Oceania

Oceania consists of 15 nations but the entire squad are predominantly qualified by Australians and a New Zealand player. This squad is almost All-Time Australia XI as it has got the only New Zealand player, Wynton Rufer was the famous player of in the 1982 FIFA World Cup. Most of Australian top legends were created in the 1990s to 2000s when Australian players started to play professional football in Europe successfully. Cristian Karembeu was born in New Caledonia, one of the Oceanian countries but settle down in France since a teenage and only played for France, is not included in this squad.


 Oceania



Location     :  Oceania
World Cup Participation :  4 Times (1974, 1982, 2006, 2010)
Achievement  :  None
Most Caps  : Alex Tobin (87 Games)
Top Scorer : Damian Mori (29 Goals)
The Greatest Player Ever :  Harry Kewell





All-Time Oceanian XI


1. Mark Schwarzer

Date Of Birth : 6 October 1972
Height  : 196 cm, Position : Goalkeeper
Caps :  109 Games
Major Club : Middlesbrough, Fulham     
World Cup Participation  : 2006
Club Honours : 1 Time English League Cup
2 Times UEFA Europa League Runner-Up
International Honours : 1997 FIFA Confederation Cup Runner-Up
Individual Achievement : Order of Australia Medal
2 Times FFA Australian Player of The Year
Class :  Prince Bronze


2. Joe Marston

Date Of Birth  : 7 January 1926
Position : Center-Back/Left and Right-Back
Height : Unknown, Caps  : 37 Games
Major Club : Preston Northend   
World Cup Participation : None
Club Honours  : None
International Honours : None
Individual Achievement : FFA Hall of Champions
Honourable Named As “Joe Marston Medal”
Class :  Prince Silver



3. Lucas Niell

Date Of Birth  :  9 March 1978
Position  :  Right-Back
Height  : 185 cm
Major Club  :  Blackburn Rovers
Caps  :  92 Games     
World Cup Participation : 2006, 2010 (8 Games)
Club Honours : None
International Honours  : 2011 AFC Aisan Cup Runner-Up
Individual Achievement : None
Class :  Prince Bronze




4. Paul Okon

Date Of Birth : 5 April 1972
Position : Sweeper/Defensive Holding Midfielder
Height  : 191 cm, Caps : 29 Games  
Major Club  : Club Brugge    
World Cup Participation :  None
Club Honours   :  1 Time Belgian League
2 Times Belgian Cup
International Honours : 2000 OFC Oceania Nations Cup
Individual Achievement : 1995 Belgian Golden Shoe
1996 Oceania Footballer of The Year
Class :  Prince Bronze



5. Milan Ivanovic

Date Of Birth  : 21 December 1960
Position : Center-Back
Height : 188 cm
Major Club :  Redstar Belgrade
Caps : 59 Games      
World Cup Participation  : None
Club Honours  : 4 Time Yugoslav League
1 Time Yugoslav Cup
International Honours  :  2000 OFC Oceania Nations Cup
Individual Achievement :  FFA Hall of Champions
Class :  Prince Bronze



6. Johnny Warren

Date Of Birth : 17 May 1943
Position : Destroyer
Height  :  Unknown
Major Club  :  St. George Budapest
Caps  :  42 Games  
World Cup Participation  : 1974
Club Honours  : None
International Honours  :  None
Individual Achievement : 1974 The Order of British Empire
FFA Hall of Champion
Honourable Named As “Johnny Warren Medal”
Class :  Prince Bronze


7. Tim Cahill

Date Of Birth  :  6 December 1979
Position  : Box-To-Box Midfielder
Height : 178 cm
Caps  : 63 Games (28 Goals)
Major Club : Everton
World Cup Participation : 2006 (4 Games/2 Goals)
Club Honours  :  None
International Honours  : None
Individual Achievement :  2004 Oceania Footballer of The Year
2009 Australian Footballer of The Year
Class :  Prince Bronze


8. Attila Abonyi

Date Of Birth : 16 Auhust 1946
Position :  Right-Winger/ Attacking Midfielder
Height  : 174 cm
Major Club    : Melbourne Hungaria, ST George, Sydney Croatia
Caps    :  61 Games (25 Goals)
World Cup Participation  :   1974 (2 Games)
1 Time Australian Cup
International Honours    :   None
Individual Achievement  : FFA Hall of Champions
Class :  Prince Bronze




