RSS
ATOM
advertisement
Aussie Analysis: The Race To Replace Viduka
With his international career seemingly coming to an end, the race is on to replace the V-Bomber. Goal.com's Chris Paraskevas looks at the candidates...
|
Sign up with 188BET for a FREE bet up to £25 – Great Prices, Every Game |
|
Open an account with Sportingbet today and get up to £100 in free bets! |
|
Sign up with William Hill for a free bet up to £25 |
|
Sign up with bet365 for a free bet up to £200 |
Jun 2, 2009 2:36:37 AM
Guus Hiddink’s talisman at the 2006 World Cup, for a few months it suddenly appeared as though the Australian national team simply could not exist without Mark Viduka.
The technically gifted front-man had previously been one of the most frustrating figures to have ever pulled on a green and gold jersey, failing to replicate his outstanding club form on the international stage, but under the Dutch tactician he became Australia’s undisputed No.9.
Despite criticism over his lack of goals for the national team, Viduka – whether he was aware of it or not – was one of the key players in the birth of a new era for football in Australia.
For it was around he whom Hiddink built his side that broke a 32-year drought by qualifying for football’s greatest showpiece, thus allowing for the new regime governing Australian football to begin their reign on the perfect note.
An enigmatic figure who at times seemed almost detached when playing for the Socceroos, Viduka suddenly found himself carrying the weight of a nation on his shoulders; in the wake of Hiddink’s departure, it would be he who would lead Australia into their first Asian Cup in 2007.
Since then, however, an ill-fated move to Newcastle United has seen him riddled with injury and unable to link-up with his national team at all.
It has been two years since Viduka has represented his country and in the wake of his decision not to accept Pim Verbeek’s call-up for the June World Cup qualifiers, this might just be the end of his Australia career.
With the reality now setting in that 12 months out from the 2010 World Cup, Australia may have lost their most potent striker, Goal.com looks at Viduka’s potential successors...
1. Scott McDonald
Club: Celtic, Scotland
Int. Appearances: 11
Int. Goals: 0
Age: 25
Despite having represented Australia at youth World Cups, the blossoming of McDonald’s senior career has been a relatively late one. It was only in a recent spell at Motherwell that he would make his name as a goal-scorer, debuting at senior international level in an Asian Cup qualifier against Bahrain in 2006 before missing out on the 2007 Asian Cup as he prepared for a move to Scottish giants Celtic. Since his highly successful Glasgow move, he has become a regular feature of Pim Verbeek’s national team squads, though has failed to nail down a starting place.
With the few opportunities he has been given, McDonald has yet to open his account and generally hasn’t looked like doing so. Socceroo legend Adrian Alston recently suggested to Goal.com that McDonald’s inability to perform on the international stage was a reflection of the lower standard of the domestic Scottish scene, though others will point to the fact that he is rarely used as a lone striker at club level - Verbeek prefers a 4-2-3-1 formation. Rarely has McDonald been deployed alongside a bigger target-man in the form of Joshua Kennedy, though he failed to impress when given the chance to do so in a World Cup qualifier against Qatar early last year.
His work ethic for the national team cannot be questioned, despite the fact that he has openly called for Verbeek to play him in a two-man front line. As if to highlight his frustrations, on his last outing in a qualifier against Uzbekistan, the 25-year-old started out as a lone striker and performed admirably despite a lack of service.
With Australia struggling to create chances, the expectation of Verbeek was to supplement McDonald with Kennedy, though the Dutchman instead decided to replace the Celtic striker with the target man – who then went on to lead Australia to victory with the opening goal of the match.
Strengths: Australia’s only goal-poacher, as evidenced by an outstanding goal-scoring record in Scotland. Also capable of stepping up in the big matches, as he has done for Celtic in the UEFA Champions League. Good strength despite his size and a natural finisher.
Weaknesses: Hasn’t shown that he is quick enough to make a difference at international level and his lack of size means he will never be as suited to Verbeek’s preferred formation as Kennedy or Viduka.
Verdict: Yet to be given a proper chance for the national team, though out of all the strikers has proved the most consistent and injury-free at club level. Deserves a run of games for the Socceroos in the lead-up to South Africa, whether as a lone striker or in a front two.
Joshua Kennedy
Club: Karlsruhe, Germany
Int. Appearances: 12
Int. Goals: 6
Age: 26
Kennedy shot from virtual obscurity to international stardom when he became the shock selection of Hiddink’s squad in Germany.
He played a crucial – albeit small – role in the finals, impressing in substitute appearances against both Japan and Croatia and confirming himself after that as a regular feature in Socceroos squads, though injury prevented him from participating at the 2007 Asian Cup.
Unlike McDonald, he has flourished on the international stage despite a lack of consistent first-team opportunities, scoring a goal every two games. He's well-suited to Verbeek’s 4-2-3-1 formation and has an obvious advantage in size, though his technical ability should not be overlooked.
