FFA to make Roos candidates earn it

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CANDIDATES to coach the Socceroos are likely to face a series of interviews, with Football Federation Australia CEO David Gallop determined that the selection process is as thorough as possible.

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Though Melbourne Victory boss Ange Postecoglou is widely seen as favourite for the job, a shortlist of candidates is likely to be formulated with each given a chance to present their case before a decision is reached.

With Gallop and the new head of national teams, former Socceroo Luke Casserley, in London for Wednesday morning's (EDT) friendly with Canada, the precise parameters for the search will not be set until the end of the week when they return to meet with national technical director Han Berger.

After the ambiguity over what exactly Holger Osieck was tasked with overseeing - World Cup qualification v regeneration of the side - there will be detailed criteria established for the selection of the new coach and for the areas he will be measured against.

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That latter area of accountability is seen as vital as Osieck had argued recently that in qualifying for the World Cup he had met the terms of his appointment.

By contrast, FFA chairman Frank Lowy had described a grandiose list of objectives on Osieck's appointment, including "the capacity to rebuild teams and to work with young footballers and develop them into internationally competitive players [and] be prepared to work with the national technical director and his department to enhance the elite player pathway program."

Once that has been formalised both Postecoglou and Mariners boss Graham Arnold - and foreign coaches seriously interested and meeting the criteria - are likely to be invited to be interviewed and questioned on a variety of areas from tactics and personnel to the structure around the team, the importance of media and marketing, and involvement in the younger national teams.

FFA also has to decide the structure alongside the new man from next June, with Berger due to step down after the World Cup. One suggestion on the table is for the new manager to be given a far wider remit, rather than have Berger replaced directly as technical director.

While no salary package has formally been established for Osieck's replacement, his $1.5m a year was seen as pushing the envelope and it's highly unlikely it would be increased - unless someone of the calibre of Guus Hiddink indicated a desire for the job.  

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Neill putting his legacy at risk

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LUCAS Neill has been a fine player, an inspirational leader and a wonderful ambassador. Now he threatens to trash his legacy. The Socceroos' 35 year-old skipper risks ageing disgracefully.

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Neill is just the latest athlete in the modern age whose understandable desire to prolong earning potential, and to achieve personal goals, has obscured the inevitability of sporting mortality.

Although this seems a particular problem in a Socceroos change room where there are more expired use-by dates than in Apu's Kwik-E-Mart. Where walking frames seem more useful than shin guards.

Ricky Ponting risked a similar fate. But wisely, when he lost the Australian captaincy, Ponting acknowledged his selection would be based on weight of runs. When they were measured in ounces, not tons, the great batsman walked.

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Neill, however, seems stuck in an alternate footballing universe. One in which his guile and strength still compensate for his lack of pace.

Where he does not look like a department store mannequin as the world's best strikers breeze by.

It is a quandary that is both sad and inevitable. Although one in which Neill's decisions, not just his birth certificate, have played a part.

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Neill's excellent European adventure ended in 2011. He then chose to play for petro-dollars with substandard clubs in the United Arab Emirates, rather than a team that would provide a solid World Cup preparation.

For any ageing professional athlete, the end is just a snapped ligament away. However, by feathering his nest, Neill put his performance - and subsequently his place in the national team - in jeopardy.

Yet, at a press conference in London on Monday, Neill said: "My question to the younger guys who want to play for Australia is: do you dream of playing for Australia? And, if you do, show me the hunger and desire. I think that's where we are lacking, our attitude towards our national team."

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That statement seems at odds with Neill's recent career choices. Something that suggests he, and perhaps others, feel they are owed an enduring place in the national team based on services rendered.

Former Socceroo John Aloisi makes sense when he says veterans such as Neill should not nominate their departure dates. Rather, they should know they are finished when their name is missing from the team sheet.

That cuts to the heart of a problem that has gripped Australian sport. Socceroos announce they will play on until the next World Cup, not simply play on in the hope they will be selected.

Cricketers state they will keep going until the next Ashes series, not merely hope they are still good enough to make the squad.

