Australia needing a 2-0 win to progress to semis, are 1-0 up at half time over Chile! Is an action packed high class game. Any folks who think AWs would match up well against Socceroos, are sorry in fairy land.
Apart from an aged Cahill, they have no big star names, but I'd say well coached with Ange Pot, and pretty consistent high quality across the field. No A League journeymen, or guys playing French 4th Division. Some youngest guys like Rogic, Mooy & Matt Ryan (now signed by EPL promoted Brighton) who have all come out the A League who could become stars in Europe.
But then with 5x NZ's popn, and large longstanding immigrant football communities (Greek, Italian, Slavic etc) they should be a much better side than us. I'd say only Thomas would go close to making a Socceroos starting eleven.
Reid
DFS had a pod a few months back where they argued about how many of our boys they would take. I think they settled on Reid, Wood and Rojas. They were lamenting the fact that these guys were all better than anyone they had in those positions. I reckon Smith and Thomas would be close to the starting line up too, so that's 5 guys you could make an argument for.
Yeah Smith maybe, if he was completely fit, and capable of playing high tempo game. Socceroos play a mobile high press with only a back three. None of their 3 starting defenders last night play in the big European leagues - Milligan (Arab League), Sainsbury (Chinese Super League - though is at Inter Milan on loan) & R McGowan (Chinese Super League).
The midget Rojas no chance. He may stand out at Victory but is only the A League. Australia's wingers are fast & big (esp Leckie), and are playing at higher levels. Leckie in Bundesliga, Kruse in Chinese Super League (after number years in Germany), Behich (Turkish Super League).
I also don't think Wood would suit style Socceroos play. In short 2 AWs (Thomas & Reid) definitely good enough to play for Australia. Wood & Smith outside beats.
In summary Australia are just playing a few classes above AWs, and Ange Pot has been coaching his style longer, plus has had a lot more high quality games last 4 years to fine tune it. They really should have beaten a full strength Chile (who admittedly only needed a draw to progress). Neither Rogic or Mooy played last night and yet still had the quality to push Chileans all the way. I'd pick a comfortable 2-0 win over AWs, and potentially lot worse if Reid unavailable.
Still be great to see the two sides match up in October. Hopefully FFA are generous enough to give NZF a game, provided Socceroos already qualified for Russia 2018.
I would take Rojas over Kruse any day of the week.
Rojas, Thomas, Wood, Reid would all make the Socceroos team (maybe Smith too). Pretty comfortably imo (not necessarily the starting lineup but the squad for sure).