THE AUSTRALIANS
Massimo Luongo:
The diminutive midfielder has already captured the attention of the Australian public through his performances at the Asian Cup and it won't be long before the eyes of bigger European clubs follow. The 22-year-old has been the revelation of the Socceroos campaign thus far, but surprisingly plays in the third tier of English football with Swindon Town.
His pedigree isn't just noticed at international level but also in England where he's valued as one of the best midfielders in his division. With far wealthier clubs in the tiers above, it's realistic that Swindon will receive transfer offers for their star player. However, even if he stays where he is, he looks certain to move up a notch regardless, with his club firmly in the promotion mix.
Matthew Spiranovic:
Now benefitting from regular international game time and stability at his club, Spiranovic is already said to be attracting the interest of a host of European clubs. The 26-year-old is now the defensive leader for the national team a little more than a year after Lucas Neill last played for the Socceroos and his exploits aren't going unnoticed. Two Dutch clubs have reportedly signalled their interest with his club, Western Sydney Wanderers, and it may not be long before the classy centre-back is on the move.
The better Australia perform at this Asian Cup, the better are his chances of moving abroad, such is his pivotal role in the side. There will be an eagerness on his behalf as the longer he stays in Australia, and the older he gets, Asia will appear a more realistic destination than Europe.
Tomi Juric:
The highly rated youngster sensationally turned down a record move to Chinese club Shanghai Shenhua last week on the advice of many of his national team peers. Juric is out of contract at the end of the season and free to discuss possible moves away from Western Sydney Wanderers already. However, as things stand, there are no offers to move to his preferred destination of Europe, so the Asian Cup is his big chance to change that.
He made the first steps to gaining global attention with an instinctive strikers' goal against Oman during the middle of the week and a performance that deserved a mention on the score sheet.
He will have to make sure that isn't his final contribution at this tournament to fully justify his knocking-back of Shanghai.
Mat Ryan:
The young goalkeeper stole the headlines in midweek with British media reporting Premier League giants Liverpool are closely monitoring his performance. He became a transfer target of The Reds on the same day he retained his Goalkeeper of the Year award in Belgium, where he plays his club football with Clubb Brugge, to further bolster his rapidly growing reputation.
The reality is, even if he doesn't replace Simon Minoglet at Anfield in July, the mere mention of Liverpool's interest will be sure to prick the ears of many rivals who might be tempted to beat them to his signature.
Robbie Kruse:
His move to Bundesliga heavyweights Bayer Leverkusen has not been a fruitful one as yet and it may not be long before he starts looking elsewhere. A long-term knee injury compounded his struggles to cement a first team place and his minutes in the Bundesliga have been limited. Out of sight and out of mind of potential suitors, the Asian Cup is so important for Kruse to either change his club status or move elsewhere. He's proven so far that he hasn't lost his touch and he's capable of leading Australia's attack.
Consistency is key as it will require more than one show to make waves back in Europe.
After missing the World Cup, Kruse knows he has a chance to recapture the attention that was once on him and that could lead to a move away from the Bay Arena.
THE INTERNATIONALS
Yaser Kasim (Iraq):
Has impressed in a huge way during this tournament and his display in the opening match against Jordan suggested he was a class above the competition. He may well be the player who brings Iraq back to the peak of Asian football and a potential successor to the great Nashat Akram, who has retired from international duty, sadly before Australian fans got to see him one more time.
However, Kasim has the potential to be a special player in his own right and won't last long in the third tier of English football. Swindon Town should win promotion this season to the Championship but it's evident that he could play in one of Europe's top leagues. Exposure to the youth system at Tottenham will have him aware of what it takes to succeed.
Omar Abdulrahman (UAE): This is Abdulrahman's big chance to show that he's capable of cutting it among Asia's best outside the bubble of Middle Eastern football. Yes, he's that region's number one player right now, but a barnstorming display at this tournament is the difference between him earning a move to a major European club or earning more petro-dollars at home.
Granted, there's probably not much difference between the salaries, but it's a matter of the challenge. Abdulrahman could spend the next 15 years in the Arabian Pro League, earning $100,000 per week, and living a comfortable life. Or he could go out and test himself against the best there is. He's certainly good enough. His first two performances were made of silk.
Igor Sergeev (Uzbekistan): The next Maksim Shatskikh? That's certainly a tempting comparison to make, although it comes loaded with the same pressure that befalls any young Australian striker labelled "the next Mark Viduka". Shatskikh was such a powerful force in the Uzbek national football side for so long and proved himself more than adept at replacing the legendary Andriy Shevchenko at Dynamo Kyiv.
