Post by brett on May 18, 2006 14:21:42 GMT 10
Milicevic mystified - Andrew Orsatti
> Ljubo Milicevic during a Socceroos training session last November in Buenos Aires Photo AAP
How dangerous is Josh Kennedy in the air? And how do you score against Arsenal?
Ljubo Milicevic has all the answers, helped by first hand experience, when it comes to some of the most debated questions going around.
But ask him for his take on being left out of Australia’s World Cup squad and the FC Thun defender is completely baffled, like many critics.
“I took it on the chin. It was a bit of a surprise, but at the same time, I was always quite pessimistic. I never really had a great feeling they were counting on me so it wasn’t totally unexpected.”
“I don’t want to go into a big analysis of what I’ve done or what other players have done, all I know is that I’ve done my best and that’s all I can do. In the future I’ll do the same and what lies ahead I don’t know. Have I done enough? I don’t know. What’s the criterion for doing enough? How do you go about getting criteria for selecting the national team is all I ask?”
Having captained his country at youth level, the Australian Institute of Sport graduate was earmarked for big things. Somewhere along the line, however, ever since Guus Hiddink took charge, Milicevic fell out of favour.
“I would like to publicly thank Frank Farina for giving me the chance to play because I never really got the chance to thank him properly. I was hoping to do it at the World Cup. I’ve still got a lot of respect for that man and I really appreciate him giving me the chance to play for Australia the first time.”
He may have been good enough to lead his tiny Swiss club in the UEFA Champions League, but that did not convince Hiddink.
“I never really had a lot of contact with anyone. I’ve done my best this season playing in the Champions League and UEFA Cup. I couldn’t have done much more from my side of things, but from their side of things I never really had a great response. Why? I don’t know.”
Could it be that after opting to be the best man at his brother’s wedding, instead of representing Australia against Jamaica, he paid the ultimate price? Probably not. Hiddink is above all that, but every opportunity counts. Milicevic might have even started the Jamaica match in an injury-riddled defence.
In any event, even though he missed the trip to London, he was back again in the squad for the World Cup qualifiers against Uruguay, in November 2005. He played no part against the South Americans. Hiddink wanted experienced, mobile men for the grand occasion.
He found a way to reinvent Lucas Neill’s role, converting him in to a central defender, in a flexible system that also utilised Tony Vidmar and Tony Popovic. The likes of Michael Thwaite and John McKain also had some playing time under the Dutch boss, but not Milicevic.
With Craig Moore back from injury, it gave Hiddink the luxury of reverting to plan A, but at the same time, Vidmar withdrew for health reasons. Milicevic must have thought he was a certainly until Michael Beauchamp came along.
Beauchamp played his last club match in the A-League Grand Final, March 5, 2006. It seemed unlikely he would make the final list of 23. Nobody disputes his potential, or the fantastic season he had with the Central Coast Mariners, but you cannot help but wonder.
Helping his cause, Beauchamp was exposed to Hiddink’s chief lieutenants, Graham Arnold and Johan Neeskens, far more often. Hiddink’s assistants took over for the Asian Cup qualifier against Bahrain, in which Beauchamp was acclaimed as a stand-out performer.
Neeskens, though, did get to see Milicevic in action when FC Thun met Basel in the Swiss championship, back in April. They were due to meet after the match, but Milicevic says his club would not allow it for reasons that remain unclear.
Milicevic believes his somewhat tense relationship with the Thun coaching staff may have something to do with it.
As much as it hurts, he has to respect Hiddink’s decision. That is the bottom line, but he has strong views and will fight for his right to be heard.
“Club football is where I earn my money and I’m going to start being selfish. In ten years time, whether I’m popular in Australia, or not, for playing for the national team is the least of my worries.”
“I’m going to do is look at myself because I think that is the best way forward for me. To be honest, all I’ve done is get injured playing for Australia. It is a bit of a slap in the face, what I’ve copped now. I’ll take it with all the humour I’ve got in the world but I’m not thinking about the national team at all now.”