9. Reg Date

Date Of Birth  :  26 July 1921
Position  :  Target Striker
Height  :  Unknown
Major Club  :  Wallsend
Caps  : 5 Games (8 Goals)        
World Cup Participation  :  None
Club Honours  : None
International Honours  : None
Individual Achievement :  FFA Hall of Champions
Class :  Prince Bronze   



10. Harry Kewell

Date Of Birth  :  22 September 1978
Position  :  Left-Winger/Attacking Midfielder
Height  : 180 cm, Caps  : 58 Games (17 Goals)
Major Club  :  Leeds United, Liverpool
World Cup Participation  : 2006 (3 Games)
Club Honours  : 1 Time FA Cup
2005 UEFA Champion League
International Honours  : 1997 FIFA Confederation Cup Runner-Up
2004 OFC Oceania Nations Cup Winner
Individual Achievement :
3 Times Oceania Footballer of The Year (1999, 2001, 2003)
Class :  Prince Silver


11. Wynton Rufer

Date Of Birth  :  29 December 1962
Nation : New Zealand, Caps : 38 Games (17 Goals)
Height : 178 cm, Position :  Fast Striker
Major Club  :  Werder Bremen
World Cup Participation : 1982 (3 Games/No Goal )
Professional Scores Record : 189 Goals/ 419 Games
Club Honours : 1 Time Bundesliga Champion
2 Times DFB-Pokal, 1 Time Swiss Cup
International Honours :  None
Individual Achievement : 1994 European Cup Top Scorer
3 Times Oceania Footballer of The Year (1989, 1990, 1992)
IFFHS Oceania Greatest Player of The Century
Class :  Prince Bronze
___________________________________________________

Substitution


Mark Bresciano

Date Of Birth : 11 February 1980
Position : Left and Right-Side Midfielder/Box-To-Box Midfielder
Height  : 182 cm
Major Club  :  Parma, Palermo
Caps  : 69 Games (13 Goals)
World Cup Participation  :   2006 (4 Games )
Club Honours :  None
International Honours : None
Individual Achievement :
3 Times Oceania Footballer of The Year (1989, 1990, 1992)
Class :  Prince Bronze



Mark Viduka

Date Of Birth  : 9 October 1975, Height  : 188 cm
Position : Target Striker, Caps : 43 Games (11 Goals)
Major Club : Dinamo Zagreb, Leeds United
World Cup Participation :  2006 (4 Games and No Goal )
Professional Scores Record : 252 Goals/ 512 Games
Club Honours : 3 Times Croatian League
3 Times Croatian Cup, 1 Time Scottish League Cup
International Honours : None
Individual Achievement : 2 Times A-League Most Valuable Player
2 Times Australian League Top Scorer
1 Time Scottish League Top Scorer
2000 SPFA Players’ Player of The Year
2000 Oceania Footballer of The Year
                                                    Class :  Prince Bronze


Manager

Ange Postecoglou
Year Of Birth :  27 August 1965
Nation : Australia
Major Team :  Australia
Major Achievement :  2015 AFC Asian Cup
2018 FIFA World Cup Qualify
1 Time Scottish Premier League
Individual Achievement : 2011 PFA Manager of the Year
2015 PFA Manager of the Decade
2015 AFC Coach of the Year
2022 PFA Scotland Manager of the Year
2022 SFWA Football Manager of the Year
Football Australia Hall of Fame
Class  :  Prince Silver





Formation XI (4-4-2)




Explanation of Formation
The team strategy is direct ball with physical combat. Mark Schwarzer is deserved to beat Bosnich as a starter for his better consistency in both club and NT level. Joe Marston is a top legendary Australian defender, plays as left-full-back. Lucas Neil is a starter as a right-full-Back. Okon stands as a sweeper behind Milan Ivanovic, a stopper. Johnny Warren is assigned as a high-work-rated defensive midfielder. Tim Cahill is an attacking midfielder, would often find opportunity to go support scoring. Kewell and Abonyi would be divisible on both wings. Reg Date was one of the most prolific scores in the World at his time stand alongside Wynton Rufer who beats Viduka for his better profile in NT career as a first choice target striker.