He has struggled for first-team football at club level though, where he has endured a frustrating season with now-relegated Bundesliga outfit Karlsruhe.
Strengths: Standing at almost two metres tall, Kennedy has an obvious advantage in size and has proven to be lethal in the air at international level. Fits the mould of target man well, which suits Verbeek’s style.
Weaknesses: A lack of game-time at club level is the most obvious, as is a relative lack of pace.
Verdict: Definitely an able successor to Viduka and if he finds the right club and game-time over the next 12 months, the man nick-named ‘Jesus’ could prove to be Australia’s saviour in South Africa.
3. Tim Cahill
Club: Everton, England
Int. Appearances: 31
Int. Goals: 14
Age: 29
Australia’s talisman and most potent attacking weapon - and, arguably, their biggest star. Though not a nominal striker, Cahill has proven capable of fulfilling the role with club side Everton. He did so for Australia as well in a goalless draw away against Japan during the current campaign, though was non-existent as an attacking threat.
The question appears to be less about whether he is capable of replacing Viduka in the long-term and more about whether his absence will be felt in midfield or as a second-striker as he does so, having traditionally done his greatest damage for the national team from a deeper-lying role.
Strengths: Athleticism, aerial ability, work-rate, X-Factor. Cahill is a natural goal-scorer and has proven his versatility time and time again at Everton.
Weaknesses: Looked out of place against a well-drilled Japanese defence but was effective in that he won countless free kicks and worked extremely hard. His presence will be missed in midfield if he is asked to play as a striker.
Verdict: A capable option in case of emergency but his midfield talents should not be wasted in a forward role.
4. Harry Kewell
Club: Galatasaray, Turkey
Int. Appearances: 39
Int. Goals: 13
Age: 30
Has starred for Galatasaray this season and enjoyed a renaissance at club level, where the less physical Turkish league has allowed him to overcome his injury woes and build-up confidence again.
Like Cahill before him, traditionally not deployed as a striker but has proven particularly threatening whenever he has been played as one during his career, whether it be at Leeds or now, in Turkey. Has thrived alongside Milan Baros in a front-two formation, scoring 15 goals.
Strengths: Unflustered on the biggest stage and immensely experienced, a natural goal-scorer and equally capable of playing the role of creator. Has returned to form at the right time and is finding the back of the net with regularity.
Weaknesses: Has lost a lot of pace as a result of his injury problems and wouldn’t be anywhere near as effective as a front-man than in a front two, though has filled the role for Australia in the past.
Verdict: Unmatched in the current Australia squad in terms of dribbling ability and in that respect, gives Verbeek a natural width. Like Cahill, a good emergency option but his services are needed elsewhere.
5. Bruce Djite
Club: Genclerbirligi, Turkey
Int. Appearances: 7
Int. Goals: 0
Age: 22
His career in Turkey started promisingly. His season has faded slightly, as he has struggled to match fellow countrymen James Troisi an Mile Jedinak for success at his club.
Has all the attributes to fill the lone-striker role; he's powerful, quick and good in the air, though looked out of place in the dead rubber World Cup qualifying loss to China in Sydney last year.
Wasn’t called up to Verbeek’s latest squad for the June matches and will certainly need to find regular football next season if he is to push for a place in South Africa, with the likes of Dario Vidosic having edged ahead of him in the pecking order.
6. Dario Vidosic
Club: FC Nurnberg, Germany
Int. Appearances: 0
Int. Goals: 0
Age: 22
Has impressed in the latter stages of this season, helping his Nurnberg side to promotion to the top-flight with some crucial goals.
Was a talent in the A-League before moving overseas and looks to be fulfilling his promise; if he can manage regular game-time in the Bundesliga next season, might turn out to be the surprise packet of Australia’s World Cup campaign. Recently called up by Verbeek and is in line to make his international debut.
7. Nikita Rukavytsya
Club: FC Twente, Netherlands
Int. Appearances: 0
Int. Goals: 0
Age: 21
Could be playing UEFA Champions League football under Steve McLaren next season if he manages to break into the Twente first team. Undoubted ability, as he showed with the Perth Glory in the A-League and with some encouraging displays at the Beijing Olympics.
Technically gifted, fast and a natural finisher; would offer variety if he were to travel to South Africa but perhaps a little young to be replacing Viduka yet.
Chris Paraskevas, Goal.com
The technically gifted front-man had previously been one of the most frustrating figures to have ever pulled on a green and gold jersey, failing to replicate his outstanding club form on the international stage, but under the Dutch tactician he became Australia’s undisputed No.9.
Despite criticism over his lack of goals for the national team, Viduka – whether he was aware of it or not – was one of the key players in the birth of a new era for football in Australia.