After the World Cup, Milicevic will be watched by a new coach with fresh ideas. We may even see Milicevic partner Beauchamp in the future, on the road to South Africa, 2010.
“Yeah, I’m young. All of things point in my favour, but I thought a lot of things pointed in my favour this time as well. I’ve learnt in life to expect the worst, and when you think you’ve seen the worst, it’s always worse that what you think. I don’t expect anything, mate. I don’t expect any favours from anyone. I just hope they don’t expect anything from me either.”
His own disappointment aside, Milicevic recognises this is a special era in Australian football, as the Socceroos embark on their first World Cup finals campaign in 32 years.
“I would’ve loved to have been a part of it, but I’ll still be in touch with a few of the players. I think it’s a great team. I’m sure they can cause a few upsets. Australia should get behind them, which I’m sure it will.”
“Sterjovski’s had a great season at Basel. They went to the quarter-final of the UEFA Cup, unfortunately losing to Middlesbrough. He’s played a lot of games and I think he deserved it.”
“Josh Kennedy? I played with him since the age of 15, coming up at the VIS, the AIS. He’s a good player, got a lot of talent and he’s had a super season in Germany. He’s very mobile for a big lad, got a great leap on him, good on the ball and obviously he’s improved a lot over the years.”
“He didn’t go back home when the going got tough and I’m delighted for him. He’s a great guy. I think it does add another option up front and I think it helps.”
“He’s a player, not similar to Viduka - Dukes is on another level isn’t he - but he’s another big man up front. Throw him on in the final minutes, or at any stage, and he’ll cause havoc because he is very awkward to mark. I remember playing against him in training and the big bloke gets stuck in.”
“Japan’s a massive match, isn’t it. Everyone is banking on the Japan match pointing the team in its future direction. Obviously, you have to pick up points there. Brazil? Cross your fingers, play your heart out and who knows what might happen. Croatia is D day, so you’ve got to win against Japan. I think the guys have got a lot of talent and quality so I predict Australia will go through.”
As for scoring against Arsenal, Thun, along with Ajax Amsterdam, are the only teams to find a way past the Gunners in this season’s Champions League.
Not that Barcelona’s superstar attacking line-up needs any advice, ahead of Europe’s night of nights, in Paris.
“Well, we had two goals disallowed at home. They were both ruled out for offside, but they were both clear goals. I don’t know. I’m not going to pump us up. I don’t think they played as hard against us as they did against other teams.”
“Obviously, the first game at Highbury, they were fully motivated and we did well there, but I don’t what the key to breaking them down is. I think catch them on a sloppy day and you’ll break them down but I don’t think they’ll be sloppy in a final. You’ve got to play very quick and very smart, one or two touches is the only way to break down any good defence I think.”
“Against us, they were still building their team. They were under fire at that stage because they couldn’t break us down. The English press was saying, ‘how’s it possible not to break down this small side from Switzerland’. But they play fantastic, fluent football, a lot of one touch, two touch.”
“They’ve got great players all over the park. All their young boys are great internationals already. When you’ve got players like Reyes, Fabregas, Ljungberg, Henry, Gilberto Silva. At the back, Campbell, Senderos, Toure. Clichy came on and had a ripper game against Villarreal. Lehmann in goal, he’s in form, saved a crucial penalty (in the semi-final).”
“Henry, Reyes and Ljungberg are very dangerous up front and Fabregas coming from behind. A lot of great football minds there and with Wenger in control, they’re very good tactically. Look at Villarreal, they found it hard to break them down. It was a great match of tactical football.”
“They don’t have fixed positions when they go forward. You can’t say Ljungberg is a right winger because the next minute he’s on the left wing, Pires goes from the left to the right, and you’ve got Gilberto with heading strength and Henry runs all over the place.”
“Give the ball to Reyes and good luck to you because that guy on the ball is the quickest I’ve seen, quicker than Henry for sure. They’re just very mobile going forward, very smart, quick and, on the counter attack, they’re super dangerous. Barca will have to watch out because Barca’s strength is controlling the game, but on the counter attack, Arsenal, dare I say, if they’re clinical, could very well win the game.”
