Matt vows no backward steps in Rio
MATTHEW Spiranovic isn’t fretting about the many attacking threats among the Socceroos’ World Cup opponents and says the team needs to embrace the challenge.
Capped 17 times, Geelong star Spiranovic is the most experienced central defender in the provisional 30-man squad and looks certain to make the final party of 23.
He looms as a pivotal figure at the back as Australia prepares to face three highly rated nations in its group in Brazil — reigning champion Spain, 2010 runner-up the Netherlands and rising South American power Chile.
The three nations possess some of the most exciting and creative players in world football, but Spiranovic is excited rather than daunted about the task of trying to contain them.
“You look at all three squads, full of world-class players, it’s hard to pick out one,” Spiranovic said.
“That’s why we play football. It’s going to be an awesome challenge ahead.
“This team is full of youth, a lot of enthusiasm and everyone giving 110 per cent, so that holds us in good stead going over to Brazil.”
With long-time central defensive linchpin and former skipper Lucas Neill dropped, Spiranovic could take on more of a leadership role.
He relishes that prospect and stressed the Socceroos weren’t short of leaders.
“It is a relatively young team but we still have a lot of leaders in this squad,” he said.
“If it means I have to take up that role, then I’m looking forward to the challenge.”
Returning to Australia and playing regularly for Western Sydney Wanderers has paid off for Spiranovic.
“I needed regular football. I needed to get back to full fitness and I needed to be in the right football environment,” Spiranovic said.
“The Wanderers ticked all those boxes, so it’s worked out well.”
Spiranovic has just signed a new two-year deal with the Wanderers.
It’s a pleasant change to 2010, when he struggled for playing time in the lead-up to the World Cup in South Africa and didn’t make the Australian squad. That fuelled his desire to make the 2014 team.
“Of course, every footballer wants to play in a World Cup, I’m no different. It’s the pinnacle of our sport,” he said.