For it was around he whom Hiddink built his side that broke a 32-year drought by qualifying for football’s greatest showpiece, thus allowing for the new regime governing Australian football to begin their reign on the perfect note.
An enigmatic figure who at times seemed almost detached when playing for the Socceroos, Viduka suddenly found himself carrying the weight of a nation on his shoulders; in the wake of Hiddink’s departure, it would be he who would lead Australia into their first Asian Cup in 2007.
Since then, however, an ill-fated move to Newcastle United has seen him riddled with injury and unable to link-up with his national team at all.
It has been two years since Viduka has represented his country and in the wake of his decision not to accept Pim Verbeek’s call-up for the June World Cup qualifiers, this might just be the end of his Australia career.
With the reality now setting in that 12 months out from the 2010 World Cup, Australia may have lost their most potent striker, Goal.com looks at Viduka’s potential successors...
1. Scott McDonald
Club: Celtic, Scotland
Int. Appearances: 11
Int. Goals: 0
Age: 25
Despite having represented Australia at youth World Cups, the blossoming of McDonald’s senior career has been a relatively late one. It was only in a recent spell at Motherwell that he would make his name as a goal-scorer, debuting at senior international level in an Asian Cup qualifier against Bahrain in 2006 before missing out on the 2007 Asian Cup as he prepared for a move to Scottish giants Celtic. Since his highly successful Glasgow move, he has become a regular feature of Pim Verbeek’s national team squads, though has failed to nail down a starting place.
With the few opportunities he has been given, McDonald has yet to open his account and generally hasn’t looked like doing so. Socceroo legend Adrian Alston recently suggested to Goal.com that McDonald’s inability to perform on the international stage was a reflection of the lower standard of the domestic Scottish scene, though others will point to the fact that he is rarely used as a lone striker at club level - Verbeek prefers a 4-2-3-1 formation. Rarely has McDonald been deployed alongside a bigger target-man in the form of Joshua Kennedy, though he failed to impress when given the chance to do so in a World Cup qualifier against Qatar early last year.
His work ethic for the national team cannot be questioned, despite the fact that he has openly called for Verbeek to play him in a two-man front line. As if to highlight his frustrations, on his last outing in a qualifier against Uzbekistan, the 25-year-old started out as a lone striker and performed admirably despite a lack of service.
With Australia struggling to create chances, the expectation of Verbeek was to supplement McDonald with Kennedy, though the Dutchman instead decided to replace the Celtic striker with the target man – who then went on to lead Australia to victory with the opening goal of the match.
Strengths: Australia’s only goal-poacher, as evidenced by an outstanding goal-scoring record in Scotland. Also capable of stepping up in the big matches, as he has done for Celtic in the UEFA Champions League. Good strength despite his size and a natural finisher.
Weaknesses: Hasn’t shown that he is quick enough to make a difference at international level and his lack of size means he will never be as suited to Verbeek’s preferred formation as Kennedy or Viduka.
Verdict: Yet to be given a proper chance for the national team, though out of all the strikers has proved the most consistent and injury-free at club level. Deserves a run of games for the Socceroos in the lead-up to South Africa, whether as a lone striker or in a front two.
Joshua Kennedy
Club: Karlsruhe, Germany
Int. Appearances: 12
Int. Goals: 6
Age: 26
Kennedy shot from virtual obscurity to international stardom when he became the shock selection of Hiddink’s squad in Germany.
He played a crucial – albeit small – role in the finals, impressing in substitute appearances against both Japan and Croatia and confirming himself after that as a regular feature in Socceroos squads, though injury prevented him from participating at the 2007 Asian Cup.
Unlike McDonald, he has flourished on the international stage despite a lack of consistent first-team opportunities, scoring a goal every two games. He's well-suited to Verbeek’s 4-2-3-1 formation and has an obvious advantage in size, though his technical ability should not be overlooked.
He has struggled for first-team football at club level though, where he has endured a frustrating season with now-relegated Bundesliga outfit Karlsruhe.
Strengths: Standing at almost two metres tall, Kennedy has an obvious advantage in size and has proven to be lethal in the air at international level. Fits the mould of target man well, which suits Verbeek’s style.
Weaknesses: A lack of game-time at club level is the most obvious, as is a relative lack of pace.
Verdict: Definitely an able successor to Viduka and if he finds the right club and game-time over the next 12 months, the man nick-named ‘Jesus’ could prove to be Australia’s saviour in South Africa.
3. Tim Cahill
Club: Everton, England
Int. Appearances: 31
Int. Goals: 14
Age: 29
Australia’s talisman and most potent attacking weapon - and, arguably, their biggest star. Though not a nominal striker, Cahill has proven capable of fulfilling the role with club side Everton. He did so for Australia as well in a goalless draw away against Japan during the current campaign, though was non-existent as an attacking threat.
