When Ange Postecoglou names his 30-man provisional squad for the World Cup next Wednesday, he will maintain the dreams of a select few and confirm the nightmares of many.



Whereas the bulk of previous Australian squads have been largely predictable for up to a year before the tournament itself, the opposite is true in 2014.



Compare this squad to the one that finalised qualifying for the event in June last year. Mark Schwarzer and Brett Holman have since announced their international retirements, while Lucas Neill, Archie Thompson and Sasa Ognenovski have effectively been made redundant by Postecoglou. Replacements are also required for the injured duo of Robbie Kruse and Rhys Williams.



Luke Wilkshire, Josh Kennedy and Mark Bresciano will have a nervous few weeks; they should make the extended squad but the final 23-man selection may be a close call.



Postecoglou’s radical overhaul of the squad will undoubtedly be further shaped by the week-long training camp in Gosford, beginning on May 16. After that, he will swing the axe on an unlucky group of seven players before boarding the plane for Rio.



Goalkeepers

Seeing the goalmouth sans Schwarzer will be hard to fathom for quadrennial followers of the national team, such a fixture did he become. Mat Ryan has grasped the nettle to become the heir apparent – his form with Club Bruges in Belgium so good that Real Madrid have apparently been monitoring his work between the posts. Mitch Langerak’s limited opportunities at Dortmund don’t seem to have hindered his popularity in the national set-up. Adelaide’s Eugene Galekovic has again played too well in the A-League to be ignored, making those three almost certain to go to Brazil. The final keeper of the 30-man squad, however, divides opinion. “I’d be choosing Ante Covic. He’s experienced, he’s had a great year and hardly put a foot wrong,” ex-Socceroos keeper Clint Bolton says. “But I think Ange prefers keepers who can play with their feet, and that might count against him. He will probably take Brad Jones.” However, former Brisbane and Gold Coast coach Miron Bleiberg reckons a phone call to Stamford Bridge is in order. “Sometimes you have to be humble as a coach and pick the right player, despite previous decisions,” he said. “That’s why Ange should call Mark Schwarzer and ask to him to change his mind. What we have seen from him is that he’s still Australia’s best goalkeeper. If we were playing in a quarter-final tomorrow, I know who I’d want in there.”



Prediction: Matt Ryan, Mitch Langerak, Eugene Galekovic, Brad Jones.



Defenders

After initial optimism about the youth coming through in defence, Australia risk going to Brazil with arguably the tournament’s most inexperienced back line. Despite his age, Wilkshire remains a good shot to make the 30-man squad and then get to Brazil should he train the house down in Gosford. “He’d be an excellent back-up on the bench and he’s versatile,” Bolton says. “He’s experienced, has been to two World Cups and is still playing at the top level.” Trent Sainsbury and the relatively untried Curtis Good are certainties but only if they can prove their fitness in coming weeks. “Curtis is the most naturally gifted defender to play in front of me,” Bolton says. “He’s really that good. His composure and reading of the play are outstanding. My only query is about what style of football he’s been exposed to in Scotland.” If there’s a bolter for the interim selection, it’s most likely to come at the back. Adelaide utility Osama Malik has a claim for being the most improved player in the A-League, and covers all the roles of the injured Williams. Alex Wilkinson seems to have found favour with Postecgolou but another Korean-based player clearly worth inspection is 196 centimetre defender Aleksandar Jovanovic, who is starring with the overachieving Jeju United. Could he, Bailey Wright or Tomislav Mrcela bolt in at long odds?



Prediction: Jason Davidson, Luke Wilkshire, Ivan Franjic, Ryan McGowan, Trent Sainsbury, Matthew Spiranovic, Osama Malik, Curtis Good, Alex Wilkinson, Michael Zullo.



Midfielders

The strongest section of the squad, the midfield is a relatively settled unit, albeit with question marks over two of the most critical players. Bresciano’s lack of game time after his suspension might concern Postecoglou but so finely tuned are his passing skills that it would a bigger gamble to leave him out, especially when a training camp will help him blow out any cobwebs. Tom Rogic’s mercurial ability means he will make the extended squad but his adductor concerns have football fans on edge across the nation. Postecoglou has repeatedly flagged his interest in Swindon’s Massimo Luongo but playing third-tier football could count again him. More likely options are Oliver Bozanic, Adam Sarota and Dario Vidosic, all playing regularly in European leagues. One player surging into contention is Brisbane Roar’s Luke Brattan, a player nominated by Newcastle’s Joel Griffiths as a genuine chance. “He’s been outstanding for the Roar this year. I’m so impressed by what he’s done. He could play that role with his eyes closed,” he says. “Given he’s holding down central midfield in the best team in the league, he’s got to be a real chance.” Bleiberg likes another local option, Aaron Mooy. “I know his second half of the year wasn’t great but I think that’s because he was distracted,” Bleiberg says. “But he’d be the first player I’d sign if I was coaching in the A-League. He can pass, he makes the play, he can even defend. I’d definitely take him to Brazil.”



Prediction: Mile Jedinak, Mark Bresciano, Tommy Oar, Mark Milligan, Matt McKay, James Holland, Tom Rogic, Dario Vidosic, Oliver Bozanic, Adam Sarota.



Forwards

The only member of the golden generation still firing on all cylinders, Tim Cahill has proved himself ageless by staying on top of his game well into his 30s, replacing athletic prowess with an enhanced reading of the play. Josh Kennedy might not be Postecoglou’s prototype player but his aerial threat is so effective that, should the Socceroos require a late goal, his threat is undeniable. Mathew Leckie’s pace and instincts appear to have won him a travelling ticket in a season when he has become an assists king at FSV Frankfurt, while Ben Halloran’s rise at Fortuna Dusseldorf makes him the ideal choice to replace Kruse as an attacking right midfielder. Then comes the most mouth-watering selection discussion. Adam Taggart and James Troisi should both make this extended squad based on their A-League exploits but there may only be room for one in the final 23-man selection. “I’ve never seen a player who is so single-minded minded about scoring like Taggart. His goal sense is incredible,” Griffiths says. “He’s still only 20 but he’s already top quality and 16 goals in a year shows he's good enough to win selection. Even if he misses out on this World Cup, he could very easily make the next one.” Western Sydney’s Tomi Juric offers razor-sharp finishing but fitness questions persist, which may count against him. “He’s the forward who I’m most excited about,” Bolton says. “He really could be anything.”



Prediction: Tim Cahill, Josh Kennedy, Mathew Leckie, Ben Halloran, Adam Taggart, James Troisi.