If Lionel Messi took his rightful place at centre-stage in the Socceroos’ 2-0 loss to Argentina, then young Australian Jordan Bos showed he could at least handle the bright lights.
Exciting, marauding defender Bos earned his first international start, and just his second cap in Thursday night’s clash at the Workers’ Stadium in Beijing.
With it, he made his case to replace Aziz Behich as Australia’s first-choice, long-term left-back.
When the 20-year-old outmuscled and won the ball against experienced Argentinian forward Angel Di Maria in just the seventh minute, it was clear he wasn’t there to make up the numbers.
The youngster roamed down the left wing with the dash and dare that exemplified his breakout A-League Men season with Melbourne City and earned him a move to Belgian Pro League club Westerlo.
“That’s how he needs to play,” coach Graham Arnold said.
“I’ve got to play players to their strengths and Jordy’s strength is going forward and making sure that we’re protecting him defensively and obviously he’ll improve out of sight with that.
“But this game, the kid will walk away knowing he belongs and he’ll have that belief that he belongs on the big stage now.
“I just think that he’s got such a bright future, not just individually but for the Socceroos.”
Bos wasn’t alone among the new generation of Socceroos to impress against the world champions.
Riley McGree, 24, was excellent as an inverted midfielder, combining with Bos down the left with aplomb.
Aiden O’Neill (24) and Keanu Baccus (25) held their own in midfield while Nathaniel Atkinson (24) had his moments and Alex Robertson (20) came off the bench, though Alessandro Circati (19) will have to bide his time for a debut.
The Socceroos will return to action in the September window then have a tantalising clash with England at Wembley in October.
That is just the type of test Arnold wants for his young charges.
“The most important thing is we play our way,” he said.
“We don’t sit back, we go forward, we move forward. Everything we do is about growing as a team.
“We’ve got some youngsters coming through and the only way for them to improve is to put them on the big stage.
“If they’re just playing local football and we’re playing against weak opposition, they’re not gonna learn.
“Tonight, I think quite a number of them will go home and think, ‘wow, we belong’ and a number of the kids are going overseas now.
“Their careers are only gonna go up from now.”
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