Bright Future For Australian Soccer – Shaun Murphy

Shaun Murphy, Socceroo and Sheffield United defender, today told Soccer Australia that despite recent press articles focusing on Australian players being tempted away from the Australian league by European clubs offering large pay packets, there is a growing base of players wanting to stay and put something back into the national game.

Shaun Murphy, Socceroo and Sheffield United defender, today told Soccer Australia that despite recent press articles focusing on Australian players being tempted away from the Australian league by European clubs offering large pay packets, there is a growing base of players wanting to stay and put something back into the national game.

“There-s such a huge base of youngsters out there who play the game, it-s simply a matter of keeping them, and I believe that-s starting to happen for the first time. Brett (Emerton) had offers for two or three years to go abroad and he wanted to stay. I think the young lads are now thinking about staying and getting a little more experienced before they go, and I think that-s a great idea. If we can keep the best athletes in the game we-ll be able to produce even more superstars such as Kewell and Bosnich. Obviously the European Clubs will always keep an eye open for Australian players, but it-s up to the local game to keep them.”

Of the starting line-up expected for tomorrow night-s international against Paraguay, Socceroo coach Frank Farina said he expects to field only two or three ‘local- players. However Murphy says that Australian fans should not think that the high profile players they only ever seem to read about have forgotten their roots.

“We-re not deserting the country at all,” he said.

“We-ve all gained our experience by coming through the under-17s, under-19s, under-23s. That-s how we got the break for someone to pick us up and take us overseas, and none of us will forget that. This Paraguay series is as much about giving something back to Australian soccer and fans as it is about us. We-d love to see the game go forward here, all of us. We talk about it all the time.”

For 29-year-old Murphy, tomorrow night will count among one of his first caps for the Socceroos.

“Although my debut for the Socceroos was only this March in Chile, I-ve played through all the youth teams and in the Olympic -92 team, so I don-t really feel the nerves some people expect I might. There-s still a buzz about it, and it-s great to play, and it-s obviously great to simply get chosen. I was pleased with the way I played in Chile, as was Frank by the fact that I-m here today.”

On the eve of the first of the three-match series, he admits that Paraguay might well have a fitness advantage over the Socceroos, but what the Australian team might lack in fitness they more than make up for in experience.

“We-re going to have the clear advantage of being a more physical team as well as the determination that comes from playing in front of a home crowd. They might have a slight edge in fitness stakes, but I think we-ll probably have an edge on skill and also with experience - I think Paraguay are planning on fielding a number of younger players, although nothing can ever be taken for granted.”

“We all know it-s here, in this stadium tomorrow night, that we-re going to have to get our foot in the door to secure a place in the World Cup team. Paraguay is exactly the sort of teams we-ll be playing if we do go through the qualifiers. Obviously Chile was a good guage as well. They all add up. And I reckon we-ll be there right up to the end as well.”

For Murphy, who has spent the last eight years playing soccer in England, coming back home is always a time to catch up with old friends.

“I-m still a huge National League fan. I was at the [Perth] Glory game at the weekend. I know some of the players and even played with a few when I was back in Perth, players I grew up playing alongside in the Juniors. It-s nice to see football here going in the right direction, especially in Perth.”

Sheffield United have had a mixed season, starting off with a string of defeats, picking up their game towards Christmas.

“We really picked up towards the middle of the season but dropped off again towards the end when we realised we couldn-t get into the play-offs - it was one just one of those things. But I-m very happy there, we have a really young squad, and you always feel like you-re making a difference. There are no egos to fight with and a great team spirit. I-ve been in the UK for 8 years now, so I-ve fully adapted to the English way of life. Saying that, I was in Perth for the last two weeks and the weather was great. I don-t know if you ever get used to the weather in England! Better to be on a beach than in a flood, that-s what I say.

And on the Euro 2000 Championships, he simply said: “I have no choice but to gun for England. They-re copped a lot of stick over the past few years for not performing in the big games, and I think if they won it, it would do wonders for the game internationally.”