> Ljubo Milicevic during a Socceroos training session last November in Buenos Aires Photo AAP
How dangerous is Josh Kennedy in the air? And how do you score against Arsenal?
Ljubo Milicevic has all the answers, helped by first hand experience, when it comes to some of the most debated questions going around.
But ask him for his take on being left out of Australia’s World Cup squad and the FC Thun defender is completely baffled, like many critics.
“I took it on the chin. It was a bit of a surprise, but at the same time, I was always quite pessimistic. I never really had a great feeling they were counting on me so it wasn’t totally unexpected.”
“I don’t want to go into a big analysis of what I’ve done or what other players have done, all I know is that I’ve done my best and that’s all I can do. In the future I’ll do the same and what lies ahead I don’t know. Have I done enough? I don’t know. What’s the criterion for doing enough? How do you go about getting criteria for selecting the national team is all I ask?”
Having captained his country at youth level, the Australian Institute of Sport graduate was earmarked for big things. Somewhere along the line, however, ever since Guus Hiddink took charge, Milicevic fell out of favour.
“I would like to publicly thank Frank Farina for giving me the chance to play because I never really got the chance to thank him properly. I was hoping to do it at the World Cup. I’ve still got a lot of respect for that man and I really appreciate him giving me the chance to play for Australia the first time.”
He may have been good enough to lead his tiny Swiss club in the UEFA Champions League, but that did not convince Hiddink.
“I never really had a lot of contact with anyone. I’ve done my best this season playing in the Champions League and UEFA Cup. I couldn’t have done much more from my side of things, but from their side of things I never really had a great response. Why? I don’t know.”
Could it be that after opting to be the best man at his brother’s wedding, instead of representing Australia against Jamaica, he paid the ultimate price? Probably not. Hiddink is above all that, but every opportunity counts. Milicevic might have even started the Jamaica match in an injury-riddled defence.
In any event, even though he missed the trip to London, he was back again in the squad for the World Cup qualifiers against Uruguay, in November 2005. He played no part against the South Americans. Hiddink wanted experienced, mobile men for the grand occasion.
He found a way to reinvent Lucas Neill’s role, converting him in to a central defender, in a flexible system that also utilised Tony Vidmar and Tony Popovic. The likes of Michael Thwaite and John McKain also had some playing time under the Dutch boss, but not Milicevic.
With Craig Moore back from injury, it gave Hiddink the luxury of reverting to plan A, but at the same time, Vidmar withdrew for health reasons. Milicevic must have thought he was a certainly until Michael Beauchamp came along.
Beauchamp played his last club match in the A-League Grand Final, March 5, 2006. It seemed unlikely he would make the final list of 23. Nobody disputes his potential, or the fantastic season he had with the Central Coast Mariners, but you cannot help but wonder.
Helping his cause, Beauchamp was exposed to Hiddink’s chief lieutenants, Graham Arnold and Johan Neeskens, far more often. Hiddink’s assistants took over for the Asian Cup qualifier against Bahrain, in which Beauchamp was acclaimed as a stand-out performer.
Neeskens, though, did get to see Milicevic in action when FC Thun met Basel in the Swiss championship, back in April. They were due to meet after the match, but Milicevic says his club would not allow it for reasons that remain unclear.
Milicevic believes his somewhat tense relationship with the Thun coaching staff may have something to do with it.
As much as it hurts, he has to respect Hiddink’s decision. That is the bottom line, but he has strong views and will fight for his right to be heard.
“Club football is where I earn my money and I’m going to start being selfish. In ten years time, whether I’m popular in Australia, or not, for playing for the national team is the least of my worries.”
“I’m going to do is look at myself because I think that is the best way forward for me. To be honest, all I’ve done is get injured playing for Australia. It is a bit of a slap in the face, what I’ve copped now. I’ll take it with all the humour I’ve got in the world but I’m not thinking about the national team at all now.”
After the World Cup, Milicevic will be watched by a new coach with fresh ideas. We may even see Milicevic partner Beauchamp in the future, on the road to South Africa, 2010.
