Tom Rogic has been named in the Socceroos squad for next Wedneday's friendly against South Korea. Photo: Getty Images
There could be several players set to receive their first ever Socceroos cap after coach Holger Osieck called in five players yet to play an international game for next Wednesday's friendly match against South Korea in Hwaseong.
Three of the players, Tom Rogic, Eli Babalj and Aziz Behich, have never been included in an Australian squad while Central Coast goalkeeper Mathew Ryan and FSV Frankfurt attacker Mathew Leckie have been called up previously without featuring in a match.
The inclusions indicate that Osieck is finally willing to consider bringing through the next generation of players after several years of conservative selections from both himself and his predecessor, Pim Verbeek.
“It's a very good opportunity for me to look at some players who have not got some playing time recently and some new call-ups so players that have performed already for their club teams that caught our eye,” Osieck said at Wednesday's squad announcement in Sydney. “It's a great opportunity to see them in a Socceroos' environment. I can see them and how far they are up to standard and my expectations.”
But of all the inclusions it's the hype around Rogic that threatens to explode, but the coach was at pains to emphasise that the 19-year-old has a long way to go.
“If he hadn't been good he wouldn't be in, but I would like to make one thing perfectly clear,” Osieck said. “Tom Rogic is still at the beginning of his playing career. He is a good boy, he has a lot of talent, he has some special qualities but he is far from being on the top international level.
“I would like you guys [the media] to consider that, not to put him up on a pedestal where he does not belong to right now. He has all the ingredients to become a good player, to even represent Australia, but he's not there yet and we have to all consider that. I have had numerous experiences in my coaching where young, talented players were put up prematurely on a level, that, later on, they never reached. It can be more destructive to the development of the boy than beneficial. Please don't destroy him.”
There are also plenty of other players with single-figure caps to their name in the squad including James Holland, Tommy Oar, Nikita Rukavytsya, Adam Sarota and Michael Thwaite.
At the other end of the age spectrum, veteran trio Mark Schwarzer, Lucas Neill and Archie Thompson have also been chosen and Osieck said he picked them to give the young squad some leadership.
“If you look at the squad, there's a great number of players who have been around for quite some time so we don't have to start from scratch,” he said. “These players have a job now to guide the young guys who just came in and that is what I expect from them. I expect leadership and there has to be self-education within the group and that is what I ask from experienced players. Mark, Lucas, Matty McKay, Carl Valeri, Luke Wilkshire have been around for ages and should be in a position to get across what is required from the new boys.”
Osieck also revealed the reason why prolific striker Richard Porta was not called up for the squad, saying that because Porta represented Uruguay in a youth tournament, a release is required from the Uruguayan federation and Football Federation Australia had only just commenced the process.
“We've got to get a release from the Uruguayan federation and then from FIFA and then he could be a serious candidate for us but there's a lot of formalities before that,” Osieck said. “I can assure you we are not blind [about him].
“He has been monitored by us. Of course, he's done well — he plays well, he scores and he could be a potential candidate for us. ”
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