FootballNews

Australian defender Sasa Ognenovski said he hopes his attempt to play for Macedonia won't be held against him when the Socceroos squad for the AFC Asian Cup is picked.

Ognenovski has put his hand up for selection in the Socceroos’ squad for the tournament in Qatar in January.

A day after leading his K-League club Seongnam Ilhwa to the AFC Champions League final, Ognenovski said he hoped his failed attempt to play for Macedonia two years ago would not affect his chances of selection.

Melbourne-born Ognenovski is captain of the Seongnam side that beat Saudi Arabia’s Al Shabab 1-0 on Wednesday night to reach the final against Iran’s Zob Ahan in Tokyo on November 13.

"I was bitterly disappointed at not being picked for the FIFA World Cup and I still am,” Ognenovski, 31, told The World Game.

"I just hope I wasn’t ‘punished’ for trying to play for Macedonia.

"But I don’t think that is the case because the establishment has no reason to be upset with me about anything.

"I was never approached by anyone about anything regarding the national team.

"If they came to me and said ‘look, Sasa, we want to give you a chance to play for Australia’ then I would not have even thought about playing for Macedonia in any way, shape or form.

"But obviously at 29 and in the form I was in, it was hard to watch the whole defence around me at Adelaide being picked for their country.

"Every player ... Scott Jamieson, Daniel Mullen, Robert Cornthwaite, Paul Reid and Eugene Galekovic ... got selected except me.

"I spoke to the Macedonia coach Srecko Katanec. He called me and told me he was prepared to give me a chance in a friendly match. So I said ‘why not’.

"But I couldn’t get the papers in time so that chance fell through. After that game they played another qualifier and lost and the coach got sacked. So my chance was gone.”

Ognenovski, who reckons that the last two years were the highest point of his career, has just signed an extension of his contract that will take him up to the end of 2012.

He is so highly regarded by Seongnam that he is the only foreigner to captain a K-League side and one of only a handful in Asia to be given that honour.

Ognenovski said he would love to be even a bit part in Australia coach Holger Osieck’s squad for the blue riband event of Asian national football.

"Most definitely,” he said when asked if he would like to put his hand up for selection.

"I feel like I’m carrying the flag for Australian football here in Korea because my performance here reflects on all Australians.

Ognenovski said he was glad that the Tokyo final would give him another opportunity to remind Australian selectors of his ability but he also said this was not necessary.

"Every game I play is an opportunity to show my skill and I don’t really need to be playing in a major final for people to notice me,” he said.

"The final against Zob Ahan will help but people are quite aware of where I’m playing and what I’ve been achieving.”

This will not be the first time that Ognenovski has played in the ACL final.

In 2008 he formed part of the Adelaide United side that stormed into the two-legged final against Japan’s Gamba Osaka, which won 5-0 on aggregate .

"It’s great to be able to get another chance to play in a major final,” he said.

"I learned in the 2008 final that mistakes will cost you dearly so hopefully it won’t happen again in Tokyo.”

DOC wrote:i think at 31 his time has passed, he will be 34/35 next world cup and he is not exactly quick now...

we need to build and get game time into milligan and spiranovic...

also our young players need to sort out there club situations and start getting game time

DOC wrote:i think at 31 his time has passed, he will be 34/35 next world cup and he is not exactly quick now...

we need to build and get game time into milligan and spiranovic...

also our young players need to sort out there club situations and start getting game time

Steelinho wrote:

DOC wrote:i think at 31 his time has passed, he will be 34/35 next world cup and he is not exactly quick now...

we need to build and get game time into milligan and spiranovic...

also our young players need to sort out there club situations and start getting game time

Asian Cup is, at the moment, a bigger priority than the World Cup. Being competitive in the next tournament should always be important.
Spiranovic is likely to not be in good enough form to even warrant selection, currently injured until around November and won't have many games left to return to form, and Mark Milligan is done. Just forget about him and stop listening to the drivel that the general media likes to jerk over.



Sick of hearing that we should be IMMEDIATELY "building for the next World Cup." It's three-and-a-god-damned-half years away. We should be selecting the best team possible every time, not picking players for the senior team who look like they could be good prospects. That's why we have the lower national team groups.

DOC wrote:

Steelinho wrote:

DOC wrote:i think at 31 his time has passed, he will be 34/35 next world cup and he is not exactly quick now...

we need to build and get game time into milligan and spiranovic...

also our young players need to sort out there club situations and start getting game time

Asian Cup is, at the moment, a bigger priority than the World Cup. Being competitive in the next tournament should always be important.
Spiranovic is likely to not be in good enough form to even warrant selection, currently injured until around November and won't have many games left to return to form, and Mark Milligan is done. Just forget about him and stop listening to the drivel that the general media likes to jerk over.



