World Cup 22: The Socceroos will head to a FIFA Men’s World Cup with their equal-largest contingent of Isuzu UTE A-League players and the competition’s leading goal-scorer, Jamie Maclaren believes it’s a testament to the league’s ‘under-estimated’ quality.
Jamie Maclaren is well averse to the evolution of the Isuzu UTE A-League.
For almost a decade, Maclaren has watched the competition grow, from his days as a promising Perth Glory youngster, to breakout star at Brisbane Roar, all the way through to solidifying himself as one of the league’s all-time greatest strikers at Melbourne City.
He’s come up against the best and the worst the A-League Men has seen, and has conquered almost every obstacle the competition has thrown up, but now Maclaren faces one of his biggest and most exciting challenges to date.
Helping lead the largest-ever A-League Men contingent to represent Australia at the FIFA Men’s World Cup.
Maclaren is one of seven ALM players to be selected in the Socceroos squad for the World Cup, joining City team-mate Mathew Leckie, Central Coast trio Garang Kuol, Jason Cummings and Danny Vukovic, along with Adelaide’s Craig Goodwin and Sydney FC goal-keeper Andrew Redmayne in the squad.
Along with that, 12 of the overseas based players featured in the competition at some point.
The number is a significant uptick from the 2018 squad which only had three local-based players and the most since 2014, when Ange Postecoglou selected seven, as well.
While critics will easily point the finger at the dwindling number of players plying their trade in Europe, Maclaren told KEEPUP that he believes the number of call-ups increasing this time around is in-fact, a testament to the overall quality of the competition.
“I think over time and a lot of people have said it but the A-League is a bit under-estimated,” Maclaren said.
“You see a lot of good foreigners struggle to adapt, for a number of reasons of course, but the quality is getting there and you can see, we are luring players that have played in the Premier League most recently.
“You’ve got Adam Le Fondre, Charlie Austin, Luis Nani. When you talk about players like that, that want to come and join our league, we aren’t talking about small names, we are talking about world class players like Nani. It’s under-estimated in my eyes, but at the same time I could be a little bit biased.
“I love playing in this league, it suits me and we want it to grow, and at the same time, seven players from the A-League are going to the World Cup. It’s great for the league and there have been players who have played in the A-League that now play overseas who are going also.
It just shows you there is quality in this league and whilst there are probably ‘Euro-snobs’ out there, come and watch our games and you’ll be surprised.
Maclaren is heading into a second successive World Cup, but this time around as Australia’s most in-form marksmen and not a last minute call-up, like he was in 2018 by Graham Arnold’s predecessor, Bert van Marwijk.
Although there are still questions as to who leads the line given the different qualities his striking counterparts Mitchell Duke and Cummings offer, the numbers stack up favourably in his favour.
Heading into the World Cup break, Maclaren has banged in eight goals in the opening six games of the season which is five clear of a whopping equal-seven players in second place.
But this sort of form isn’t a one-off or an aberration.
The 29-year-old has been scoring goals for fun in the A-League Men for years, upon years – coming either side of his year-and-a-half European voyage at German side Darmstadt 98 and Scottish outfit Hibernian.
It’s those exploits over a long period of time which have particularly stood out, winning a record four Golden Boots – including the last three – while now sitting second in the all-time rankings with 128 goals, only 14 behind leader, Besart Berisha.
And it was his decision to not only come home to Melbourne in 2019, but extend his stay by another three years in the winter of 2021, that has potentially put him in a better position to feature in Qatar, despite overseas interest.
“100%,” Maclaren said when asked if his decision to stay in the A-League Men had been justified.
“I don’t think I need to go on about all the goals that I’ve scored purely because I’m around a great bunch of boys, some great coaching staff and a great club that gives me that platform to go out there and score goals.
But yeah, I mean, the decision to come back was justified. I’m back home in Melbourne, I’m happy, a big part of your life you need to be happy where you are and I clearly am here. playing with a bit of freedom about my football, really enjoying it and goals will flow, and I know that.
“I’m within touching distance of some history but without getting to ahead of myself, I’ve got a lot of work to do to reach that goal and what better place to do that than Melbourne City.
“I’ve still got a year and a half to run on my contract and as far as I’m concerned, I’ll be here for that time.”
Now, the focus shifts to Qatar and after not featuring in 2018, Maclaren is hoping this time he can have a contribution on the field, whether it’s as a starter or as a substitute.
“As a player, you want to start games but at the same time, you want to contribute,” Maclaren said.
“I think in my case with the national team, whenever I can make an impact, I will and I did that against the UAE and Peru. I had a roll to play and it was quite a big role in the end, taking a penalty against Peru and had I started the game, I might not have seen the penalty.
There’s always a silver lining with certain things, but I know whenever I’m called upon, I never take a call-up for granted, that’s one thing I’ve stood by so whenever Arnie needs me, how ever he needs me, I’ll be ready.
“It’s just about enjoying the experience, I remember having goosebumps for three-four weeks… Everything about the World Cup is what I dreamt of what it would be and to say I will be there for a second time is a huge honour.
“I’ve said it previously, I’ve felt more included with the Socceroos because we had a generation before that who had been there for such a long time, but now I feel like I’ve played in the qualifiers more, scored some goals so I’m going there with a bit more belief and more caps under my belt.”