ANZ Stadium




Opened : 1999
City :  Sydney
Capacity : 115,000 Seats






The Greatest Oceanian Footballers of All-Time

1. Joe Marston
2. Tim Cahill
3. Harry Kewell
4. Mark Bresciano
5. Mark Viduka

29 comments:

  1. Friend dearman think cool their dream teams, but then you have committed injustice not to include Frank Farina

    ReplyDelete
  2. I admit I don't know Farina well. He is named as the second greatest Oceanian player of the century by IFFHS but he scored only 14 goals in 67 NT games although Australia played against lower level standard opponents than the European teams or he played in deeper/wider role for his nation ?

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  3. well I know of Farina is that it is one of the best players in the history of Club Brugge and Oceania it is considered the second best player, only losing to Rufer

    ReplyDelete
  4. Attila Abonyi birth in 1946.

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  5. MARK BRESCIANO BEING THE LARGEST ROOM OF OCEANIA footballer, UP Attila Abonyi And WYSTON Ruffer And WHY NOT ENTERED IN TIME HOLDER?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Why do you think so ? I have no information enough to judge who is better between Abonyi and Bresciano. I select Bresciano based on tactical preference.

      Delete
  6. It's right up when you made the ranking:
    The Greatest Oceanian Footballers of All-Time

    1. Joe Marston
    2. Tim Cahill
    3. Harry Kewell
    4. Mark Bresciano
    5. Mark Viduka

    or is not in order?

    ReplyDelete

  7. In his other blog (World Football Historic Center) you list the best players in Asia and Oceania and puts the Mark Bresciano 12.

    The Greatest Asia & Oceania Footballers of All-Time


    1. Cha Bum Kun (Korea Republic)
    2. Joe Marston (Australia)
    3. Lee Wei Tong (China)
    4. Abdullah Mejed (Saudi Arabia)
    5. Mordechai Spiegler (Israel)
    6. Eli Ohana (Israel)
    7. Hong Myung Bo (Korea Republic)
    8. Harry Kewell (Australia)
    9. Tim Cahill (Australia)
    10. Eyal Berkovic (Israel)
    11. Shunsuke Nakamura (Japan)
    12. Mark Bresciano (Australia)

    ReplyDelete
  8. It is ranked in order but I'm even not sure Bresciano is clearly better. When they're in similar level, I choose Abonyi based on tactical reason.

    ReplyDelete
  9. Anonymous7/1/16

    Naratorn, How about Alan Davidson? He was voted "Greatest ever Socceroos XI Team" in 2012. Also he was inducted into FFA Hall of Fame.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. The FFA Hall of Fame in many cases was inducted based on performance in Australian football competition. Alan Davidson had a potential to prove himself in Europe with Nottingham Forest at his 24 years old but he was injury and even he returned, he still not go on his career in higher standard of competition. Also, Australia in his time never participated in big tournaments. So, his status is very limited.

      Delete
  10. Anonymous11/2/16

    Len Quested, he didn't represent australia NT but was one of the best australian-born footballers ever, maybe could be in the team.

    Also Ken Armstrong, maybe have place for the first team.

    Varihua, Karembeu and Zimako played for france but are rated, as tahitien and caledonian players, some of the best Oceanian players of the century.

    You could add some of those players in substitution group.

    ReplyDelete
  11. Anonymous20/7/16

    Ken Armstrong
    - Played for chelsea F.C over 300 games
    - 1 time English top division, 1 time FA Charity Shield
    - New Zealand Soccer Media Association Hall of Fame (1991)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. As I check, he is not qualified for an Oceania player. He was born in England and immigrated to New Zealand at his 23 years old.

      Delete
  12. Anonymous9/10/16

    Mark Bosnich before fattening

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    Replies
    1. Go checking seasonal rating between them. Bosnich is more reputable with a higher peak but he failed to sustain his standard too early.

      Delete
  13. Anonymous2/7/17

    Naratorn, what about Peter Wilson? The great leader of Australian team in 1970s.

    ReplyDelete
  14. Well, he could not make himself as a first team player of Middlesbrough although the club was spending time in the second and third division. Honesty, he is just an average player.

