Is Australia still producing good footballers?

If you're an Australian football fan cast your mind back to the end of 2002. Harry Kewell and Mark Viduka were our two superstars but the Socceroos were struggling. They had just been beaten by the football nobodies of New Zealand and Australian football was in a bit of trouble, not only financially but also, it seemed, lacking of new talent. We seemed to have a lack of naturally talented players like Frank Farina, Ned Zelic, Paul Okon, Mark Bosnich and Aurelio Vidmar showcasing their skills at big European clubs. Does that sound familiar? Take a look at this:

There was Josip Skoko at little known Genk in Belgium
Vince Grella and Mark Bresciano were at provincial club Empoli in Italy's second division
Scott Chipperfield was playing in the unfashionable Swiss league
Tony Popovic was at lowly Crystal Palace in England's first division
Jason Culina was at modest Twente in Holland after being rejected by Ajax
Archie Thompson was struggling to adapt to life in Belgium
Tim Cahill and Lucas Neill were promising but playing for battling club Millwall in the Championship
Josh Kennedy was a trying to break through in second tier German football for Dynamo Dresden; and A little skinny Aussie kid called Luke Wilkshere was still an apprentice and cleaning boots at little Bristol City in the Championship.
This, believe it or not,  and with no disrespect meant, was our 'golden generation'.

Sure there were others like Aloisi, Emerton, Moore and Schwarzer doing well at other clubs in Europe but there was no doubt the Socceroos needed a shake up. Come 2005, the then Socceroos coach Frank Farina was hesitant to make a change to the team, preferring the tried and trusted players and formation over the various promising youngsters in Europe. Once again, sound familiar? 

Now fast forward to 2006 and the players mentioned above have become household names and heroes for the whole Australian football fraternity. They did what many considered impossible: qualified for the World Cup, knocked out traditional powerhouses Uruguay and Croatia and stretched the mighty Brazil and Italy all the way. In doing so they showed football intelligence and technique that many thought was beyond them. So what happened?

Firstly they had a coach that was prepared to give them a chance! When Guus Hiddink came into the Socceroos fold he immediately recognised the talents of Grella, Bresciano, Chipperfield and Culina etc and they became preferred first teamers. Superstar players they were not but smart players with technique and intelligence they certainly were. In addition to this the players evolved into battle hardened professionals in the fields of Europe over the previous two to three years for their various clubs.

Moving forward to the present time there are many in Australian football that believe we are not producing good players anymore and that the youngsters do not deserve their chance. Like the past Socceroos mentioned above however this generation of future Socceroos is learning, adapting, evolving and doing the hard yards in Europe. Like the generation before them, they cannot walk into a top European club and demand a first team spot. Only Harry Kewell could do that, and that type of player doesn't come around that often. It takes time, a few years of hard work and disappointments before finally, they are given their chance at a small club to make their name and a lucrative contract at a top club.

But in comparison to the previous generation are these youngsters as talented as their predecessors? The answer is yes, because based on their individual qualities and where they are at their current stages of their career it makes for some interesting reading. For example to name but a few:

- Nikita Rukavytsya, one of the fastest players this country has produced is playing in front of 60,000+ in Berlin for his club Hertha, and up to this season was a regular Bundesliga player
- Chris Herd combines tenacity with adaptability and is first choice in the Premier League for Aston Villa against the best in the world.
- Robbie Kruse is has dribbling qualities around the penalty box combined with finishing skills and is now starting for his German club in the Bundesliga no less.
- Matthew Leckie is the first Australian player I have seen combine power, speed and dribbling ability along with a goalscorers instinct and is impressing pundits on loan at Bundesliga 2.
- Mitch Langerak at Borussia Dortmund has all the qualities necessary to be a top goalkeeper for many years to come, from agility and reflexes to a commanding presence and is vying to be No.1 at arguably one of Europes top 10 clubs.
- Mustafa Amini, Langerak's club colleague has impressed enough with his playmaking abilities to make them offer him a first team contract.
- Adam Sarota is a midfielder with fine touch, crisp passing and a dominant presence in the middle fo the pitch and is now a regular starter in the Dutch first division for Utrecht
- Tommy Oar, Sarota's club colleague is also trying to break through as a starter and has been compared to Harry Kewell for his dribbling style. Furthermore he has impressed greatly at all the youth tournaments he has played in.
- James Troisi, recently bought by Juventus (!) is a left winger that although doesn't set the world alight with dribbling ability is one that provides stability and a threat on the flank.
- Rhys Williams is a tall versatile, fine tackling defender with composure on the ball and a mainstay for Middlesborough, and will very soon be an EPL player with so many suitors after him  
- Ryan McGowan is an adaptable defender, good header of the ball and first choice player at Hearts in the Scottish first division
- James Holland is a midfielder with fine technique and passing ability, currently a regular first teamer for his Austrian club Austria Wien
- Jason Davidson, son of Australia's greatest ever left back and also a left back, showed enough on his Socceroos debut to convince he has the goods. 
- Luke DeVere has been as solid as a rock in the Korean league and not only combines leadership with fine tackling but also with fine distribution.  
- Last but not least there is Tom Rogic, not in Europe yet but a player good enough to beat many hopefuls from around the world to win Nike's young talent award. His composure, touch, acceleration and ability to drift past players is reminiscent of Ned Zelic, but perhaps in a more advance position.

So in comparison to the previous golden generation when they were at similar stages of their career can we really state that Australia is no longer producing good players? I think that would be very harsh on the current generation when taking into account the reality of their predecessors humble beginnings in European football. To take the next step it it requires a coach to nurture and harness the talents into a fine team, and this is Holger Osieck's job. It also requires the good old battling underdog Aussie attitude to rise to the top and I can assure you these players are no different, they are of the same stock as the previous generation and they are determined to make it. And this season might just be their breakthrough year.

The question is when to make the change and give them regular game time for the Socceroos? In my mind as soon as these players command regular time at their European clubs they must be granted a starting spot ahead of the older stars. This in my mind does not represent a risk of failing to qualify for the World Cup as I have no doubt that these youngsters will perform better than the old guard.  Does a coach play a 30 something player who is clearly past his best in the leagues of the Middle East/Asia or a hungry, faster and promising youngster playing regularly in a top European club? It seems a no brainer. Guus did the latter and look what he achieved..