Sick of hearing that we should be IMMEDIATELY "building for the next World Cup." It's three-and-a-god-damned-half years away. We should be selecting the best team possible every time, not picking players for the senior team who look like they could be good prospects. That's why we have the lower national team groups.

qualifiers are not that long away and we have to get there and this should be our priority, the game plan is getting fixed now osieck needs to shake up the squad, which he has done to a small extent and will happen more after qatar, why the shiraz should we call up a 31 year old for 1 tournament

Steelinho wrote:

DOC wrote:[quote="Steelinho]Asian Cup is, at the moment, a bigger priority than the World Cup. Being competitive in the next tournament should always be important.
Spiranovic is likely to not be in good enough form to even warrant selection, currently injured until around November and won't have many games left to return to form, and Mark Milligan is done. Just forget about him and stop listening to the drivel that the general media likes to jerk over.



Sick of hearing that we should be IMMEDIATELY "building for the next World Cup." It's three-and-a-god-damned-half years away. We should be selecting the best team possible every time, not picking players for the senior team who look like they could be good prospects. That's why we have the lower national team groups.

qualifiers are not that long away and we have to get there and this should be our priority, the game plan is getting fixed now osieck needs to shake up the squad, which he has done to a small extent and will happen more after qatar, why the shiraz should we call up a 31 year old for 1 tournament

DOC wrote:

Steelinho wrote:

DOC wrote:i think at 31 his time has passed, he will be 34/35 next world cup and he is not exactly quick now...

we need to build and get game time into milligan and spiranovic...

also our young players need to sort out there club situations and start getting game time

Asian Cup is, at the moment, a bigger priority than the World Cup. Being competitive in the next tournament should always be important.
Spiranovic is likely to not be in good enough form to even warrant selection, currently injured until around November and won't have many games left to return to form, and Mark Milligan is done. Just forget about him and stop listening to the drivel that the general media likes to jerk over.



Sick of hearing that we should be IMMEDIATELY "building for the next World Cup." It's three-and-a-god-damned-half years away. We should be selecting the best team possible every time, not picking players for the senior team who look like they could be good prospects. That's why we have the lower national team groups.

qualifiers are not that long away and we have to get there and this should be our priority, the game plan is getting fixed now osieck needs to shake up the squad, which he has done to a small extent and will happen more after qatar, why the shiraz should we call up a 31 year old for 1 tournament

DOC wrote:which we will struggle in anyway due to the heat as we always have, it should be a stepping stone to rejuvinate the national side with youth

DOC wrote:i think its silly calling someone up to the squad who could probably only offer 2 years to the side

DOC wrote:i don't really care for the tournament

Steelinho wrote:

DOC wrote:which we will struggle in anyway due to the heat as we always have, it should be a stepping stone to rejuvinate the national side with youth

Yeah and no other team will have to deal with the same heat.

DOC wrote:i think its silly calling someone up to the squad who could probably only offer 2 years to the side

Unless you have a time machine, you have absolutely no idea how much anyone can offer. That also goes for all the players you think we should be using to "rejuvenate the national side."
I mean, Hell, the players you cited aren't even in a state to warrant a call-up. One of them is injured and the other one hasn't played for his side (a second division Japanese club) in months, for Christ's sake. You clearly don't pay any attention to these players, so why are you bothering to even make these claims? Just because you read someone's blog and thought, "Hey, that's really cool," without really thinking it through?

Like I already stated, development isn't up to the senior national squad. If we want to prepare players for International duty, use the Olyroos, Young Socceroos, Joeys. If you want players to develop, national sides won't do that; that's up to the club. The only way you could even expect players to develop in a national team is if that side participated in its own league, a la the Singapore U-23 side in the S-League.

Seriously, if you actually think players who don't yet deserve it should be called to the senior national squad, you should probably be avoiding working in football management in any shape or form. Sticking to the video game alternative should be the closest you ever get.
That's not a shot at you directly; that's a shot at anyone who believes the above. I just hope to God that you're fishing, though I somehow doubt it. Regardless, don't take offence, just try to learn from your mistakes.

DOC wrote:i don't really care for the tournament

That's where your argument fell on its face, anyway. Your sole opinion isn't as important as the entire country.
You're already outnumbered in opinion in one FootballNews thread. That doesn't bode well for you taking that opinion to the masses.

DOC wrote:i don't really care for the tournament, which we will struggle in anyway due to the heat as we always have, it should be a stepping stone to rejuvinate the national side with youth, i think its silly calling someone up to the squad who could probably only offer 2 years to the side

DOC wrote:yeah because me thinking we shouldn't call up a 31 year old is a mistake... we have a lack up talent coming through so i believe australia should go in a different direction than what you think... think if we go with the oldies we will get found out by better younger sides in qatar,

DOC wrote:the side needs an overhaul before 2014, which is not that far away and we need to be building towards the qualifiers and picking people we knwo will be present in brazil, should we make it f course, not people using their agents and the media to try and beg a way into a team he tried to not be part of 12 months ago...

