One Return Flight to the World Cup Please!

Forget about the likes of Harry Kewell, Tim Cahill, Mark Bresciano, Vince Grella, Brett Emerton, Craig Moore and Lucas Neill being the Socceroos most important players at the World Cup. The first 11 picks themselves and if any of the above players that I mentioned are fit or near it on  June 14 they will be shaking hands with German players while under their breath saying “wir sind dabei, Ihren ausgezeichneten englischen sprechenden deutschen Arsch zu kicken” which roughly translates to “we're going to kick your excellent English speaking German arse”


(I think I am in love with Google translate, and I want to tell it in all sorts of different languages).

The most important Socceroos that will be picked in the 23 man squad will be the next 11.  The reason I say this rather daft comment is that nine of the potential first 11 will be over 30 years old. Only Jason Culina and Luke Wilkshire are in their 20’s.There are five days between games during the group stage and I don’t really think  everyone in the first team will be able to play every minute of the Aussies three group games.

Below are the key players for the Socceroos who I think will struggle the most in terms of fitness. I have included a games/ goals comparison during the season passed and a comparison of the 05/06 season which preceded the Germany 06 campaign. Their potential understudy’s also are included and it also includes a comparison of age and games played during this season.

Harry Kewell

Harry was on fire until his recent groin injury derailed his recent good form. The backup plan is not Tommy Oar it’s Nikita Rukavystya. The former Perth Glory Striker has been playing regularly of late scoring 4 goals in 8 appearances for Belgian Club Rosalre. On his day he can open defences and score goals. If he is not on his day he can be caught offside and miss chances which Fox Sports commentator Robbie Slater would say “he should’ve done better”  no shit Sherlock! James Troisi is another candidate that could be chosen as back up but Pim has not picked him for a while.

Name (Socceroo Caps/Goals)	Club	Age	Season	Games/Goals
Harry Kewell (45/13)	Liverpool	27	05/06	40/3
Harry Kewell	Galatasaray	31	09/10	27/14
Nikita Rukavystya (2/0)	Rosalare	23	09/10	15/8
James Troisi (3/0)		21	09/10	21

Tim Cahill

Tim Cahill is the fitter and the most inform of the all the key players but will he be able to last all the three games? With the amount of running and the expectation  that every team he plays against will double team him our little Timmy soldier will have an extra burden in this World Cup campaign to deliver again. If Nick Carle makes the plane to South Africa it will at least mute some members of the media who have taken on his bidding probably to the detriment of the player. His performance against Japan in the final World Cup Qualifying game could get him on the plane to South Africa.

Name (Socceroo Caps/Goals)	Club	Age	Season	Games/Goals
Tim Cahill (37/19)	Everton	26	05/06	39/8
Tim Cahill	Everton	30	09/10	40/10
Nicky Carle (12)	Crystal Palace	28	09/10	23/1

Mark Bresciano

By his standard Mark did not have the best World Cup in Germany. He is probably the biggest injury concern behind Harry Kewell.  Brett Holman could see more game time at this World Cup than he and even the fans expect.. Brett Holman is a favourite of Pim and his experience in the Socceroos qualifying campaign should see him on the plane. I will cross my fingers and hope he plays above himself, but I doubt it.

Name (Socceroo Caps/Goals)	Club	Age	Season	Games/Goals
Mark Bresciano (52/11)	Parma	26	05/06	34/8
Mark Bresciano	Palermo	30	09/10	22/6
Brett Holman (29/1)	AZ Alkmar	26	09/10	31/6

Vince Grella

The Socceroos midfield enforcer is struggling to get on the park let alone get a full game. His move to Blackburn has been littered with injuries.  Mile Jedinak has had an excellent season scoring goals and playing full games. I expect to see him get some decent game time in Germany if Grella struggles. I think Mile  has overtaken Carl Valeri in the pecking order due to his excellent season with Turkish club Antalyaspor however I expect both should be going to South Africa.