The selectorial tail too often wags the dog. When combined with national contract systems, and coaches who sometimes play favourites with pliable veterans, we risk creating a small and indulged pool of players who lack the most basic motivation.

The possibility of losing their spot.

It seemed telling that some veteran Socceroos expressed displeasure about coach Holger Osieck's sacking despite the team's dismal performances.

Clearly, they felt safe while the German was in charge. So safe their performances have suffered?

Neill was clearly upset that Fox Sports pundit Mark Bosnich was one of many critics to express the opinion he should step aside.

"Football is a game of opinions," said Neill. "He's entitled to his, (but) I expect better from people who've played the game and certainly people that call themselves my friend."

Of course, the mark of true friendship is telling someone how it is. Not just what they want to hear.  

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Hussey backflips for Indian bully

Michael Hussey is inadvertently embroiled in a scandal. Source: News Limited

MIKE Hussey has become inadvertently embroiled in the scandal enveloping cricket's most dodgy and dangerous bully, Indian board president N.Srinivasan.

The former Australian champion and current IPL star with the Chennai Super Kings felt the need to apologise to Srinivasan following the recent release of Hussey's autobiography, Under the Southern Cross.

Srinivasan owns the Super Kings through his company India Cements but his now disgraced son in law Gurunath Meiyappan ran the franchise until he was arrested for alleged illegal betting on the IPL in May.

From that moment Srinivasan suddenly distanced himself from his son in law, describing him as a cricket "enthusiast."

Hussey's book said: "Our owner was Indian Cements, headed by Mr Srinivasan. As he was also on the board of the BCCI, he gave control of the team to his son-in-law Mr Gurunath. He ran the team along with Kepler Wessels, who was coach."

Now Hussey, who hopes to continue his involvement with the Super Kings, has become part of a growing Australian tradition of back-flipping for fear that the rivers of gold available through cricket in India may suddenly dry up.

Hussey told Cricinfo he might have been "a little bit wrong" and that Srinivasan would "know a lot better" who ran the Super Kings.

President of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), N. Srinivasan. Source: AFP

"I knew he (Gurunath Meiyappan) was a close part of the team, no question about that, and I saw him around the team pretty much every day. [But] I am certainly not going to question the word of Mr Srinivasan."

Srinivasan has been shameless and ruthless wielding India's vast cricket wealth despite facing serious allegations himself.

The Central Bureau of Investigation is probing allegations of rorting water rights to double his cement company's profit and the failure to pay import duty on 11 luxury cars.

Following the arrest of his son in law Srinivasan was forced to step aside from daily administration of the Board of Control for Cricket in India by the Supreme Court.

Despite all this the BCCI took the remarkable step of re-electing him unopposed as president.

Such is his power as BCCI boss that Srinivasan may bankrupt Cricket South Africa, until recently a close ally.

Michael Hussey addressed his time in the IPL in his book. Source: News Limited

India is refusing to confirm a tour of South Africa because CSA appointed former International Cricket Council chief executive Haroon Lorgat as its CEO.

Srinivasan took exception to Lorgat when as ICC chief he attempted to reform the moribund governing body, which would have reduced India's power and influence.

So petty are Srinivasan and the BCCI that they employ a number of the television commentators who work on India home series and anyone who is remotely critical of any aspect of the board is sacked.

Earlier this year Tim May, the former Australian spinner, was forced off the ICC's cricket committee by the BCCI and replaced by BCCI employed commentator Laxman Sivaramakrishnan.

As chief executive of the Federation of International Cricketers' Associations May had been a constant critic of the BCCI.

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Morgan boosts Thunder firepower

Eoin Morgan will play the Big Bash League with Sydney Thunder. Source: IAN KINGTON / AFP

ENGLAND'S Irish short form specialist Eoin Morgan has become the latest star to sign with the Sydney Thunder.

A basket case for the first two years of the newly expanded Big Bash League, the Thunder is now shaping as a genuine contender, with Morgan joining new skipper Mike Hussey at the reinvigorated franchise.

