Socceroos approaching last chance saloon, with World Cup dreams in the balance

There are only a couple of months, and one official international window left until the Socceroos’s World Cup squad is announced.

It is not the last chance saloon just yet, but it is not far off, and with so much uncertainty over many key positions, performances over the next few days could make, or shatter World Cup dreams.

The Australians face Cameroon in Sydney tomorrow night, then Curaçao in Melbourne on Tuesday night in their final matches at home.

And there will be one last shot in a friendly against Mexico in California just before the squad must be finalised at the start of June.

Coach Tony Popovic has maintained a steadfast mantra throughout his 18-month tenure so far — no-one’s place is guaranteed.

Even captain Mat Ryan has been under pressure to retain his place as the first-choice goalkeeper, and Popovic has trialled countless players in his squads, ramping up the rotation after they secured automatic qualification last year.

Some may see that as a sign of instability or playing with fire, but one of the country’s greatest ever players, Mark Schwarzer, is sticking by his former teammate.

“Of course, there’s experience and there’s continuity, which comes into play,” Schwarzer said.

“But you need to have the ability to make changes, have different players that play different roles in the team and make different impacts at different times.

“You also can’t play one team, one 11 that’s going to play the whole way through.”

Schwarzer and other members of the Socceroos golden generation will watch the game at Stadium Australia tomorrow night, celebrating the 20-year anniversary of qualifying for and competing at the 2006 World Cup.

The current crop doesn’t have the same star power as the class of 05/06, with very few playing in any of Europe’s top five leagues, and none in the English Premier League.

As Australia’s most capped male footballer, Schwarzer believes the current generation doesn’t need the same star power to make a mark.

“I said in 2022 that I thought we would probably send, man for man, our weakest squad, to the World Cup, but we were probably our best team at the World Cup that we sent,” he said.

“So just because we don’t, man for man, necessarily have the best individual players, we can have one of the best teams.

“I think there’s a really exciting crop of young players coming through … that have the ability to go on and play at the highest level.”

But he warned not to get carried away with expectations on younger players.

“We’ve seen it in the past, we’ve had really exciting young talented players coming through, talking about being the next best thing and they’re no longer involved and no longer at that level,” he said.

“And they should be because they’re still at the right age. So we need to make sure we manage that properly.

“And I think Popa’s in a great position to do that. His staff, we’ve got a wealth of experience, all ex-Socceroos staff, which I think is the first as well, which is outstanding.

“And it’s about trying to make sure that we nurture these players and give them the best opportunity to become the best players.”

Youngsters seizing the moment

Patrick Yazbek is amongst the younger talent fighting for a place in the squad, playing for Nashville SC in the MLS.

The American League has become the destination of choice for several Socceroos, including Aiden O’Neill, Kai Trewin, and uncapped Lucas Herrington.

And Yazbek is happy to act as salesman for the league.

“I can tell you that it’s a league that’s growing so quick in the 18 months that I’ve been there, I’ve seen massive improvements and massive changes in the set-up,” he said.

“The financial stability of the league is unbelievable, the recruitment is unbelievable.

“You see, like the likes of [French World Cup winner Antoine] Griezmann signing for Orlando recently, and I can’t wait to see what other players sign post World Cup,

“It’s honestly such a such a great place to be at the moment, and I’m really excited to see the direction of the MLS.”

The 23-year-old Sydneysider is also getting a chance to test himself against the best, having faced Inter Miami’s Lionel Messi several times.

“The first time I came up against him, very nervous, but I think these days I’m pretty privileged to say it seems like just another game when I see Messi on the field,” he said.

“I actually got his jersey a few games ago. I asked him at half-time, and he gave it to me, so that was a pretty fun thing. And I’ve got it framed in my house now.

“On a personal note, I’m very happy with the way things are going, and very proud of the team, but it’s still a long season.

“Still a lot to prove, and obviously, with the World Cup coming, I’m just trying to play well at my club and put my best foot forward for those targets I’m trying to meet.”

Jacob Italiano is also finding form at the right time.

The West Australian made his debut last October, starting at right-back against Canada and the USA.

He then had a stint on the sidelines with a calf injury, but returned a month ago, and comes into this camp fresh from scoring a scintillating hat-trick for his Austrian club Grazer AK.

And with Lewis Miller ruled out of the World Cup with a ruptured Achilles, Italiano has moved up the pecking order.

“It’s obviously really unfortunate what happened to Lewis, and it’s a part of football,” the 24-year-old said.

“I’ve had my fair share of injuries as well. It’s an opportunity for another player, and now I just want to put my best foot forward, keep my head down, work hard, and hopefully I can take the chance.”