kisnorbo has performed well since his 2007 Asian Cup shockers.  That means only one seat left and Spiranovic, Milligan and Colosimo would all probably be ahead of the Perth player.

Tando Velaphi

Caps: 0

Rivals for a position: Mark Schwarzer, Adam Federici, Brad Jones, Michael Petkovic, Ante Covic, Eugene Galekovic, Danny Vukovic, Clint Bolton

Velaphi has been in and around A-League based Socceroos squads for some time now, despite never making a full appearance.  Unfortunately for him, Australia has a wealth of goalkeepers young and old who are making a mark around the globe.  Schwarzer is widely considered as one of Australia's two most important players (the other being Tim Cahill) while Federici's solid season in England make him the obvious reserve.  The position of third keeper is open, but Velaphi is probably last of the long list of options.

Season rating: C+. Regular brilliance is too frequently cancelled out by disastrous brain fades.  Not uncommon for young keepers, but it makes him a risky proposition for an A-League side let alone the national team.

Chances: 1%.  Don't expect to see Velaphi in the 2010 World Cup squad, but the Japanese-Zimbabwean-Australian is still capable of being a genuine national team goalkeeper for years to come if he can improve his reliability.

Daniel McBreen

Caps: 0

Rivals for a position: Josh Kennedy, Bruce Djite, Scott McDonald, Dylan Macallister

With Viduka retired, Australia has struggled to find a genuine target man up front.  Kennedy has the aerial presence, but lacks the ability to hold the ball at his feet.  Djite is considered the best prospect for the future, but short of that it seems like slim pickings indeed for the next two or three World Cups.  David Mitchell has suggested McBreen as a solution, and he's been included in the Asian (and Russian) based squad for the Indonesia match.  But it'll be a surprise if McBreen makes the park in that game let alone any for a full-strength Socceroos side.

Season rating: B+. After a sluggish season at North Queensland alongside Robbie Fowler, McBreen arrived at Perth with a bang and his goals helped secure a finals appearance.  He was, however, a disappointment in that final.  Still did enough to convince Mitchell and *some* fans to try and keep him from his agreed transfer to Central Coast next season.

Chances: 0.001%.  It's actually probably a lot smaller than that, but any more zeros and it starts to look ugly.  McBreen is in the current squad in case Kennedy rolls an ankle in the pre-match warm-up and because few other A-League players could play a similar role.  Even if he comes off the bench and scores a hat-trick, I doubt we will be seeing McBreen in South Africa.

Nikita Rukavytsya

Caps: 2

Rivals for a position: Harry Kewell, Mark Bresciano, David Carney, Nick Carle, Scott McDonald, Bruce Djite, Alex Brosque, David Williams

Not so much a "Gloryroo" as a "He used to play for Glory so we'll claim him"-Roo, Rukavytsya could be the closest Perth Glory fans get to seeing one of their own at the World Cup surpassing Scott Chipperfield *.  While there are plenty of rivals to Ruka both on the left flank and as a striker, the Ukrainian-Australian has a certain X-factor in his blistering pace combined with European league football experience and, if he maintains his current run, goalscoring form.  Whether Verbeek can find room for a raw talent in his 23-man squad remains to be seen, but there seems to be a lot more "upside" to picking Rukavytsya compared to other fringe Socceroos Carle, Djite and perhaps even McDonald.

Season rating: C. After managing to break into the Twente first-team squad last season, Rukavystya found the going a little harder this time out after a pre-season injury.  A January loan move to Roeselare of Belgium's top league has revitalised his World Cup hopes with an impressive 4 goals in 6 appearances since signing 8 weeks ago.

Chances: 40%.  If I were coach, I would go out of my way to make room for a player with the pace to trouble any defence in the world.  Pim tends to be a little more conservative, and may side with the more experienced Scott McDonald or the physically more intimidating Bruce Djite, but if Ruka can maintain his current goalscoring form he'll be hard to ignore.

* For those that don't know, in mid-2000 Chippers was reported to have agreed to join Perth Glory from the Wollongong Wolves if he failed to secure a European contract.  He subsequently received an offer from Basel in Switzerland and so never actually signed for Perth.  He was, however, the closest Perth had to a former player in the 2006 Socceroos squad (although we did have Ivan Ergic representing Serbia).