“Yeah, I’m young. All of things point in my favour, but I thought a lot of things pointed in my favour this time as well. I’ve learnt in life to expect the worst, and when you think you’ve seen the worst, it’s always worse that what you think. I don’t expect anything, mate. I don’t expect any favours from anyone. I just hope they don’t expect anything from me either.”
His own disappointment aside, Milicevic recognises this is a special era in Australian football, as the Socceroos embark on their first World Cup finals campaign in 32 years.
“I would’ve loved to have been a part of it, but I’ll still be in touch with a few of the players. I think it’s a great team. I’m sure they can cause a few upsets. Australia should get behind them, which I’m sure it will.”
“Sterjovski’s had a great season at Basel. They went to the quarter-final of the UEFA Cup, unfortunately losing to Middlesbrough. He’s played a lot of games and I think he deserved it.”
“Josh Kennedy? I played with him since the age of 15, coming up at the VIS, the AIS. He’s a good player, got a lot of talent and he’s had a super season in Germany. He’s very mobile for a big lad, got a great leap on him, good on the ball and obviously he’s improved a lot over the years.”
“He didn’t go back home when the going got tough and I’m delighted for him. He’s a great guy. I think it does add another option up front and I think it helps.”
“He’s a player, not similar to Viduka - Dukes is on another level isn’t he - but he’s another big man up front. Throw him on in the final minutes, or at any stage, and he’ll cause havoc because he is very awkward to mark. I remember playing against him in training and the big bloke gets stuck in.”
“Japan’s a massive match, isn’t it. Everyone is banking on the Japan match pointing the team in its future direction. Obviously, you have to pick up points there. Brazil? Cross your fingers, play your heart out and who knows what might happen. Croatia is D day, so you’ve got to win against Japan. I think the guys have got a lot of talent and quality so I predict Australia will go through.”
As for scoring against Arsenal, Thun, along with Ajax Amsterdam, are the only teams to find a way past the Gunners in this season’s Champions League.
Not that Barcelona’s superstar attacking line-up needs any advice, ahead of Europe’s night of nights, in Paris.
“Well, we had two goals disallowed at home. They were both ruled out for offside, but they were both clear goals. I don’t know. I’m not going to pump us up. I don’t think they played as hard against us as they did against other teams.”
“Obviously, the first game at Highbury, they were fully motivated and we did well there, but I don’t what the key to breaking them down is. I think catch them on a sloppy day and you’ll break them down but I don’t think they’ll be sloppy in a final. You’ve got to play very quick and very smart, one or two touches is the only way to break down any good defence I think.”
“Against us, they were still building their team. They were under fire at that stage because they couldn’t break us down. The English press was saying, ‘how’s it possible not to break down this small side from Switzerland’. But they play fantastic, fluent football, a lot of one touch, two touch.”
“They’ve got great players all over the park. All their young boys are great internationals already. When you’ve got players like Reyes, Fabregas, Ljungberg, Henry, Gilberto Silva. At the back, Campbell, Senderos, Toure. Clichy came on and had a ripper game against Villarreal. Lehmann in goal, he’s in form, saved a crucial penalty (in the semi-final).”
“Henry, Reyes and Ljungberg are very dangerous up front and Fabregas coming from behind. A lot of great football minds there and with Wenger in control, they’re very good tactically. Look at Villarreal, they found it hard to break them down. It was a great match of tactical football.”
“They don’t have fixed positions when they go forward. You can’t say Ljungberg is a right winger because the next minute he’s on the left wing, Pires goes from the left to the right, and you’ve got Gilberto with heading strength and Henry runs all over the place.”
“Give the ball to Reyes and good luck to you because that guy on the ball is the quickest I’ve seen, quicker than Henry for sure. They’re just very mobile going forward, very smart, quick and, on the counter attack, they’re super dangerous. Barca will have to watch out because Barca’s strength is controlling the game, but on the counter attack, Arsenal, dare I say, if they’re clinical, could very well win the game.”
