When you compare the squad which took Australia to its first World Cup finals in 32 years to the current crop who secured the famous 'back-to-back', on the face of it, not much has really changed.

Heroes from the class of 2006 - Schwarzer, Neill, Moore, Wilkshire, Chipperfield, Grella, Culina, Cahill, Bresciano, Kewell and Kennedy - are all likely to form the backbone of our 2010 squad in South Africa.

While it is great to have that World Cup experience in stock, football careers are fleeting, and the green and gold empire is one that will far outlive all its current heroes.

When the Socceroos lined-up against the Netherlands in Sydney last month, the starting XI averaged 30 years of age, with David Carney and Brett Holman the youngest players at 25.

With the Young Socceroos failing to muster a single point at the U20 World Cup in September, the cynical among you could be forgiven for wondering if South Africa next year might be our last World Cup finals appearance for a while.

Yet within this group of experienced players is a fresh-faced 21 year-old who boasts an impressive combination of regular football in Europe, versatility across the pitch and now experience of international football with the Socceroos. The greenhorn within our Socceroo stags is Rhys Williams.

Perth-born to an English father and Indian mother, Williams left Australia before his 16th birthday to trial with clubs in England. Middlesbrough signed him up in July 2007, before Williams deepened his multi-national selection ties by appearing for the Wales U21 team on account of his Welsh grandfather.

The last year has seen Williams' career move into U-turn hyperdrive after being loaned out to Championship side Burnley as they were promoted to the EPL and reached the semi-finals of the League Cup.

On Middlesbrough's relegation to the Championship, he returned to his contracted club and the Socceroo defender has further expanded his versatility by playing the holding midfield role for Boro as they chase a return to the English top flight at the first time of asking.

During that time Socceroos coach Pim Verbeek lured him away from the clutches of senior representation with Wales and secured his Socceroos playing services with a debut against Japan in June.

Since then Williams has found a regular home in the Socceroos squad and now has a strong opportunity to make Pim Verbeek's final 23 for South Africa - most probably as the youngest player in the travelling squad.

While experience is essential at the World Cup finals, an injection of fearless and enthusiastic youth is needed to provide balance to a squad.

A lot can happen between now and when Pim names his squad for South Africa, but the Dutchman clearly likes what he's seen from his young starlet. Williams will need hard work and strong form to make the cut, but looking into our crystal ball, we're backing Williams to make it.

To shed some light on the rise of Australia's most exciting new recruit, we met Williams at Parramatta Stadium at a Nike photoshoot to discuss why he picked Australia over the many other nations on offer, his progress in England at Burnley and Middlesbrough and to test him to make sure he's a fully-blown Aussie after all. 

Like a lot of young Aussies players, you went over to England as a youngster. You ended up at Middlesbrough. What was that experience like?
It's a big deal for a young kid leaving home; I was 15, nearly 16 when I went over. But you are there to fulfill a dream and make a career out of something you love. You have to make sacrifices and thankfully it has worked out. I trialed at a few clubs, who I don't want to name, but I ended up at Middlesbrough. They offered me something I liked through the training ground, the coaches and in the end my decision was an easy one to make.

You spent last season on loan at Burnley, in a great League Cup and promotion season for them. What did you learn there?

I played 17 games towards the back end of the season. It was just great to get promoted and play every week. We only had two losses during those 17 games too, which is quite a good record to play a part in. I really enjoyed my time at Burnley. It made me a better, stronger player and definitely benefited me. 

 

You're now enjoying more Championship football back at Middlesbrough. Did you wish Boro could have stayed in the EPL or you could have joined Burley permanently so you could have been playing top flight football in a World Cup year?

Of course it would be nice to play in the top division, but I'm contracted to Middlesbrough and I'm still there and really enjoying playing football there too. Maybe you could call it a blessing in disguise for me that Middlesbrough went down.

How are you travelling at Boro this season? It is fair to say that nothing less than promotion will do?

The lads just want to go back up. The gaffer has stated that anything less would not be acceptable. We've had a bright start and find ourselves near the top.

If you fail to get promoted do you think you'll need to look towards one of Europe's bigger leagues next season?

There's still a long season to go yet. My main aim is to get Middlesbrough up, so I don't want to think about anything else except this season. I don't want to get ahead of myself. The aim is to stay in the squad.

You've played in a variety of different positions in your career: right-back, centre-back or even in midfield. What's your best position?

