Meet Australia's all new Roos brothers
Posted Monday, January 17, 2011 by The Daily Telegraph
Mile Jedinak scores against Korea Republic at Doha's Al-Gharafa Stadium on the weekend.
THE future may have finally arrived for Australia at the Asian Cup in the form of central midfield pairing Mile Jedinak and Carl Valeri.
With Jason Culina at long odds to play in the Socceroos' crucial Group C clash against Bahrain tomorrow night because of a serious knee injury, Jedinak and Valeri are a strong chance to combine in Australia's engine room.
Valeri has struggled for regular first-team football with Italian second division club Sassuolo after starting in Australia's three matches at last year's World Cup.
But he replaced Culina at halftime in Australia's 1-1 draw against South Korea on Friday night and added plenty of punch and bite to a midfield that had been dominated by the Koreans in the first half.
Jedinak scored the vital equaliser in the 62nd minute to further cement his spot in the Socceroos' starting XI under coach Holger Osieck, who has preferred the Genclerbirligi midfielder to Valeri since succeeding predecessor Pim Verbeek in August last year.
Osieck has made no secret of his desire to win the Asian Cup by using the Socceroos' tried and tested stars -- several of whom are in their 30s and won't be part of Australia's 2014 World Cup qualifying campaign -- rather than use the tournament to blood new talent.
Jedinak and Valeri, both 26 and both born in August 1984, are in the "in-between" group but will be in the prime of their careers come the 2014 World Cup in Brazil.
"I have played alongside him many times ... I think it's a good partnership," Jedinak said of a combination with Valeri that was first forged at the under-20 World Cup eight years ago.
"Different managers have different views. Fortunately, it's my turn this time round to get the [starting] opportunity.
"Carl is a fantastic player and he showed that when he came in [against South Korea]. He gave us a real boost in the second half.
"We have a pretty good understanding. We always seem to know that if one goes, one sits."
Jedinak got forward enough against the Koreans to net his first Socceroos goal in his 20th national team appearance.
"It's something I won't forget. It made me happy and very proud," said Jedinak, who dedicated the goal to his wife of six months, Natalie.
"She's been supporting me all the time throughout my career and that one was for her."
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