The final squad for the World Cup must be provided to FIFA by 14 November. I’m guessing Arnie will take eight specialist attackers/wingers.
This is the first in a series of articles looking at the various contenders for Qatar from an attacking perspective. The focus will mainly be on A Leaguers but I’ll try to keep tabs on the OS players also.
With the exception of our efforts in Oceania, we’ve always been underwhelming when it comes to scoring goals. Playing striker is, of course, the toughest position on the pitch. Time and space is hardest to generate in the enemy box where all the bodies and angst are found – plus there’s a chap there allowed to use his hands!
A striker’s skills have to be so finely honed – especially at World Cup level – to make the time and space necessary to get a shot away. Speed across the turf, speed between the ears, first touch, shooting, positioning, strength, timing, vision, awareness of teammates…
And there are all sorts of strikers depending on their mix of skills and qualities. Jamie MacLaren, for example, is a “fox in the box” – extremely good at popping up in the right place for a tap in but also pretty fast and can set up chances for others.
Mitch Duke is more of your traditional #9 – big and strong, good in the air, powerful shot. It would be interesting to see those two paired together, but Arnie never plays two up front.
For that reason, I’ll also include wingers in my analysis.
I suspect there are eight spots in the 26 available so these articles are mostly about keeping tabs on how the main contenders are going.
A Leaguers
Jamie MacLaren has been up to his usual tricks with one exquisitely taken goal where he closed down Leo Lacroix, out-muscled him to win the ball and chipped it over the fast advancing Jamie Young. He followed that up with a strong performance and a penalty against Brisbane. I think MacLaren is excellent at what he does but the Socceroos don’t seem properly set up to exploit his qualities. Provisional Verdict: almost certainly going to Qatar.
Mat Leckie has been one of the best on the park in the first two rounds for City. Has been constantly winning the ball and setting up attacks but, as with MacLaren’s tackle on Lacroix, it’s a lot harder against the likes of France and Denmark so he needs to be judged on the qualities transferable to those contexts. Has been missing in action in recent NT matches and I wondered whether the fact he played 180 minutes against New Zealand was Arnie giving him every chance to make his case. Provisional Verdict: It would be hard for Arnie to leave him out but I’d suggest he’s not quite on the plane yet.
Marco Tilio, perhaps still smarting from his incredible miss in Auckland, looks like he’s been trying too hard with limited opportunities. His place is under acute pressure from the likes of Garang Kuol and even Daniel Arzani who has commenced a dazzling 11th hour campaign for inclusion. Provisional Verdict: His place at Qatar is in jeopardy but he’s a dangerous player and likely to come good at any moment. Needs minutes though.
Jason Cummings is, in my view, the most complete #9 available to Arnie. He has all the striker’s important skills plus wonderful positioning and calmness in the box. He is a deadly finisher but also makes a better link with midfield than any of his rivals. Will come deep for the ball and bring others into play in a way that MacLaren, Taggart and Duke never do and it is this quality, in particular, that would be invaluable at the World Cup. Provisional Verdict: he must be firming in the betting. If he continues playing like he did against Wellington then he’ll be on the plane.
Injuries and other vicissitudes permitting, Garang Kuol will be the jewel in the NT crown over the next few years. The question for Arnie will be: has this World Cup come a fraction too soon for a player yet to start a professional game? That fact, by itself, underscores how highly he is already rated – yet to start an A League match but already made his NT debut and signed for Newcastle United. Can play wide or as a central striker – his pace will terrify any defender but his game has far more to it than just pace. His finishing in particular shows a maturity way beyond his years. If I were Arnie I’d not just be picking him – I’d be starting him in an attempt to shock the likes of France and Denmark out of their confidence. Provisional Verdict: simply cannot understand why Arnie allowed him to be selected for the Under 20 tournament (thus limiting his opportunities to impress in the A League) unless he’s already picked him for Qatar. I think he’ll go – Arnie will never survive the uproar if he doesn’t.
Kuol is the Daniel Arzani of 2022, or at least he was until the real Daniel Arzani came from the clouds to make a late run. He put on an absolute masterclass against Adelaide – scoring one, plus one assist, and constant dangerous contributions. He has qualities almost no other Australian player has, with his vision and close dribbling especially effective. I wonder though how many tricky wingers Arnie will take with Mabil and Boyle just about certainties. Provisional Verdict: still has a lot of work to do over the next month. If he goes, it will likely be at Tilio’s or even Leckie’s expense.
Craig Goodwin would have been almost a certainty a few months ago but didn’t feature in the recent NZ friendlies and has not been quite at his dominant best for the Reds. Showed glimpses against Macarthur but needs to improve quickly. Goodwin has one of the best left feet in the NT and is an excellent crosser but would be well behind the likes of Mabil and is under pressure from the likes of Tilio and Arzani. Can play as an emergency left wing back which might be his salvation. Provisional Verdict: unlikely unless he pulls out a few miraculous performances in the next few weeks.
Nick D'Agostino has been pretty consistent over the last year or two and is one of Arnie’s Olyroos. Fast, and strong in the air, with a decent shot on him – gets into good positions so it would be interesting to see how he goes with elite players around him. Hasn’t had many opportunities at NT level but probably will in the future. Provisional Verdict: there are others ahead of him for now.
Further A Leaguers in the mix but unlikely: Andrew Nabbout; Chris Ikonimidis; Ben Folami; Kusini Yengi; Al Hassan Toure
Overseas Attackers
Nikita Rukavytsya seems to have fallen off the radar despite still playing in the Champions League. There are others who are talked about, from time to time, such as Deni Juric and Christian Volpato. I don’t think they’ll be in contention.
I believe Mitchell Duke, Awer Mabil and Martin Boyle are definitely on the plane. Adam Taggart is clearly in contention but has had a few injuries and 10 goals in 42 matches for Cerezo Osaka does not demand selection. Like MacLaren, the Australian team doesn’t properly use his qualities so both can seem, at times, like a wasted shirt. I think he’s under major pressure from Jason Cummings.
That leaves us with the following provisional list:
Certainties: MacLaren; Duke; Mabil; Boyle
Probables: Leckie; Cummings; Taggart; Kuol
Possibles: Arzani; Tilio; Goodwin; D’Agostino
I shall review this list just before the final squad is announced.
I’m guessing a maximum of eight players from this group (Attackers/Wingers) will go to the World Cup, which means for the Probables and Possibles there is everything to play for.
Adrian's books can be purchased at any good bookstore or through ebook alchemy. His first sci-fi novel (Asparagus Grass) will be published by Hague Publishing in early 2023.
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