    ReplyDelete
  15. Anonymous19/8/17

    Brett Emerton, Alex Tobin? And Frank Farina, Greatest Australian Footballer in 20th Century.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I think they're overrated. Brett Emerton style of play is limited to 3-5-2 wing-back only. Tobin never proved in high standard league. Farina has only one great season in Belgian League.

      Delete
    2. Anonymous19/8/17

      Then how about Robbie Slater? also Jason Culina and Ryan Nelsen

      Delete
  16. Anonymous31/8/17

    Ryan Nelsen from New Zealand?

    Also Australian Great legend, Robbie Slater

    - 1 time English Premier League
    - 1 time Australian National Soccer League
    - 1 time Australian National Soccer League Cup
    - 1997 FIFA Conferations Cup Runner-up

    - 2 times Oceanian footballer of the year (1991, 1993)
    - FFA Hall of Champions (2005)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I checked Robbie Slator in several days ago, I'm sure he is disqualified. He failed in Belgium and he was not even a regular starter in Premier league. Ryan Nelsen played more than 30 games per league season for Blackburn only twice. That means he is not even qualified for the basic requirement of participation.

      Delete
  17. Anonymous21/11/17

    Hi Dearman, firstly, your work is amazing. I have used it so many times (mainly from xtratime) over the past few years to make a great all-time classic CM0102 database, and 20 squads of classic players on PES 2015 on PS3 (happy to share either with you if interested...

    Ok, now to the point at hand - I'm Australian, and have some information you may want to consider for the all-time team:


    Brett Emerton - 95 caps, 247 matches Blackburn, 92 matches Feyenoord. Was quite a good right defender (no surprise that Italy's goal in WC2006 came from the right - Emerton was suspended for that match). Much better RB than Lucas Neill - who should move into the middle to replace Ivanovic.

    Craig Johnston - 190 matches Liverpool, 5 titles. Midfielder, although I understand that while he was able to represent Australia he never did.

    Craig Moore - 175 matches for Rangers (90s, early 2000s).

    Ned Zelic - 180 matches Bundesliga (mainly 1990s), 1995 Bundesliga title (Dortmund)

    Either of the above are possibilities to replace Paul Okon, who was really more a midfielder than a defender in my view...

    Mark Bosnich - 179 matches for Aston Villa (in 90s when they were good), and bought as Man Utd replacement for Schmeichel. Definitely in the mix for the GK spot, maybe our number 2 after Schwarzer though.

    LB reserve positions:
    Stan Lazaridis - 270 matches for West Ham & Birmingham City.
    Scott Chipperfield - 270 matches for FC Basel

    RB reserve pos:
    Luke Wilkshire - 143 matches for Dynamo Moscow, 112 for Bristol City

    CF reserve:
    Ray Baartz - Late 60s/early 70s - 236 matches for Sydney Hakoah for 211 goals!! Amazing player, was injured in pre 1974 World Cup friendlies vs Uruguay - he scored an amazing goal then was punched in the throat and had a mini-stroke - never played again.

    Mark Viduka - should be ahead of Reg Date as starting striker. Viduka played at the top level for a decade in Europe, scored goals everywhere, and I think for Middlesbrough in UEFA cup final


    Coach - change to Ange Postecoglou who qualified us twice for World Cup, and won the Asian Cup as manager.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous4/12/17

      Dearman?

      Delete
    2. Sorry for late reply and it is very good top have your suggestion.
      All of those names you suggested were considered but not good enough.
      Bosnich's career is below standard when he played more than 30 league games just 3 seasons.
      Brett Emerton is rated in low average seasonal point by media rating.
      Ned Zelic never achieved international-class in Bundesliga.
      For Viduka versus Reg Date, I tend to agree. Reg Date played in very low standard of competition and never prove himself in international football.
      Craig Johnstone was born in South Africa and never spent time in Australia during his football career.
      Other names are not in the range of consideration.

      Delete
  18. rale rasic as coach ,what a joke,never got australia to world cup.wynton rufer was a sheep herder.jonny warren to far overated,

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Honesty, I have never been sure if Johnny Warren is one of the best Australian players ever but his honor "Johnny Warren Award" is really convince his legend status is highly praised.

      Delete
  19. Would Abonyi and Date really deserve to be in the main XI ahead of the likes of Bresciano and Viduka. You do have the two of them in your top 5 Greatest Oceania footballers.

    ReplyDelete