The question appears to be less about whether he is capable of replacing Viduka in the long-term and more about whether his absence will be felt in midfield or as a second-striker as he does so, having traditionally done his greatest damage for the national team from a deeper-lying role.
Strengths: Athleticism, aerial ability, work-rate, X-Factor. Cahill is a natural goal-scorer and has proven his versatility time and time again at Everton.
Weaknesses: Looked out of place against a well-drilled Japanese defence but was effective in that he won countless free kicks and worked extremely hard. His presence will be missed in midfield if he is asked to play as a striker.
Verdict: A capable option in case of emergency but his midfield talents should not be wasted in a forward role.
4. Harry Kewell
Club: Galatasaray, Turkey
Int. Appearances: 39
Int. Goals: 13
Age: 30
Has starred for Galatasaray this season and enjoyed a renaissance at club level, where the less physical Turkish league has allowed him to overcome his injury woes and build-up confidence again.
Like Cahill before him, traditionally not deployed as a striker but has proven particularly threatening whenever he has been played as one during his career, whether it be at Leeds or now, in Turkey. Has thrived alongside Milan Baros in a front-two formation, scoring 15 goals.
Strengths: Unflustered on the biggest stage and immensely experienced, a natural goal-scorer and equally capable of playing the role of creator. Has returned to form at the right time and is finding the back of the net with regularity.
Weaknesses: Has lost a lot of pace as a result of his injury problems and wouldn’t be anywhere near as effective as a front-man than in a front two, though has filled the role for Australia in the past.
Verdict: Unmatched in the current Australia squad in terms of dribbling ability and in that respect, gives Verbeek a natural width. Like Cahill, a good emergency option but his services are needed elsewhere.
5. Bruce Djite
Club: Genclerbirligi, Turkey
Int. Appearances: 7
Int. Goals: 0
Age: 22
His career in Turkey started promisingly. His season has faded slightly, as he has struggled to match fellow countrymen James Troisi an Mile Jedinak for success at his club.
Has all the attributes to fill the lone-striker role; he's powerful, quick and good in the air, though looked out of place in the dead rubber World Cup qualifying loss to China in Sydney last year.
Wasn’t called up to Verbeek’s latest squad for the June matches and will certainly need to find regular football next season if he is to push for a place in South Africa, with the likes of Dario Vidosic having edged ahead of him in the pecking order.
6. Dario Vidosic
Club: FC Nurnberg, Germany
Int. Appearances: 0
Int. Goals: 0
Age: 22
Has impressed in the latter stages of this season, helping his Nurnberg side to promotion to the top-flight with some crucial goals.
Was a talent in the A-League before moving overseas and looks to be fulfilling his promise; if he can manage regular game-time in the Bundesliga next season, might turn out to be the surprise packet of Australia’s World Cup campaign. Recently called up by Verbeek and is in line to make his international debut.
7. Nikita Rukavytsya
Club: FC Twente, Netherlands
Int. Appearances: 0
Int. Goals: 0
Age: 21
Could be playing UEFA Champions League football under Steve McLaren next season if he manages to break into the Twente first team. Undoubted ability, as he showed with the Perth Glory in the A-League and with some encouraging displays at the Beijing Olympics.
Technically gifted, fast and a natural finisher; would offer variety if he were to travel to South Africa but perhaps a little young to be replacing Viduka yet.
Chris Paraskevas, Goal.com
| Sign up with 188BET for a FREE bet up to £25 – Great Prices, Every Game |
|
| Open an account with Sportingbet today and get up to £100 in free bets! |
|
| Sign up with William Hill for a free bet up to £25 |
|
| Sign up with bet365 for a free bet up to £200 |
|
Thank you for your comment!
Please enter your name
Please enter your location
Please share your comment!
12 Comments
Advertisement
Inside Goal.Com
-
Why rest may not be the best solution for Messi
Top sports physio Piero Galilea tells Goal.com that the Argentine's dip in form could be down to intensive aerobic training this winter, but claims rest may not be the answer
-
What Milan must do to end Juve's unbeaten run
The Bianconeri's streak this season has reached 23 games, but if the Rossoneri are to have high hopes of a Coppa Italia final appearance they will need to put an end to it tonight
-
Bayern Munich must drop Robben for Ribery to shine
Jupp Heynckes may have to promote the ex-Rostock man to an attacking role if he is to get the best out of the Frenchman and jump-start his struggling attack
-
Cartoon: City's Balotelli asks 'Why always Messi?'
Goal.com cartoonist Omar Momani gives us his unique take on the football news of the day ...
-
EPL Team of the Week: Van Persie leads the line
Wolves trio Wayne Hennessey, Kevin Doyle and Roger Johnson also appear after the 2-1 away win over QPR, while Spurs' Kyle Walker makes his TOTW debut following Liverpool draw
Advertisement
Advertisement
