Addressing the troops ... Holger Osieck gets his point across at Socceroos training. Source:News Limited
Socceroos coach Holger Osieck says the A-League's scheduling is wiping out domestic players' chances of representing Australia in FIFA World Cup football.
Osieck and a team of technical officials - including Football Federation Australia technical director Han Berger - have been lobbying the FFA hierarchy in a bid to extend the home-and-away season until May and to fall in line with FIFA's international match windows.
| Mark Bresciano |
| Alex Brosque |
| Tim Cahill |
| Robbie Cornthwaite |
| Dino Djulbic |
| Eugene Galekovic |
| James Holland |
| Brett Holman |
| Mile Jedinak |
| Robbie Kruse |
| Ryan McGowan |
| Matt McKay |
| Mark Milligan |
| Jade North |
| Tommy Oar |
| Tomas Rogic |
| Mat Ryan |
| Mark Schwarzer |
| Archie Thompson |
| Michael Thwaite |
| Luke Wilkshire |
| Rhys Williams |
| Michael Zullo |
Osieck said pleas to get the competition to work with the Socceroos' scheduling, which is dictated by FIFA, had seemingly fallen on deaf ears.
"There have been talks. The new guy, Damien (A-League chief Damien de Bohun) came to see me and wanted some input," Osieck said.
"They listened but how far they transfer it is on a different page. So far, I haven't seen any changes.
Of course, people have to learn that despite the importance of A-League football it is an international game.
"The Socceroos combine the entire country and they have to be No. 1," Osieck said.
"Everything which is possible to accommodate that team in order to make people happy has to be done.
"I mean A-League, in all fairness, is a club business and they have their supporters but the Socceroos are followed by all Australians."
| Group B | P | W | D | L | GD | Pts | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Japan | 5 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 11 | 13 |
| 2 | Australia | 4 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 5 |
| 3 | Iraq | 5 | 1 | 2 | 2 | -1 | 5 |
| 4 | Oman | 5 | 1 | 2 | 2 | -3 | 5 |
| 5 | Jordan | 5 | 1 | 1 | 3 | -7 | 4 |
Osieck named six A-League players - including Adelaide United gloveman Eugene Galekovic - in a 23-man squad for the World Cup qualifier against Oman at Stadium Australia, in Sydney, on March 26.
While he is content with his selections for the Oman clash, Osieck is infuriated knowing some A-League players could be out of season for 68 days before the Socceroos' June block of World Cup qualifiers.
He said their lack of game time could ruin Australia's chances of making Brazil next year.
And the A-League international players' representation could dwindle to zero by the time the Socceroos face Japan on June 4 before meeting Jordan and Iraq in the ultimate World Cup qualifier on June 18.
Osieck faces that real prospect with Socceroos skipper Lucas Neill if Sydney FC does not make the finals series.
GROUP A:
Korea Republic
Iran
Uzbekistan
Qatar
Lebanon
GROUP B:
Australia
Iraq
Jordan
Oman
Japan
Socceroos' schedule:
June 8, 2012: Oman 0 Australia 0 (away)
June 12, 2012: Australia 1 Japan 1 (home)
September 11, 2012: Jordan 2 Australia 1 (away)
October 16, 2012: Iraq 1 Australia 2 (away)
March 26, 2013: Oman (home)
June 4, 2013: Japan (away)
June 11, 2013: Jordan (home)
June 18, 2013: Iraq (home)
With gloveman Mark Schwarzer destined to wear the captain's armband for suspended Neill during the qualifier against Oman, Osieck says choosing a leader is the least of his worries before facing Japan in a crucial clash at Saitama.
"That (the armband) is not a major concern for me," Osieck said. "My major concern is, how do we fill the space between the end of the A-League season and the upcoming qualifiers in June?
"And it's not only a thing that only goes in the Lucas Neill direction.
"We've got a couple of other A-League players that I have in my consideration who are in the same position.
"The break in the A-League is way too long and it's about time that people really reconsider the structure of the A-League dates.
"As it is now, it's not very acceptable."
Catch all the action live and in stunning HD on Fox Sports 1 HD from 6.30pm (EDT) on March 26.
