SOCCEROOS TO SURPRISE

Q Obviously you’d be a keen observer of the Socceroos. How will we go at the World Cup?

A I actually don’t think we’ll be that bad, but it’s going to be interesting with the new coach (Bert van Marwijk, pictured). It’s going to be interesting whether he can put his ideas into place in a short time period. But I guess, with Australian mentality, we’re always going to try our best. I think we’re going to go all right. I think we’ll surprise some teams.

Q You were on the cusp of making it to the 2014 edition. Is it hard to believe you’re now without a club?

A Last time I was in the squad and the odd thing about that was I was playing at Utrecht and I got named in the squad, then I did my ACL. I came back and did rehab and I just came back from that when I went into the training camp and that wasn’t the most ideal preparation for going into a World Cup squad. I wasn’t 100 per cent in the squad and I guess that’s why I got cut.

Q Have you got any bolters you’d like to see make the final squad in a few weeks?

A There’s a couple of close friends of mine ... I always want them to play well for the national team, because we all pretty much grew up together ... so players who I’ve known for a while, I’m probably a bit biased towards them, in wanting them to do a bit better than everyone else, but I want the team as a collective to do well.