Mark Schwarzer Exclusive: Socceroos Legend on Aussies' World Cup Chances

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Australia have a tricky World Cup group with France, Denmark, and Tunisia. What chance do you give them of making it out of Group D?

“It's going to be tough. They played France and Denmark in the 2018 World Cup and found it very, very difficult.

“We should have got a result against France. We lost 2-1 in the end with a very unfortunate goal to concede.

“That was the introduction of Olivier Giroud who came off the bench and made a difference. From then on, he didn't miss another game and he was instrumental in France going on and winning the World Cup.

“Denmark are a side that I think are actually playing better than they did back in 2018.

“There's question marks over France and where they are and what they're going to do. Certainly, off-field problems are causing a stir.

“And Tunisia, for us, is an unknown. We don't know a lot about Tunisia, and that's going to be a real challenge.

“So, what are the chances? Look, we're against the 8 ball. We're severely the underdogs, but we're often that case and we've often caused upsets and surprises along the way.

“We were the underdogs going into the final World Cup qualifier against Peru but were the better side and deserved to win - albeit on penalty shootout which is obviously sometimes a bit of a lottery, but deserved to win the game in 120 minutes not going to penalties.”

What would constitute ‘success’ for the Socceroos at this tournament?

“Success is winning our first game since 2010. We've been in every World Cup since 2006 and we haven't got out of the group stage since 2006.

“I think winning a game and keeping a clean sheet. If we do that, then there's a chance you can get out.

“It all goes hand in hand. Winning that game again and hopefully keeping a clean sheet. We've never kept a clean sheet at the World Cup. That would be an absolutely brilliant accomplishment from the guys.

“Winning that game and all that will hopefully lead to Australia causing an upset.”

Which Aussie players are you most looking forward to watching on the big stage?

“There's a couple.

“Ajdin Hrustic, who is playing at Hellas Verona - there are question marks over his fitness as to whether or not he'll make the World Cup but fingers crossed that he will.

“I think he's a very, very good player - a very good technical player. He is someone that's underrated and was part of the Eintracht Frankfurt team that won the Europa League last season, scoring one of the winning penalties in the penalty shootout.

“He's technically one of our best players and he's one of the best players that we've had in a long, long time.

“He is sort of reminiscent of, and reminds me a little bit of, Mark Bresciano when he played for the national team - same sort of player.

“Also Aaron Mooy, who is probably at the twilight of his career in terms of international football, and has a new lease of life at Celtic, certainly under Ange Postecoglou.

“I think those two players are of massive importance for Australia going to the World Cup.

“And Mathew Ryan, if he is - and he probably will be - number one for the World Cup, I think he has a huge part to play as well.”

Do you think England have a good chance of winning their first World Cup since 1966?

“I think there's a number of teams, a number of countries that have a chance.

“It's always so difficult. I know people say that Brazil are the favourites - Brazil are favourites at just about every World Cup.

“They've often got the superstars - they've often got the players that are on top of their game - but they often struggle, certainly over the last World Cups, to get it to the end and win a World Cup.

“I do believe that the winner will come from Europe again. I think there's a number of countries that could win it.

“Even though obviously the likely candidates in Brazil and Argentina - I don't think Argentina are there anymore at that same sort of level, but you certainly can't underestimate them.

“France have shown in 2002 that off-field problems can be a disaster. I kind of have a sneaky feeling that that may be the case again.

“I think England going into the World Cup haven't been great. And that's the one concerning thing.

“Can Gareth Southgate get them playing good football again? Because they've come off the boil quite a bit.

“There's quite a lot of players that are nowhere near their best. And that's the biggest concern for Gareth and England going into this World Cup.

“But it might not be a bad thing because every time we go to a World Cup, people say that ‘it's coming home’ and that England are one of the favourites. So maybe that's not a bad thing for them this time around.”

Can either Nick Pope or Aaron Ramsdale be England’s starting goalkeeper in Qatar or do you think Jordan Pickford is nailed on at this point?

“Under normal circumstances, I would have said yes, but I just think that Jordan Pickford is playing probably the best football he's played in the last two years - certainly over the last couple of months.

“Prior to that, the 18 months beforehand, he wasn't playing well, certainly for his club. He was struggling.

“I thought, actually, he was in a real poor run of form and Gareth still kept picking him.

“He played at the Euros last year and he's never let England down. And that's always the comeback and that is a point.

“It goes away from what Gareth said when he first took over as manager, that players would be picked on form.

“But like I said, he's back to his best. If not, he's probably playing his best football at Everton that I've seen him play, so therefore I think he will be the number one going into the World Cup unless something major happens between now and then.

“Saying that, Nick Pope has had a fantastic start to the season. And also Aaron Ramsdale has continued great form.

“I think, for this World Cup, it's a little bit too soon for those two. But going forward, I think they're certainly going to continue to put pressure on Jordan Pickford.”

Another manager that has a difficult decision is the Brazil boss with both Alisson and Ederson. Which one do you think Tite should pick as his number one choice for the World Cup?

“It really depends on how they want to play. If they really want to just be playing out of the back like a Manchester City style of football, that they just want to overplay and play out at the back but do it very well.

“When I say “overplay” - I say it in the nicest and kindest possible way, because when they overplay, they still don't make a mistake. Generally, they're still so good at it.

“I don't think Brazil play that extreme and we've seen over the last, six months or so, there's been a lot of swapping and changing between the two keepers, between Alisson and Ederson.

“I think overall, when they're both at the peak of their games, I like Alisson as an all-round goalkeeper more, but that's just a preference.