And Morgan, 27, is hoping that spending time with Hussey will help the clever left hander reinvigorate his Test career.

"To play under a guy like him is going to be huge for me," Morgan said.

"I'm no different to any other left-handed middle order batsman. I'm a guy who aspired to be like him since I was very young having watched him progress his international career and kill it since he broke into the Australian side. It's been great to watch.

"I'll be picking his brain as much as he can. 

"Anything to help me (play Test cricket again). I'm still an aspiring Test match cricketer.

"I've really enjoyed the Tests that I did play and I got a bit of a taste for it even though it was only 16 matches.

"It's where I want to be, especially playing Ashes cricket."

Eoin Morgan has played plenty of short-form cricket. Source: Getty Images

Morgan was reserve batsman on England's previous Ashes tour four years ago but failed to make the 17-man squad this time around.

However he is an integral member of England's one-day team, captaining the side in the absence of a resting Alastair Cook during the post Ashes one-day series earlier this year that Australia won.

Morgan will be available for the first four Thunder matches then joins the England one-day and Twenty20 squads following the five-Test series.

He is currently holidaying on the Gold Coast, where his South Australian girl friend is attending university, and will link up with an extended England training squad during the Test series, which begins in Brisbane next month.

Born in Dublin, he is a third generation "cricket nut" despite the game being a minor sport in Ireland.

"It's a lot bigger than you think," he said, claiming it has grown significantly over the past decade.

Eoin Morgan is looking forward to playing with Michael Hussey. Source: AP

His two sisters also played for Ireland and three brothers were part of provincial representative teams.

Morgan joined Middlesex as a 16-year-old claiming that Irish players moving to England was a natural progression for anyone who aspired to play Test cricket.

He has been followed by fast bowler Boyd Rankin, who is a part of the Ashes squad.

"I knew what I wanted to do from quite a young age so from when I was a young teenager I was an aspiring professional cricketer and knew the only pathway was to go across and play in England, to ply my trade over there," Morgan said.

He captained England to victory over Ireland in June, scoring 124 not out. It was the third time he had played against his former country.

"It didn't really feel that awkward," Morgan said. "I played against a lot of guys I grew up with and the big realisation for me is that if they were given the chance that I have been they would take it with both hands.

"There's no hard feelings between me and any of my mates."

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Aussies in rush for Cup tickets

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THE doom and gloom surrounding the Socceroos have not deterred Australians from applying for World Cup tickets in huge numbers.

It comes as the possibility of a grudge match with England at Wembley next month gathers momentum.

A total of 6,164,682 requests for tickets were received by FIFA when the first application period ended on the weekend, 88,082 from Australia.

Only applications from host nation Brazil, the US, Argentina, Germany, Chile and England outstripped those of Australia.

Tickets for group matches range from $95 to $185. Tickets for the final at the Maracana stadium range from $465 to $1040.

Sales of leftover seats will begin on November 5 on a first-come, first-served basis. Another phase will begin on December 8 after the World Cup draw determines where and when each nation will play.

Australia's preparations for the tournament, which begins on June 12, may step up another gear next month with reports in England suggesting national team manager Roy Hodgson had lined up a friendly with the Socceroos.

The England match would be played just days before our cricketers recommence their battle for the Ashes in Brisbane.

The Socceroos shocked the Three Lions in the most recent meeting between the two nations, winning 3-1 at West Ham's Upton Park in 2003 courtesy of goals from Tony Popovic, Harry Kewell and Brett Emerton.

Football Federation Australia officials said negotiations with potential opponents for the November FIFA window would gather steam in the coming days after a glut of World Cup qualifiers this morning determined the availability of rival nations.

A match in each of Sydney and Melbourne against a European or South American opponent on November 15 and 19 had been mooted, and is still possible, but the English Football Association is said to be keen to see the Socceroos match take place at Wembley.

Socceroos captain Lucas Neill, speaking before this morning's friendly against Canada in London, said his side would welcome the England clash.

