Tom Rogic has reportedly told Socceroos coach Graham Arnold he wants to go to the World Cup — but he may have to explain his mystery absence to players and staff before he is welcomed back into the squad.
Rogic’s move to Championship side West Bromwich Albion has revived hopes he will compete for Australia in Qatar in November-December after he pulled out of the crunch qualifying playoffs in a shock move.
Former Socceroo Robbie Slater said 29-year-old was arguably Australia’s “very best player” and it would be difficult to leave him out of the squad for the Socceroos’ fifth consecutive World Cup finals appearance.
However Slater, a close friend of Socceroos manager Graham Arnold, suggested there were “other things at play” given the circumstances of Rogic’s withdrawal at such a critical stage of qualifying.
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No details were given for Rogic’s withdrawal from the June playoff matches against UAE and Peru other than personal reasons and Slater suggested the former Celtic star may need to clear the air for the sake of team culture.
“If Tommy comes out and says at the time he wasn’t in a good spot — the analogy I use is (Michael) Hooper for the Wallabies, who came out and said that — everyone understands straight away. OK, that’s fine. You need time to sort yourself out,” Slater told Fox Sports News.
“In that sort of zone, nobody’s going to ask a question.
“But we haven’t had any news really of why Tommy pulled out.
“So that’s what the players will need, and you would think the coach, to know why that happened. Otherwise you’re going to have an unhappy squad.
“Graham Arnold is big on culture and the players certainly would like some kind of explanation why Tommy didn’t turn up.
“So there’s that side of it, but on the other side is, if he’s fully fit and firing of course he adds a lot to the squad. Quite simply our best player.”
Slater said Rogic and Arnold had spoken and the player “indicated that he’s fit and ready to go and wants to go to the World Cup”.
And while he will likely secure the crucial game time needed in 13 league matches between now and the World Cup, the significance of Rogic’s withdrawal in qualifiers meant it needed to be addressed.
“When he pulled out, it was a devastating blow — it looked like nearly a fatal blow for our chances of qualifying for the World Cup,” Slater said.
“Of course that didn’t happen. We went on to beat the UAE, the Grey Wiggle (Andrew Redmayne) saved the penalty we needed (against Peru) to go and qualify for the World Cup.
“All looks rosey but you can’t sugarcoat this — at the time that was a devastating blow, and what I, and many others, thought was potentially a fatal blow.”
Slater said while there was uncertainty over Rogic’s condition — and how things will play out at West Brom where manager Steve Bruce is under pressure — he hoped the situation would be resolved.
“Tommy Rogic fit and firing is our very best player along with Aaron Mooy,” Slater said. “You can’t negate the impact he can have on the pitch.”
Rogic is unlikely to be included when the squad for Australia’s upcoming friendlies against New Zealand is named on Wednesday.