Name (Socceroo Caps/Goals)	Club	Age	Season	Games/Goals
Vince Grella (42)	Parma	26	05/06	Around 40
Vince Grella	Blackburn	30	09/10	14
Mile Jedinak (9)	Antalyaspor	25	09/10	33/7
Carl Valeri (19/0)	Grosseto/Sassuolo	25	09/10	Around 20 games

Brett Emerton

Brett Emerton is arguably Australia’s fittest player and he is a key element of the Socceroos squad.  Pim used Brett as a right midfielder/winger in his famous 4-2-3-1.Dario Vidosic moved to a second division German side to get more game time and his performances against Japan and Netherlands could see him picked as back up. Mile Sterjovski and Richard Garcia are the other two options.

Name (Socceroo Caps/Goals)	Club	Age	Season	Games/Goals
Brett Emerton (72/17)	Blackburn	26	05/06	37/2
Brett Emerton	Blackburn	30	09/10	28/2
Mile Sterjovski (43/8)	Perth Glory	30	09/10
Dario Vidosic (4/0)	Nuremberg/MSV Duisberg	23	09/10	19/1
Richard Garcia (5)	Hull	28	09/10	18/0

Craig Moore

Craig Moore has left more clubs early than a bored hipster on a Saturday night out on Oxford St. His form in the A League dipped and his barge arse was almost getting as big as Lucas Neill’s. As a Socceroo fan I would be worried what the German, Ghanaian and Serbian Strikers will do  to our slow and ageing defence. The backup looks like being Mark Milligan and Jade North however calls from some section state that Eddie Bosnar and Sasa Ognenovski should be considered. They both have the best record in terms of games played and have the height to combat the tall German and Serbian strikers. But Pim just doesn’t like them and have zero experience with the national team. I would pick Mathew Spiranovic over Jade North.

Name (Socceroo Caps/Goals)	Club	Age	Season	Games/Goals
Craig Moore (47/3)	NewcastleUnited	30	05/06	8
Craig Moore	Brisbane/Kavala	34	09/10	25
Jade North  (28)	Incheon	28	09/10	12
Eddie Bosnar	JEF United/ Shimizu	29	08/10	61/4
Mark Milligan (9/1)	Shanghai/JEF United	24	09/10	32/1
Sasa Ognenovski	Seongnam	31	09/10	37/2
Mathew Spiranovic(4/0)	Nuremberg/Urawa	21	07/10	12/2
Simon Colosimo (26/3)	Sydney FC	31	08/10	34
Michael Beauchamp (19/1)	Al -Jazira	29	08/10	13

My Fantasy 23 man World Cup Socceroo Squad

GK: Mark Schwarzer, Adam Federeci, Mathew Langarak (3)

DEF: Craig Moore, Lucas Neill , Mark Milligan, Scott Chipperfield ,Luke Wilkshire,, Ryhs Williams, Mathew Spiranovc, David Carney (8)

MID: Tim Cahill, Brett Emerton, Jason Culina, Nicky Carle, Vince Grella, Mile Jedinak, Carl Valeri, Mark Bresciano, Brett Holman, (8)

Strikers: Josh Kennedy, Harry Kewell, Nikita Rukavystya,  (3)

                                                                               

My first team 11 against Germany, Playing 4-2-3-1

                       




                












                 Mark Schwarzer                         

Luke Wilkshire, Craig Moore, Lucas Neill , Scott Chipperfield

           Vince Grella , Jason Culina,

 Brett Emerton,   Tim Cahill,    Mark Bresciano

                   Harry Kewell,

Unlucky to miss out:

 Scott McDonald, Garcia, Mile Sterjovski, Simon Colisimo, Dario Vidosic, Jade North, Tommy Oar

Are we there yet?

 I have tried to be conservative due to Pims’ 4-2-3-1 formation with my choices. From the information in the tables you can make your own mind about whether the lack of games for some of our key players will have the Socceroos attending the tournament lacking match fitness(I don't think it's as bad as the prophets of doom say it is). It’s all speculation on who will be picked anyway and the man that counts is Pim Verbeek but I’m not sure about you but I would rather forgo the all speculation, pre-game analysis and hype just so I can hear the whistle blow when the Socceroos take the field against Ze Germans on the 14^th June @ 4:30 am  sharp.