Socceroos three-way 'keeper duel heats up
Jun 12, 2017 - 5:05 AM Few Socceroos coaches would have faced the goalkeeper selection headache Ange Postecoglou is dealing with.It's an unusual situation for Australia to have at their disposal three fit glovemen all boasting form strong enough to assume the No.1 spot.
Incumbent Mat Ryan never dropped the ball through his Valencia rollercoaster but is running on renewed confidence thanks to a loan stint at Belgian club Racing Genk along with a reported imminent move to promoted English Premier League side Brighton.
Yet the 25-year-old finds himself in a duel with Mitch Langerak, whose displays for Stuttgart helped the German side win promotion to the top-flight Bundesliga.
That's before factoring in Danny Vukovic's stunning revival between the posts for A-League champions Sydney FC, resulting in a late-career opportunity the 32-year-old is grasping with both hands.
"I kind of hope no one's ever felt like they're guaranteed they're going to start," Postecoglou said of the trio.
"Maty's had the majority of the games in recent times, (but) a lot of that is because Mitch was injured for a fair bit of it and there have been injuries to other goalkeepers, Fedders (Adam Federici) and even Eugene (Galekovic) before that."
Typifying the growing depth was Postecoglou's decision to play Langerak in the 1-1 World Cup qualiying draw with Iraq in March.
It was a move that rattled Ryan, the preferred option for most of Postecolglou's tenure who has missed only a handful of games through injury.
Order was restored when he was recalled against Saudi Arabia last week, but Postecoglou's hint that Langerak may start and third-choice Vukovic get minutes against Brazil at the MCG on Tuesday suggests the three-way contest is set to extend throughout the Confederations Cup in Russia.
"All three goalkeepers are going really well, Danny Vukovic at training has been outstanding," he said.
"We want competition in every spot and certainly in the goalkeeping, all three are in good nick."
Source: AAP
No one has shouted yet.
Be the first!
Be the first!
Related News
- FFA wins club v country stoush Dec 29
- FFA wins Olyroos arbitration Dec 29
- Game-starved Maclaren open to loan deal Dec 21
- Australian or not, hire the best man: Ange Dec 21
- Cheap shots tried to undermine me: Ange Dec 21
- Matildas tee up next opponents Dec 18
- Mooy bags a brace as Terriers beat Watford Dec 16
- Matildas go to fourth in world soccer Dec 15
- Arnold dismisses report of Socceroos offer Dec 13
- Scolari linked to Socceroos coaching job Dec 12
- In-form Meredith targets Socceroos recall Dec 12
- Socceroos coach must be Aussie: Merrick Dec 12