23 it is!

Finally after almost 4 years of preparation and qualification, Australia has submitted it's final 23 man squad to represent the nation at the 2010 Fifa World Cup. I must admit when it came to the crunch I certainly didn't see the final omission coming. Whilst the writing was on the wall for Galekovic, Lowry, Holland and Oar, the general consensus would not have expected Rhys Williams to receive the final "go directly to jail card".

Since his introduction to the national team, Williams has in my opinion shown more than enough to justify selection within Australia's elite. The one positive from a negative is that we as a football identity have the ability to leave out quality players rather than include players that may be essentially making up the numbers.

I can't help but think that Williams may have had some ongoing injury problems that have influenced the final decision on his inclusion. That said, it would be a an injustice to the 23 man squad to say that none of them deserved to be there. Yes we all have our own opinion on the quality of particular players, but the reality is that there is really only one person that is responsible for the players that influence the Socceroos results and why should we question that man for taking those he believes will best serve him within the structure that he has built.

Pim Verbeek may not go down as the greatest national team coach of all time, but the percentages and results cannot be ignored, no matter how good we think the product is that he has presented and produced for all to see. Although cliche, he has achieved that of which no other has before him, and orchestrated the Socceroos qualification route via Asia for the first time ever in this countries footballing history.

I wish the final 23 well and can't wait to get on the ground to support the team in South Africa next week....

you take one down and pass it around, there'll be 76 bottles of Jim on the wall.....