“I’m going to reach out to Panadol as my new sponsor because I’m going to have quite a number of headaches to fit into a 26-man squad,” Socceroos coach Graham Arnold said in the aftermath of his side’s 2-0 win over New Zealand on Sunday afternoon. Delivered with a wry smile, it was a rehearsed gag that spoke to one of the biggest challenges the 58-year-old – and every other coach heading to Qatar 2022 – will face in the coming months.
Between now and 14 November, Arnold faces the mammoth task of weighing up a complex set of factors including, but not limited to, form, fitness, team chemistry, complementary skill sets and adaptability, to determine which players will realise the ultimate honour of representing their nation at a World Cup – and which will have their dreams dashed.
