Two days before Australia’s nil-nil draw in Honduras, Brisbane Roar announced the signing of Ivan Franjic. It is news that has understandably received little attention, but now the Socceroos have confirmed their place at the 2018 World Cup, Franjic can expect plenty of scrutiny as attention shifts to candidates auditioning for one of the 23 places in the national team squad set for Russia.
The impact of qualification on the short-term prosperity of football in Australia cannot be understated. Beyond the obvious public relations boost and the direct and indirect financial benefits, there should be a flow-on effect to the A-League. Awareness will hopefully be raised about the local competition, its contribution to the representative side and the role it plays refining the selection of the eventual World Cup squad. The competition could do with a filip following a lacklustre opening seven rounds reflected in poor TV ratings and uninspiring crowd figures.
Excitement around the World Cup will hopefully have a galvanising effect as Roar fans barrack for Franjic’s seat on the plane to Russia, Mariners supporters state the case for Daniel De Silva, Victory’s for Rhys Williams, and so on. The competitive tension this creates – within the confines of a shared goal – offers a win-win: an increase in incentives to not only engage with the A-League but get behind a team, all while organically building anticipation for the World Cup.
From an A-League perspective, one of the most pleasing aspects of Australia’s triumph over Honduras was the emphasis given to the competition for incubating the latest batch of national heroes. Mile Jedinak was the obvious figurehead, the goalscoring skipper one of four former Central Coast Mariners in the starting XI. Of those to take the pitch on Wednesday night, 13 of the 14 were A-League veterans, Bailey Wright the sole exception.
The association between the national team and the local league is demonstrable. Over the coming months it needs to be made abundantly clear to the groundswell of Australians who will take an interest in the World Cup, but may lack enthusiasm for the A-League.
Typically, Australians are unable to rush headlong into a frenzy of World Cup excitement. The next fortnight will be preoccupied by two significant but uncomfortable stories; FFA’s AGM on 30 November to determine how the game will be governed in this country, and the future of Ange Postecoglou. The implications of this are concerning, and cannot be overstated: less than a month after reaching the men’s World Cup for only the fifth time in Australia’s history, there could be no national team manager, nor a board in place to replace him.
The retention of Postecoglou should be a priority for whomever is in charge. He has achieved everything he has been tasked with, from using the 2014 World Cup as a springboard, to winning the 2015 Asian Cup, and now sending a group of players that is very much his to Russia. Not only that, but he has done so with a strategic vision to send them there as contenders, not as makeweights. Some unsatisfying media relations in recent months should not cloud our judgement.
Postecoglou’s retention also establishes the playing field for contenders. Everybody knows how the coach wants to play, his preferred formation, and the tweaks that turn Plan A into Plan B. We know positions that could benefit from bolstering. We know the improvement required of the challengers to force their way into his reckoning. Starting from scratch ahead of a June deadline seems unnecessarily self-flagellatory, even by the standards of Australian football.
Players, in concert with their clubs and the national set-up, should be given the best run possible to force their way into World Cup contention. It is one of those tacit assumptions of the A-League’s purpose that would benefit from enshrining in the aftermath of the governance debate – especially if one outcome is an independent competition. It seems to stand to reason the football community – professional league among it – should have as one of its shared ambitions the prosperity of the national team. Occasionally this may conflict with the short-term needs of top flight clubs, but hopefully, within a spirit of collaboration, mutually beneficial outcomes can be figured out.
One high profile case study has emerged in recent days, that of Tim Cahill and Melbourne City. Cahill is in the awkward position of representing a totemic figure for his country but finding himself only a fringe player for his club side. It is in Australia’s interests for Cahill to play regularly in the lead up to Russia, but it may not be in City’s. A January transfer is looking increasingly likely.
Other examples may be more nuanced. For example, Dimitri Petratos’ chances of forcing his way into the squad are significantly enhanced playing as a No10 at Newcastle Jets rather than as a right-winger, a role Postecoglou doesn’t employ in his existing strategy. With the Jets able to recruit an injury replacement for Ronald Vargas, they may look for a central playmaker during the next transfer window, but in so doing they may well hamper the international prospects of one of the form Australian players in this year’s competition.
Franjic’s situation is more cut and dried. He already has 20 caps for his country and his value is proven at the biggest tournaments. He won silverware under Postecoglou during his first stint at Brisbane Roar, he has experience of Russian conditions and boasts the attributes of a prototypical wingback, a vital component of the current Socceroo strategy. He just needs to prove his form and fitness after suffering a succession of debilitating injuries.
Franjic, and every other Australian in the A-League, has 20 home-and-away fixtures remaining to state his case. The A-League has 20 home-and-away fixtures remaining to capitalise.
A-League must cede to national interest and grow World Cup contenders | Football | The Guardian