Remember the hysteria about no A-League breaks during the FIFA window?
Now, in the first season of its implementation, the Socceroos are having a … break.
The spotlight is rightfully on the Olyroos — who are also led by Socceroos boss Graham Arnold — for their Tokyo 2020 qualifiers, in part because the Young Socceroos, Joeys, Matildas and Young Matildas are also out of action.
This is the first time the Socceroos have not played in a FIFA Window since 2004 — in between the National Soccer League and A-League — with the August 2007 break coming literally weeks after the Asian Cup.
The 2019 Asian Cup quarter-finals exit indicates that the Socceroos have plenty of room for improvement, so in a window where most nations around the world are playing — even Japan and South Korea — Australia’s “rest window” seems puzzling.
“There are a myriad of reasons as to why the Socceroos are not playing in this window,’’ FFA’s national teams chief Luke Casserly said.
“Arnie has seen 35 players leading into the Asian Cup, so he’s comfortable with that and he was keen for the Socceroos to have a rest after two major tournaments in quick succession.
“Also he’s doing two jobs and the priority now is the Olyroos, who are in Cambodia qualifying.
“There are also financial reasons. This is the toughest financial year in the (four year) cycle.”
The Socceroos — ranked 42 and slipping — can ill-afford to take breaks in FIFA windows.
