Reliable Jedinak set to lead 'Roos by example

Sunday, May 18, 2014 - 7:05 AM
Source: SportsFan
Author: Glenn Valencich

He's taken the long route to the top but Mile Jedinak has put himself in the best position to lead the Socceroos at the World Cup, says a man who did exactly that almost 50 times.

While the captain's armband is a figurative symbol for the voice of the team, former skipper Paul Wade believes Jedinak has all the tools to be a genuine leader among his teammates.

"I have no doubt [about] a bloke who can play in the English Premier League, within half an hour of playing every minute of every game for Crystal Palace," Wade told SportsFan's Will McCloy.

"Isn't that amazing? One stat in itself that says, 'you know, I'm a regular, I'm consistent, I'm reliable, I know the game at the highest level.' Bingo, give him the job."

Ex-Socceroos skipper Paul Wade had plenty of advice for Mile Jedinak and the Socceroos, hear it all here!

After a horror start to their first Premier League season in almost a decade, Jedinak led the Eagles to 11th on the table after a 2-2 draw with relegated Fulham on the final day last weekend. The midfielder topped the league in tackles (133) and interceptions (139), and Wade says his dominant role through the centre will be crucial as the skipper.

"You need somebody in a key position," he said.

"It's as much off the park as it is on as far as the captaincy goes. Once upon a time I thought it was how many tosses of the coin you could win and how many words you could put together at a press conference. But it's a little bit more than that, I think he will lead by example. That was the only way I knew how to captain a team."

Wade led the Socceroos 46 times in a 10-year career that saw him win 84 caps, and he says the young and inexperienced squad will play into Jedinak's hands.

"Honestly, I'm looking at this squad and I'm thinking there ain't too many arrogant so-and-sos in this one," he said.

"Definitely the young kids, and I say kids, I mean they're all grown up, they all play at a reasonable level, that I think they'll behave themselves and do what they're told. And you can guarantee they won't go out the night before a game like it was back in the day!"

Jedinak is one of just seven players in the Socceroos' 30-man preliminary squad that went to the 2010 World Cup. And though he saw just 20 minutes of action in only one match in South Africa, Wade expects the former Central Coast Mariner to rally his charges and the anxiety that comes with the big occasion.

"When you go out at that stage playing two of the best teams at the last World Cup, you think to yourself it's not just the 90 minutes, it's the build-up to that," he explained.

"When you wake up that first morning, that's when you start worrying, and for a lot of these players, they'll feel sick in the stomach. They'll be edgy, they'll almost burn as much energy off the park worrying about it or trying to build themselves up in anticipation that you get out there and you're a bundle of nerves!

"So what he has to say is, 'look, we've got a way of playing football, we know the formation, just concentrate on that. Try and eliminate the crowd and the billion people that are watching this game right now. Try and forget it boys!'"

Coach Ange Postecoglou has necessarily given the squad a shake-up since his appointment in a bid to regenerate the team ahead of the 2015 Asian Cup, hosted by Australia this coming January, and the 2018 World Cup qualifying campaign. That means the Socceroos will travel to Brazil as one of the youngest squads – facing Spain, Netherlands and Chile in the group stage, no less – but Wade says they won't fear anything.

"On paper right now, we are going to get smashed. But, and there's a massive but, something happens with that white line," he said.

"Once you cross it... the Serbian game at the last World Cup was a perfect example of that. We got our backsides kicked against Germany but that was only because we were introverts. 'Hey boys, let's not concede many goals against Serbia. Hey, there's a goal up the other end so if we get the ball, let's get bodies forward really quickly and create chances.'

"And it worked like that. If they go along with a positive attitude, they won't get smashed."

Is the captain's role as important as it's made out to be? Will the Socceroos' team culture be enough to get a result at the World Cup? Have your say in the comments below.

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