Arnold on youth options for World Cup

SOCCEROOS coach Graham Arnold has plenty to think about before naming his squad for this year’s World Cup in Qatar.

Arnold will first have to name a preliminary list of up to 55 players by this Friday and the 59-year-old said several young A-League stars have caught his attention.

“I said before that I was grateful that the A-League moved the competition forward three weeks to give those players more of a chance [to make the World Cup squad],” Arnold said on SEN’s The Global Game.

“As you can see after round two, I’ll have to select a 55-man squad.

“But all of the players are looking in good shape, I’ve been out and watched pretty much every team live in two weeks.

“The younger players are really stepping up and giving me something to think about.”

After naming his extended squad, Arnold will need to finalise a 26-man group no later than 14 November as players jostle for those still up for a small number of positions still up for grabs.

One name who has roared into contention is Macarthur attacker Daniel Arzani, with the 23-year-old famously featuring in the 2018 World Cup as a teenager.

With injury and form issues cruelling the last few years of Arzani’s career, Arnold admitted that his recent improvement has him in calculations but that he’s simply one of a group of players that are vying for an impact role off the bench.

“I watched him obviously in the Australia Cup, he came off in the 70th minute against Sydney United in the final, he had a good impact in that game,” Arnold said.

“First round against Brisbane, even Dwight Yorke came out and said that wasn’t good enough, his performance, to be selected for the Socceroos.

“But the other day against Adelaide he showed good calmness with the finish and had a good assist and that’s Daniel, it’s not like I don’t know him, I coached him with the Olympic team, and I know exactly what his strengths and weaknesses are.

“But Dwight seems to be getting the best out of him, which is great, but the funny thing is when we talk about an impact player in Australia it seems like we’ve got to talk about a 21-year-old or under.

“But there’s also some good older impact players as well and I’m watching them very carefully, those types of players are scoring goals and doing good things as well.

“It’s about getting the right player and making sure that with that type of role as an impact player – and you’re right, we do need that – that they can come on and change a game for us.”

Another young player that’s fighting for a spot in the final squad is Melbourne City’s Marco Tilio.

As Tilio has played just 20 minutes in City’s opening two games, Arnold was asked whether the 21-year-old’s lack of game time could impact his selection hopes.

“Obviously, Marco is not playing much at the moment, he’s hardly had any game time at all,” Arnold said.

“That could impact his selection, but I know what Marco can do and I know he’s always working hard, and I’ve spoken to him a couple of times to see how he is mentally.

“All I can do is keep watching and make sure that when we do go to this World Cup, we’ve got the players that are fit enough and ready enough to back up every three days and be there for their performance.”

Australia has been placed in Group D alongside France, Tunisia and Denmark for the World Cup.

The Socceroos’ opening game comes against the French on Wednesday, 23 November.

– BY LACHLAN GELEIT/ SEN