‘Soccerwhos?’ may be closer to the mark than we thought

While it is the Tim Cahills and Harry Kewells of this world who get the recognition, Nick Mockford points out some other Australian heroes who deserve plaudits for their performances in Germany.

Isn’t it grand to be recognised on the world stage?

Make no mistake, the Socceroos are one of the stories of Germany 2006 this far. After displaying the archetypical Green and Gold spirit to come back from the dead against Japan, last night ‘our boys’ showed they could play with the big guns of the sport, that they are worthy to share the same field as giants. Forget the 2-0 scoreline, it could have been 2-2 and no one would have denied Australia a point.

But still, ask people back here about the Socceroos, and many will talk about how influential Harry Kewell and Mark Viduka are, and about how brilliant Tim Cahill’s double was in the 3-1 win over the Japanese was. Mark Bresciano, John Aloisi and Mark Schwarzer have entered this water-cooler realm after their heroics against Uruguay last November, and fair enough. When we needed to stand tall, they were enormous.

However, if there is one thing that needs to be understood in this sport, and in particular a tournament of this magnitude, it’s that you need everyone on the same wavelength. Every single man on the park needs to be doing his part, for it is like a set of dominoes; if one falls, the rest can soon follow in the blink of an eye.

It is for this reason that it is so important to not overlook some of the crucial cogs in Guus Hiddink’s plans. Cogs that don’t have the continental flair of a Kewell or the penchant for the unexpected of a Bresciano, but are still vital nonetheless. With this in mind, here are four players that may not get the recognition of their more glorified teammates, but will play a major role in getting Australia through to the last sixteen.

Vince Grella

Whether you know him as Vince, Vincenzo or Vinnie, as the inimitable Simon Hill loves to dub him, Grella is one of the most improved footballers in any country. In fact, it is hard to believe he only has 19 caps for the Socceroos, such is his importance to the side, and his transformation from a squad player to an important cog at Italian club Parma has been equally impressive. The man with the painfully slow accent only made his Australian debut in 2003, but has become arguably the most important soldier in Hiddink’s army.

As a defensive midfielder who sits in front of the defence, Grella’s role is twofold; not only must he break up opposition attacks through the centre of the park, he also has the responsibility to start forward movement out of the back half, and his importance is such that there isn’t another member of the squad who can fill his shoes. Josip Skoko can pinch hit, but is more at home in a more attacking role, while Luke Wilkshire looks slightly out of his depth on the international stage. With all top class international outfits possessing creative passers and ball-carriers in midfield, a man of Grella’s stature is incredibly important.

Craig Moore

He is finally back, and we have missed him. While Tony Vidmar and Tony Popovic did an admirable job over the two legs against Uruguay, neither possesses the class nor pedigree that Moore does. Age and injuries have caught up with the imposing stopper, but as a man who has captained Scottish giants Rangers in Europe and currently plies his trade with Newcastle in the Premier League, such experience is priceless. The magnitude of his battle with fitness is illustrated by the fact he debuted over a decade ago, yet still only has 35 caps.

Rest assured however that Hiddink will have thanked the Football Gods to have Moore return to the fold, particularly with the absence of Vidmar through injury, and while he has since handed over the captain’s armband to Viduka, his presence is as important as ever. For every goal that Kewell, Cahill or Bresciano strike, chances are Moore will have prevented one at the other end of the pitch with his unrivalled ability to read the play ahead of him.

Scott Chipperfield

Chipperfield’s story is one of true fortune and toil, and a shining example that hard work does indeed pay off down the track. Just seven years ago, Chipperfield was driving buses in Wollongong as he showcased his abilities in the old National Soccer League, winning Player of the Year honours twice. Despite making his Socceroo debut back in 1998 and being only two caps shy of a half century, Chipperfield only really established himself in the national team three years ago, and as a key man at Swiss club Basel, he is no longer in the public transport industry either.

A naturally attacking left-sided player, Chipperfield has transformed himself into a left-sided defender, and his explosive pace is his biggest asset in dealing with fleet-footed opposition wingers. His progress is such that he is a mainstay in whatever defensive formation Hiddink utilizes, whether that be as a left-back in a flat four, a wing-back or even a left-sided central defender if necessary. The most valuable defenders in today’s footballing world are those who possess versatility, and with Chipperfield’s ability to rotate through several positions coupled with his blistering pace and knack for getting forward, it’s a wonder it took him so long to establish himself.

Lucas Neill

Perhaps the most well known of the four; whether that is through being a teammate of Brett Emerton at Blackburn Rovers, or because he queries how many Weetbix Tim Cahill does every morning is undecided, but Neill’s rise as a defender for both club and country has been a steep one. If versatility is the name of the game, then Neill fits the bill, with an ability to play right across the defence and even as a defensive midfielder if required. He is also as Australian as they come, despite being involved in English football since the age of seventeen, armed with a token accent, a cheeky grin and a willingness to do the dirty work when required.

Neill’s performance yesterday morning against Brazil typified the kind of progress he’s made, progress that has not only established himself at international level, but that has also made him somewhat of a cult figure with Blackburn fans over the past year. Time and again Neill repelled attacks, the highlight perhaps being a memorable tackle to stop reigning World Player of the Year Ronaldinho in his tracks on the edge of the area, and if a team of the first two rounds was selected, he would be right in the mix. Put simply, Neill has been as good as any defender in the tournament so far, something that will surely be great preparation for European football next season with Blackburn.

Of course, this isn’t to overlook the contributions of our household names. The likes of Kewell, Viduka and Cahill still have a huge role to play in the remainder of the World Cup, whether that be one match, two or even beyond, and will continue to be the cornerstones of any publicity campaign for football in this country. But, it is still important to recognise the unsung heroes of the national side, and those who will make sizeable contributions to not only this tournament, but towards laying the groundwork for 2010 qualification.

In an ideal world, we’ll beat Croatia, and in all likelihood, it will be one of our attacking stars who will grab the goal/s. However, as we all arise early and bleary eyed to watch the game, keep an eye on these four men, and watch the job they do too.

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