This season I've played every game in midfield. I'm not bothered about position as long as I'm playing. If I'm the goalkeeper, that's fine too! If I'm playing, I'm happy. It's down to the manager where I play and I'll do a job for him. In terms of playing centre-midfield now, that's where I played before I went over to England, so I'm no stranger to that role. It's a lot about winning tackles and playing the ball easily. I've benefitted from keeping my game really simple.

You represented Wales at youth level, despite being born and bred in Perth. Why did you go for that option at the time?

Yeah, I was born and bred in Perth, my family live there and I call it home. Wales was a good option at the time. My grandfather was Welsh, so I went down that track when I was younger. I spoke to the [Welsh] manager and he said at the time that I'd be in the first team within a few years. As a young kid you jump at the chance. I've got nothing bad to say about Wales. It's worked out well for me and I wish Wales all the best moving forward.

Your mother is Indian, your father English, you played for Wales at youth level and now represent Australia at senior level. What would you cite as your main motivation for picking Australia over the other nations?

It's home to me. It's where I was born, plus where my head, heart and family are. I used to dream of playing for Australia as a kid.  

How big a part did Socceroos coach Pim Verbeek play in your decision? We heard he came to watch you play at Burnley last season.

Yeah, his coming over to visit me played a big part. He took time out of his busy schedule to come and see me play in a Championship game with Burnley. I spoke to him before the game, and he spoke straight. He said: "I'm not guaranteeing anything, if you're good enough you'll get in my team. If you're not then you'll have to wait until the next manager comes along".  I really respect him, he's given me some chances for the Socceroos now and I'm really enjoying playing for my country.

How did you find your early Socceroos caps and being bought into the camp with the other players?

It was a dream come true making your debut in front of 70,000 in Melbourne against Japan. I've been involved since June now and my second cap against Ireland where we won 3-0 was great too. I'm over the moon by being selected by Australia. Everyone in the team has been really helpful to me. It is a great bunch of boys and they like a laugh and joke, so it is really easy to fit into the squad. The coaches are all nice guys and I have no problems talking to any of them.

Like Lucas Neill you can play at right-back and in the centre of defence. Has our captain been an extra help because of that?

Definitely, it always helps to have a player as experienced as Lucas playing next to me. When we played together against Japan he helped me out a lot. He is a quality player and unbelievable captain.

How would you rate your chances of going to the World Cup next year?

I don't like to get ahead of myself. I never take my spot for granted and I know in myself that I need to work hard to stay in the team if I'm going to have any chance.

You're effectively performing a Socceroos dress rehearsal now to earn your place in the World Cup squad...

We're always on show, even for our clubs every week. The boss, plus some of his assistants, come and watch us at club level, so it is not just you international team performances which matter. You can't do much more than perform as well as you can.

If you were to make the World Cup squad, it is most likely you'd be the youngest player in the squad...

We've got lots of good young players coming through yet, so we don't know. You have Shane Lowry, Aaron Mooy, and Chris Herd at Aston Villa who has just played for the U20 team - they are all very exciting players. I also really like the look of James Holland. Pim knows he has a lot of good young players coming through.

Pim can only take 23 players to the World Cup and usually more versatile players are picked as they can cover numerous positions. Do you think your versatility will help you secure a place?

It does help, but it is down to the boss to see who he thinks could be part of  his strongest squad. I'm still one of the youngster in the squad, so I'm not going to take anything for granted. I just need to carry on playing well.

What are your expectations for the Socceroos in South Africa next year? Is doing as well as the last tournament the absolute minimum?

One more than the last World Cup is the aim. Everyone has seen how much we've jumped up the world rankings over the last few years. The squad this time is a lot more focused, a lot more experienced with more games under their belt. That's going to benefit us going into the finals. When we get there, we'll enjoy ourselves, but also do a job for the country.

Are you feeling the pressure of the high expectations put on the Socceroos squad when they play nowadays?

Not really. Any team can beat anyone else on the day, it happens in football every week. I don't mind having the tag of being a better team.

Do you view the World Cup finals as a potential window of interest from clubs for you personally?

I wouldn't say that. I'd just love to be there. I'm at such a young and tender age for being at a World Cup. The whole thing is just eye-opening and a dream. It is hard to explain what it would be like to be involved in one.  

Rhys Williams  was speaking to us as an ambassador for the Nike brand.