Ange Postecoglou on Tuesday announced his final squad for the Asian Cup on home soil next month, with few surprises but plenty of attacking fire power among the 23.
No special treatment for Jedinak
“Everyone will come into camp after this weekend’s round of football and that includes Mile.”
Crystal Palace had hoped to keep their skipper for the Premier League match away to Aston Villa on January 1, but the Socceroos captain will, as dictated by FIFA rules, be expected to join up with the national team for their pre-tournament training camp, which begins in Melbourne on December 27.
It was always a forlorn hope for Palace, with Postecoglou understandably keen to avoid a repeat of the injury the holding midfielder suffered on the final day of the last league season, forcing him to race against the clock to be fit for the World Cup.
Fans none the wiser about pass mark
Postecoglou has insisted during Australia’s recent run of poor friendly results that he wants to be judged in competitive action. However, when asked what the bare minimum is in terms of how far the Socceroos need to progress in the Asian Cup, the head coach refused to give a definite answer, instead turning the focus to his team’s on-field performance.
“I want us to win and I want us to win playing attacking football,” he said.
“It’s right people have expectations of their national team. Internally, we’re trying to create a really exciting and successful team. That’s always my internal measure and that’ll continue for this tournament.”
There’s no denying the men in green and gold surprised a few doubters by pushing Chile and the Netherlands hard at the World Cup, but the fact remains they came home from Brazil empty handed. Another early exit against less impressive opposition and in front of their own fans will not be tolerated.
Lack of match fitness not a concern, but should it be?
There are several players among the final 23 who have been struggling badly for regular playing time of late, including Chris Herd, Jason Davidson and Ivan Franjic. Robbie Kruse, still working his way back from anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction, has been spending plenty of time on the bench at Bayer Leverkusen.
Postecoglou claimed not to be worried but that lack of recent game-time, attributing it to competition for places at club sides.
“They’re not fitness issues,” he said.
“Herdy’s been on the bench the last couple of weeks for a Premier League club, he hasn’t got a run but he’s training well and training very strongly. Krusy’s the same. There’s certainly no fitness issues there. Jason, he’s taken a big punt with his career and he’s finding it a big challenge.”
Be that as it may, one of the coach’s previous conditions for national team selection was to be in form. While exceptions must be made due to vagaries of club football, there’s no denying several players will be rusty to say the least when the opening game against Kuwait rolls around on January 9.
source: goal.com
STUDIO 3 NEWCASTLE AUSTRALIA 