"It's another huge game for us against one of the biggest teams in the world, one of the most famous teams in the world," he said.

"Like playing Brazil in Brazil, like playing France in France, these are all very tempting matches and I'm sure that the people who arrange those games will definitely take serious consideration of the possibility."

WE GO TO RIO

Ticket applications for the 2014 World Cup
Brazil 4,368,029
USA 374,065
Argentina 266,937
Germany 134,899
Chile 102,288
England 96,780
Australia 88,082
Japan 69,806
Total requests: 6,164,682

Thousands of Socceroos fans have applied for World Cup tickets. Picture: Toby Zerna

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Bosnich tells Neill to deliver

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THE angry war of words surrounding Lucas Neill's captaincy of the Socceroos continued last night, after Neill hit back at Bosnich's call for him to retire from the national team.

Told by Neill that he expected better "from someone who has played the game", Bosnich said that Neill should "stop telling us and show us" — while former Socceroo Robbie Slater dubbed it the "worst captain's interview I've ever seen".

As the row threatened to overshadow this morning's friendly betweent the Socceroos and Canada, the first game since Holger Osieck's sacking, Football Federation chairman Frank Lowy sought to calm the issue by suggesting the words came "in turbulent times".

Earlier Neill, at the pre-match press conference, was asked what he thought of calls for generational change — a reference to Bosnich calling on Neill to retire after Saturday's 6-0 defeat to France.

Neill, 35, emphatically denied he was set to give up his spot in the side, saying: "Retirement is not a word that has been on my agenda.

"Mark Bosnich is entitled to his opinion, but I would expect better from people who have played the game and certainly from those who call themselves my friend.

"People who know football know games are won and lost by a team and it's not about one person.

"I am committed to remaining captain for as long as the people in charge give me that status.

"I add value to the team and I bring a lot of good attributes, but I am the victim, the same as everybody in this team, of a side which has lost two games in a row 6-0."

In a further twist, Neill appeared to question the motivation of some teammates, when he said that there was no point making mass changes if there were few replacements ready to go.

"I think the biggest problem in Australia right now is not the older guys who have been doing it for a long time — I still have as much passion now as I had when I was 17 — but my question to the younger guys who want to play for Australia, is: Do you really dream of playing for Australia?" he said.

"And if you do, then show me the hunger, show me the desire that you want to be in the Socceroos and you want to represent your country. That's where we are lacking now, our attitude towards the national team."

Later Bosnich offered a succinct response. "Lucas is entitled to his opinion as anyone is, and it's good he's had it," Bosnich said. "Now stop telling us all, and show us."

Made aware of the exchanges yesterday afternoon, Lowy said the remarks had to be put in the context of a heavy defeat and its subsequent fallout.

"He led the Socceroos with distinction for all the time he has been in there, and I think these are heated times at the moment," Lowy said of Neill. "I don't think we should hang on to every word said in the heat of the moment.

"I have a great respect for him, and if he makes himself available and the coach picks him, fine. If he doesn't make himself available, or the coach doesn't pick him, that's the coach's decision."

Asked if the comments were strange for a captain to make, Lowy added: "You could say that, but we need to be mindful of these turbulent times and what is said in the heat of it all, which we can maybe take as not very serious."

But Slater had already labelled Neill's declaration as a sign that "he's not seeing things clear and he's not seeing the reality."

"(It was) disgraceful," Slater told Fox Sports. "Quite possibly, the worst captain's interview — in a football sense — I've ever seen."

"When you have a coach in survival mode (like Holger Osieck was), it can reflect on the squad and players. Lucas is in the survival mode.

"He has a siege mentality ... and he's living in a cocoon. He's not seeing things clear and he's not seeing the reality.

"That squad is torn apart … If it wasn't before because of the results, it will be now because of what the captain has said.

"The amount of times I hear 'I' ... for him to have a go at younger players, that's exactly the opposite of what the captain should be doing."

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Socceroos skipper Lucas Neill remains defiant in the face of immense pressure.

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