Deep Cup run could help Socceroos ambitions
Daniel Arzani’s hopes of forcing his way into the Socceroos squad for next month’s FIFA World Cup qualifiers against China and Japan could hinge on Melbourne Victory continuing its Australia Cup run all the way to the final.
After picking up just one point from matches against Bahrain and Indonesia in the past eight days, the Socceroos are seemingly on notice.
Only two A-League players – Perth Glory striker Adam Taggart and Melbourne City left-back Aziz Behich – were selected in the squad for the 1-0 loss to Bahrain and 0-0 draw with Indonesia, with Socceroos coach Graham Arnold having been reluctant to pick more because the new season of the national competition doesn’t start until October 18.
The Socceroos’ matches against China (October 10, Adelaide) and Japan (October 15, Saitama) are also before the A-League season starts.
However, Australia’s problems in attack could force Arnold’s hand when considering the selection cases of A-League players.
Former prodigy Arzani made his first Socceroos appearance since the 2018 World Cup in June this year when he came on as a second-half substitute in a 2-0 win over Bangladesh in Dhaka.
To aid the 25-year-old Victory attacking weapon’s hopes of a recall next month, competitive matches are imperative.
Nishan Velupillay is on a tear with six goal involvements (4 goals, 2 assists) in two games. Three of those goals have come from outside the 18-yard box. Range. 🏹🎯
He credits Patrick Kisnorbo's impact on what was already a tight knit @gomvfc squad: https://t.co/5yn3EcZGnipic.twitter.com/IiXRmFIIVq— Australia Cup (@AustraliaCup) September 12, 2024
A Victory win over NPL Queensland club Moreton City Excelsior in Saturday night’s Australia Cup quarter-final would therefore be of extra importance to Arzani, as it would also give him the chance to play in a Cup semi-final next weekend against Adelaide United, who knocked out Western Sydney Wanderers with a 2-1 win on Thursday night.
A win in that game for the Victory would then give Arzani another competitive match – the Australia Cup final on October 5 – before the Socceroos’ meeting with China five days later.
The Victory will start as firm favourites against Moreton City; however, Excelsior can’t be underestimated after fighting back from two goals down to beat A-League club Perth 3-2 in a Cup round-of-16 battle last month.
Victory winger Nishan Velupillay told the Australia Cup website: “They (Moreton City) performed really well, and to come back from 2-0 down is a great achievement.
“We’ll be doing our homework on them and trying to find the best way to beat them.
“What we want to do is win trophies. We have a quarter-final to get through first.”
In Saturday’s other Cup quarter-final, NPL Victoria club Oakleigh Cannons host A-League outfit Macarthur FC at Bundoora.
The winner of that match will meet South Melbourne – 3-2 quarter-final victors over Hume City – in a Cup semi-final next weekend.
