The 26 year old has been called up by Pim Verbeek, in the 30 man squad for the Socceroos World Cup qualifer this month.
He plays for Lega Pro Prima Divisione A team Portosummaga.
He said on Foxsports that it's a tough league physically and technically and the standard is high.
Foxsports reporter seemed to be suprised he got picked because he played Italian- 3rd division
Good on him for getting picked, really shows Lega Pro is a quality league and the Australian public need to realise how good these lower leagues are, as they are helping to provide our National players
I would have to say that it would be a surprise for anyone playing in a countries 3rd level of football to get a national call up. Why do some people on this forum seem to want to make an issue out of the country people play in ?
povman_2009 wrote:I would have to say that it would be a surprise for anyone playing in a countries 3rd level of football to get a national call up. Why do some people on this forum seem to want to make an issue out of the country people play in ?
your telling me. if anything the level of 3rd tier football in Italia just as strong if not stronger than in England, so why are the media all suprised he has been called up?
Chris Coyne has been regularly called up to the national team and he is playing for Colchester in the 3rd div in England. Kozzie reckons in the paper he's apart of our best XI.....having a laugh there.
Juventino wrote:Of course they were surprised. They thought only those in the English third div could be called up!
povman_2009 wrote:Oops delfino it seems you are like these two lovley ladies ...
i make an issue because people don't seem to realise that the Italian league is just as good (better) than the English leagues yet we question selections from the 3rd division in Italia
And the point I made was that any player being selected from the 3rd division of any league anywhere in the world is a surprise to me... if they are good enough to get on the park for their country and their country is heading to the world cup then they should not be languishing in the 3rd division anywhere ...
I understand that you are, yet again, trying to make a point that one league is better than another, I do not care about that argument it is like comparing fish to chicken, you like one or the other or both it is a personal thing.
povman_2009 wrote:And the point I made was that any player being selected from the 3rd division of any league anywhere in the world is a surprise to me... if they are good enough to get on the park for their country and their country is heading to the world cup then they should not be languishing in the 3rd division anywhere ...
I understand that you are, yet again, trying to make a point that one league is better than another, I do not care about that argument it is like comparing fish to chicken, you like one or the other or both it is a personal thing.
How is it a surprise?? Don't Championship and League one players regularly get call ups to various national sides, and haven't Aus called up scrubbers playing in the 2nd divs of Belgium and Romania before?
Benevento had a player go to the 2006 WC when they were in C2, these third divisions are better than many top flights so I don't see how its that much of a surprise.
Personally I am always surprised when players get called up for whatever country from the lower leagues, normally the talent rises to the top ... but that might just be me,
It is a different argument if you believe the players are not good enough to represent their country ...
povman_2009 wrote:Personally I am always surprised when players get called up for whatever country from the lower leagues, normally the talent rises to the top ... but that might just be me,
It is a different argument if you believe the players are not good enough to represent their country ...
The talent does rise to the top.
Perhaps Australia has slightly less talent than larger countries, therefore they have to look a bit deeper to find players?