“Ederson has done incredibly well. And if you took the form of the two goalkeepers right now, I think Ederson is in better form.

“So, therefore, if you go on the last couple of months and they're swapping and changing, I wouldn't be surprised if Ederson starts at the World Cup.”

What do you make of the appointment of Michael Carrick as manager of your old club Middlesbrough?

“It’s history repeating itself a little bit. When I first signed for the club, not long before that, Steve Gibson had gone out and signed Bryan Robson as a player manager. Obviously a Manchester United legend.

“Michael Carrick coming from Manchester United, being a very good player for them and also being part of the coaching staff.

“Steve McClaren too - Middlesbrough have always tended to kind of hover around bringing ex-Manchester United people into the club.

“Viv Anderson and Gordon McQueen were there as well, so it wasn't really surprising.

“I also think it kind of shows you where Middlesbrough are right now. They're just trying to get the best out of the players.

“They're not necessarily a club that are going to go out there, invest heavily and try and have a real go of it. Unless things change dramatically in the next six months to 12 months.

“But at the moment - certainly over the last couple of years - it doesn't seem like that's the case.

“They're going to have hopefully new ideas, new fresh ideas, and a younger manager.

“And I think he's hoping, Steve Gibson, for something a little different and maybe a hungry young manager with a lot of potential, and a lot of promise to hopefully be very successful at a club like Middlesbrough that are desperate - like so many other teams in the Championship - to try and get back in the Premier League.”

Fulham have made a bright start on their return to the Premier League. Safety will have been the primary objective this season but do you think they are on course to stay up?

“I hold my hands up, I thought they would struggle.

“I spoke to Marco Silva about eight or nine days before the start of the season. He was still worried, he needed players in.

“They got it all. He was backed. And I think what he's done really well is he’s found a balance between the players that helped get them there, the core of the team.

“Certainly in the first month or so of the season, there was a real big chunk of those core players. He has brought in players gradually. He's made some really clever, shrewd signings that have worked really well for him so far.

“Andreas Pereira has been exceptional for them. Joao Palhinha has been a fantastic buy. I've watched him a number of times now. I think he's really good and really suits the Premier League.

“Pereira, in that advanced number 10 role, has been a revelation because at Manchester United, we never saw him at that position - we saw him as a deep-lying number six.

“And the reborn, the re-emergence of the form of Willian has been excellent. I thought he was brilliant on the weekend for Fulham.

“I think [Silva] has got that mix really well.

“They're not safe, obviously. They've got a long way to go, but I think they're well on their way to doing it.”

There have been reports of Chelsea targeting Bruno Guimaraes of Newcastle. Do you think it’s possible that a deal can be made there and how good a signing would it be for the Blues?

“I think he'd be a massive signing for anyone. He's a fantastic player. He’d be a huge loss for Newcastle if that were to happen.

“But you know what? Newcastle are in the box seat.

“Everyone knows where Newcastle are heading, what they're doing, and what they're trying to accomplish.

“I think a lot will depend on what happens this season at Newcastle. Where they go, what they accomplish, and then what happens in January and what happens come the end of the season for the likes of someone like Bruno Guimaraes, whether or not he would like to stay there.

“Newcastle is an enormous club. If they can get the off-field stuff right, which they seem to be doing, that then helps them get the on-field stuff right, which again they're heading completely in the right direction - I think ahead of schedule, ahead of everyone's expectations.

“They've been really shrewd in the transfer window. They haven't gone out and just thrown money around for the sake of throwing money around and they haven't just brought in big-name players for the sake of doing it, which is refreshing and great to see.

“I think this season is a big season for so many reasons, and one of the big reasons is to keep hold of players like Bruno Guimaraes, whether or not that head will be turned.

“If Barcelona, Real Madrid, Manchester City, even Chelsea come calling… Chelsea to a degree but the problem with Chelsea at the moment is that they seem to be still trying to find their way and that could take some time.

“For the rest, like Man City, Real Madrid - and less likely Barcelona at this moment in time - I think if one of those came in for him, it's a more difficult question to answer or a difficult choice to make for someone like Bruno Guimaraes.

“For Chelsea, he'd be a phenomenal signing but I just don't know whether or not he would want to go there at this moment in time.”

Leicester City had a nightmare start to the campaign but appear to be turning things around. Are you surprised that Brendan Rodgers is still in charge there and do you think he will stay there much longer?

“I am surprised.

“I'm surprised that the club has stuck with him to a degree, only because of the messaging that came out. Only because of the way he spoke to the media and the way he's so open about the lack of investment.

“Certainly at the back end of last season, I think he had a lot of issues within the group because when you come out as a manager and say that you need to have a massive shake-up, that the players need to change things around, that we need to get back to competing again - you're pretty much saying that a lot of the players that you have at the club are not the players that you want anymore and that need to be moved out.

“So, I think there was an issue with players and whether the players have the trust and the belief in him.

“And certainly that showed early on. The disruption of not being able to buy players or bring players in has been a huge problem for them.

“Losing an influential character in Kasper Schmeichel and not replacing him with a similar kind of goalkeeper in stature I think is an issue.

“I'm not blaming Danny Ward, by any means, for Leicester's current state of play, but he's a goalkeeper that's hardly played football, and to step up and replace someone of that level is very, very tough. When things are not going well off the pitch, it can be really difficult.

“I am surprised in so many ways. But we do know that Leicester’s ownership do tend to stick with managers longer than others, but it's more about the messaging that was coming out - that's why I'm surprised that he's still there.”