Sergeev may not be quite at that elite level just yet but he could develop into a seriously good player. His decisive goal against North Korea was extremely impressive: an angled header in the driving rain.
http://www.theage.com.au/sport/socce...17-12shgf.html
Massimo Luongo:
The diminutive midfielder has already captured the attention of the Australian public through his performances at the Asian Cup and it won't be long before the eyes of bigger European clubs follow. The 22-year-old has been the revelation of the Socceroos campaign thus far, but surprisingly plays in the third tier of English football with Swindon Town.
His pedigree isn't just noticed at international level but also in England where he's valued as one of the best midfielders in his division. With far wealthier clubs in the tiers above, it's realistic that Swindon will receive transfer offers for their star player. However, even if he stays where he is, he looks certain to move up a notch regardless, with his club firmly in the promotion mix.
Matthew Spiranovic:
Now benefitting from regular international game time and stability at his club, Spiranovic is already said to be attracting the interest of a host of European clubs. The 26-year-old is now the defensive leader for the national team a little more than a year after Lucas Neill last played for the Socceroos and his exploits aren't going unnoticed. Two Dutch clubs have reportedly signalled their interest with his club, Western Sydney Wanderers, and it may not be long before the classy centre-back is on the move.
The better Australia perform at this Asian Cup, the better are his chances of moving abroad, such is his pivotal role in the side. There will be an eagerness on his behalf as the longer he stays in Australia, and the older he gets, Asia will appear a more realistic destination than Europe.
Tomi Juric:
The highly rated youngster sensationally turned down a record move to Chinese club Shanghai Shenhua last week on the advice of many of his national team peers. Juric is out of contract at the end of the season and free to discuss possible moves away from Western Sydney Wanderers already. However, as things stand, there are no offers to move to his preferred destination of Europe, so the Asian Cup is his big chance to change that.
He made the first steps to gaining global attention with an instinctive strikers' goal against Oman during the middle of the week and a performance that deserved a mention on the score sheet.
He will have to make sure that isn't his final contribution at this tournament to fully justify his knocking-back of Shanghai.
Mat Ryan:
The young goalkeeper stole the headlines in midweek with British media reporting Premier League giants Liverpool are closely monitoring his performance. He became a transfer target of The Reds on the same day he retained his Goalkeeper of the Year award in Belgium, where he plays his club football with Clubb Brugge, to further bolster his rapidly growing reputation.
The reality is, even if he doesn't replace Simon Minoglet at Anfield in July, the mere mention of Liverpool's interest will be sure to prick the ears of many rivals who might be tempted to beat them to his signature.
Robbie Kruse:
His move to Bundesliga heavyweights Bayer Leverkusen has not been a fruitful one as yet and it may not be long before he starts looking elsewhere. A long-term knee injury compounded his struggles to cement a first team place and his minutes in the Bundesliga have been limited. Out of sight and out of mind of potential suitors, the Asian Cup is so important for Kruse to either change his club status or move elsewhere. He's proven so far that he hasn't lost his touch and he's capable of leading Australia's attack.
Consistency is key as it will require more than one show to make waves back in Europe.
After missing the World Cup, Kruse knows he has a chance to recapture the attention that was once on him and that could lead to a move away from the Bay Arena.
THE INTERNATIONALS
Yaser Kasim (Iraq):
Has impressed in a huge way during this tournament and his display in the opening match against Jordan suggested he was a class above the competition. He may well be the player who brings Iraq back to the peak of Asian football and a potential successor to the great Nashat Akram, who has retired from international duty, sadly before Australian fans got to see him one more time.
However, Kasim has the potential to be a special player in his own right and won't last long in the third tier of English football. Swindon Town should win promotion this season to the Championship but it's evident that he could play in one of Europe's top leagues. Exposure to the youth system at Tottenham will have him aware of what it takes to succeed.
Omar Abdulrahman (UAE): This is Abdulrahman's big chance to show that he's capable of cutting it among Asia's best outside the bubble of Middle Eastern football. Yes, he's that region's number one player right now, but a barnstorming display at this tournament is the difference between him earning a move to a major European club or earning more petro-dollars at home.
Granted, there's probably not much difference between the salaries, but it's a matter of the challenge. Abdulrahman could spend the next 15 years in the Arabian Pro League, earning $100,000 per week, and living a comfortable life. Or he could go out and test himself against the best there is. He's certainly good enough. His first two performances were made of silk.
Igor Sergeev (Uzbekistan): The next Maksim Shatskikh? That's certainly a tempting comparison to make, although it comes loaded with the same pressure that befalls any young Australian striker labelled "the next Mark Viduka". Shatskikh was such a powerful force in the Uzbek national football side for so long and proved himself more than adept at replacing the legendary Andriy Shevchenko at Dynamo Kyiv.
Sergeev may not be quite at that elite level just yet but he could develop into a seriously good player. His decisive goal against North Korea was extremely impressive: an angled header in the driving rain.
http://www.theage.com.au/sport/socce...17-12shgf.html