Kazan: The race is on to lead the line for the Socceroos in Australia's opening World Cup match with France.
In a mostly settled Australia side, there are four contenders to start up front on June 16 – Andrew Nabbout, Tomi Juric, Tim Cahill and Jamie Maclaren.
'We've definitely got a few attacking options and we're going to be out there to score goals': Andrew Nabbout.
Photo: AAP
Each has spent time on the park in two warm-up friendlies against the Czech Republic, which the Socceroos won 4-0, and Hungary, which they won 2-1.
And while it seemed unthinkable just six months ago, the unheralded Nabbout looks to be in the box seat.
The 25-year-old earned a lucrative move to Japan's J-League with sparkling form for the Newcastle Jets during the past two seasons.
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Nabbout has started all four friendlies under Socceroos coach Bert van Marwijk, albeit as a left winger against Colombia in March, for his only four international appearances.
Could his fifth be against Les Bleus on Saturday?
"It was a big confidence booster for me to get the nod against Hungary," Nabbout said.
"I knew I was only going to play 45 minutes, as we spoke about it previously.
"But it was very nice to lead the line again and to get a start again. In fact, in all my four games now I've started, which is massive for me going to the World Cup."
Up front, the disparity between experience is startling.
Cahill, Australia's all-time leading scorer, has played at three World Cups and should end his international career after this tournament.
He has 106 caps and 50 goals – Nabbout, Juric and Maclaren have 45 appearances and nine goals combined.
But without minutes at club level, it would represent a shock if the 38-year-old would start.
Juric is more likely to be thrown in if van Marwijk judges him to have fully recovered from a knee complaint that held him back in training.
Both Cahill and Juric were in no mood to talk after seeing limited minutes against Hungary, brushing journalists and making a beeline for the team bus.
The confident Nabbout said he'd be relentless if given the honour on June 16.
"I'm going to keep doing what I've been doing these past few weeks – put teams under pressure at the back and pounce on every little error," he said.
"I know France, given the talent and the names that they have, won't make too many errors but it's my job to try to force them and make the most of any that do happen.
"You get one chance at a World Cup when it comes around every four years.
"So we're going to give it everything. We'll go out with guns blazing in terms of the effort we put in."
Striker options for the Socceroos
Andrew Nabbout – Urawa Red Diamonds (Japan), 25
Caps: 4 Goals: 1
Front-runner: Andrew Nabbout.
Photo: FFA
Another start – his fourth straight under van Marwijk – against Hungary suggests it's Nabbout's place to lose, and what a story that would be. Unloved by the A-League, Nabbout resuscitated his career in the Malaysian second division before making a successful homecoming with the Newcastle Jets and then moving to Japan. Brings athleticism and intensity.
Tomi Juric – Luzern (Switzerland), 26
Caps: 35 Goals: 8
Full fitness: Tomi Juric has recovered from a knee injury.
Photo: AP
Undoubtedly first-choice under Ange Postecoglou, but has the World Cup come at the wrong time for Juric? A stuttering season at club level and a niggly knee injury seems to have shuffled the mobile big man backwards. Has big tournament experience after travelling to the Confederations Cup and helping win the Asian Cup.
Tim Cahill – Unattached, 38
Caps: 106 Goals: 50
Veteran: Tim Cahill has barely played in 2018.
Photo: AAP
Long-term Socceroos fans know you can never count Tim Cahill out, but has Bert van Marwijk? His past two Socceroos starts brought success in Australia's two qualifying playoffs. The problem is, they're also his last two starts, full stop. Cahill has just an hour of match minutes for club and country in 2018. Will that matter in a one-off tournament?
Jamie Maclaren – Hibernian (Scotland), 24
Caps: 6 Goals: 0
Sweating it out: Jamie Maclaren missed the cut originally, but was brought in as cover for Tomi Juric.
Photo: FFA
The long shot in this four-man race but Maclaren holds the best club form, and might suit the Dutchman's run-and-gun system best of all four. Maclaren is a natural poacher and with Australia's attacking play geared around balls from Aaron Mooy, Robbie Kruse and Mat Leckie, Maclaren might be best placed to latch on to their through-balls.
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