DOC wrote:i used spiranovic as an example of a young player, and i know you don't rate milligan but most of his performances in the green and gold have been good so i believe he deserves more game time

Rob Lozza wrote:In. Pick the best team to WIN ffs.

Steelinho wrote:

DOC wrote:yeah because me thinking we shouldn't call up a 31 year old is a mistake... we have a lack up talent coming through so i believe australia should go in a different direction than what you think... think if we go with the oldies we will get found out by better younger sides in qatar,

So who - with your expertise in Asian football - do you suggest are the "younger sides" we will be facing in Qatar?

DOC wrote:the side needs an overhaul before 2014, which is not that far away and we need to be building towards the qualifiers and picking people we knwo will be present in brazil, should we make it f course, not people using their agents and the media to try and beg a way into a team he tried to not be part of 12 months ago...

God, you're acting as if this is a club side. You DO realise that this is a national team, right?

And again - though I don't know WHY I have to reiterate this; it's not getting through your head - nobody knows "who will be present in Brazil." Unless somebody has a time machine, there's absolutely no way of knowing and any suggestion otherwise is pure speculation. And speculation wins you absolutely nothing in football.

DOC wrote:i used spiranovic as an example of a young player, and i know you don't rate milligan but most of his performances in the green and gold have been good so i believe he deserves more game time

It's not about whether I rate Milligan. I don't even know where you got that idea. It's the fact that THE SECOND DIVISION TEAM THAT HE PLAYS FOR doesn't rate him.

He.

Has.

Not.

Played.

In.

Months.


Got any more stupid posts you'd like to share with us?

Steelinho wrote:Alternatively, you're the only one with that opinion and I'm already drunk.

DOC wrote:

Steelinho wrote:Alternatively, you're the only one with that opinion and I'm already drunk.

but were drunk right?
i think australia needs a youthful overhaul and a squad built for 2014

you want immediate success at the asian cup which could harm our qualification chances

DOC wrote:

Steelinho wrote:Alternatively, you're the only one with that opinion and I'm already drunk.

but were drunk right?
i think australia needs a youthful overhaul and a squad built for 2014

you want immediate success at the asian cup which could harm our qualification chances

Kitchimo wrote:

DOC wrote:

Steelinho wrote:Alternatively, you're the only one with that opinion and I'm already drunk.

but were drunk right?
i think australia needs a youthful overhaul and a squad built for 2014

you want immediate success at the asian cup which could harm our qualification chances

What's wrong with bringing youth through (that deserve it) in the friendlies, WC Qualifiers, and Asian Cup Qualifiers? We already know that Grella, Bresciano, Chipperfield, and Moore have retired. That's at least four spots that can be filled.

(side point) If a 35 year old Sasa Ognenovski is our best option for CB at the 2014 World Cup, then he should be selected regardless of how old he is.

DOC wrote:

Kitchimo wrote:(side point) If a 35 year old Sasa Ognenovski is our best option for CB at the 2014 World Cup, then he should be selected regardless of how old he is.

but will he be, or will he be a shaun murphy and be around for a couple of years and then disappear

Steelinho wrote:Unless you have a time machine, you have absolutely no idea how much anyone can offer. That also goes for all the players you think we should be using to "rejuvenate the national side."

DOC wrote:but will he be, or will he be a shaun murphy and be around for a couple of years and then disappear

Loppermann wrote:

DOC wrote:but will he be, or will he be a shaun murphy and be around for a couple of years and then disappear

so by that logic, we shouldn't pick any uncapped youngsters either, because we don't know if they'll be a Shaun Murphy and disappear
and who knows if Cahill or Emerton will disappear in one or two years, so leave them out too
and while we're at it, we should probably sack Holger Osieck as he may not be around in a couple of years
in fact, Carlos Hernandez is the only player that will definately be 'round (if not rounder) in 2 years, and he's not eligible to play for us

this just in, Costa Rica to win the 2014 world cup (the hosts might possibly pinch it if they can coax Ronaldo back to the national team with a few mince pies)

DOC wrote:

Loppermann wrote:

DOC wrote:but will he be, or will he be a shaun murphy and be around for a couple of years and then disappear

so by that logic, we shouldn't pick any uncapped youngsters either, because we don't know if they'll be a Shaun Murphy and disappear
and who knows if Cahill or Emerton will disappear in one or two years, so leave them out too
and while we're at it, we should probably sack Holger Osieck as he may not be around in a couple of years
in fact, Carlos Hernandez is the only player that will definately be 'round (if not rounder) in 2 years, and he's not eligible to play for us

this just in, Costa Rica to win the 2014 world cup (the hosts might possibly pinch it if they can coax Ronaldo back to the national team with a few mince pies)

thats a 5 year olds thinking, by picking young you have more chances to work with them while older they only have a few years left anyway so it limits what they can learn

the_gun wrote:Ognenovski wants Socceroos chance