There is an alternate universe in which Socceroos veteran Craig Goodwin is, or was, a Premier League player. Had he been born a few months later than December, he might have signed for Crystal Palace’s academy in his early teens. In this reality, because of the differences in how the school year is structured in Australia and the United Kingdom, he was too old for the age group they wanted.
A few little sliding doors moments like that consigned him to a fate as a late bloomer. Somehow he missed the cut for the youth teams at Adelaide United and instead had to graft in the Victorian NPL, while working a part-time job at KFC, before getting his first professional opportunity at age 20.
Injuries have also held him back at various times.
Only in the past few years has he hit his peak, emerging as a key player for the Socceroos, a Johnny Warren medallist and a World Cup goal scorer. But he hit his peak too late to crack into one of Europe’s top five leagues, even though anyone who watches the Socceroos closely will know he has the talent to be there.
It was a surprise he didn’t start Thursday night’s 5-1 win over Indonesia. It was not a surprise he came on and marked his 31st cap with two set-piece assists with his magical left foot. He has now directly contributed to four of the 11 goals scored so far in the Tony Popovic era.
“I know I’m 33 at the moment, but I feel like I’m still within my prime and playing some of my best football,” Goodwin said.
“I’ve been very consistent over the last five, six, seven years in terms of output, goals and assists, and feeling really confident over the last three years. I’ve probably contributed much more with the national team than I have previously.”
Socceroos star Craig Goodwin in action against Indonesia on Thursday.Credit: Getty Images
Goodwin has some decisions to make. He is off contract at the end of this season, which is likely to be his last at Al-Wehda, the Mecca-based club where he has spent three of the past five years, who look set to be relegated to Saudi Arabia’s second division.
Other clubs are beginning to register their interest in him. A return to the A-League is also a possibility. Though he didn’t leave his beloved Adelaide United on the best of terms, it is hard to imagine him anywhere else in Australia, and that would probably be the best thing for his young family.
But a small part of him is holding out hope for another crack at Europe. He signed for Sparta Rotterdam in the Netherlands nearly a decade ago and spent two seasons there. But it wasn’t this Craig Goodwin.
“At this stage I haven’t had any sniffs or interest from Europe. I’m open to the idea,” he said.
“If it comes up, maybe that’s something I’ll take up. If it doesn’t, I’ve got no regrets about anything that’s happened in my career.
Australia’s Craig Goodwin (centre) celebrates his goal against France at the 2022 World Cup.Credit: AP
“I feel in a very comfortable position, very privileged to have played as many national team games as I have now and to be able to play against some of the best players in the world … at the moment the top teams in Saudi, in my opinion, could easily compete in the [UEFA] Champions League with the calibre of players and the amount of money that they’re spending.
“Whatever options come up, I’ll assess it and decide what I want to do in terms of my footballing career and what my family wants to do, and we’ll decide what’s best for us.”
A late-career swansong in Europe is unlikely; clubs there don’t usually take chances on 30-plus Australians. A key part of Goodwin’s decision will be finding a club that can help keep him fit and firing ahead of what he hopes is a second World Cup appearance.
The Socceroos will aim to take another step towards confirming their place at the 2026 World Cup – co-hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico – on Tuesday night against China in Hangzhou. Victory will leave them likely needing just a point from their remaining two games to lock in a direct qualification berth.
But China, after a 1-0 defeat away to Saudi Arabia, need a win too to keep their hopes alive. Rather than sitting in a low block and defending as they did in Popovic’s first game in charge last October – when Goodwin was the star of the show at Adelaide Oval – he expects them to come out firing, much like Indonesia did on Thursday. The key for the Socceroos will be to spot and exploit the gaps they leave behind earlier than they did on Thursday night, and continue to be as clinical in front of goal as they were.
“Hopefully, we can get control of the game sooner,” Goodwin said.
“In terms of the style of play and the patterns that we’re working on, the style of players that we have and the confidence in the group is there to be able to play, to keep moving the ball and the messaging is there from the coaches as well … to be brave, to be confident and trust our teammates.”
