Ambitious Aussie Curtis Good says he has not given up hope of making the Socceroos’ World Cup squad as he prepares to do battle with a lifelong friend.
Centre-back Good is determined to seize his chance to shine during his spell in Scotland and the 20-year-old believes he is capable of staking a claim for Brazil 2014 in the coming months.
Good will come up against Kilmarnock’s own Aussie star Jackson Irvine at Tannadice today and the defender admits it will be a strange experience lining up so far from home against someone he has known since childhood.
“I’ve had a couple of texts from Jackson and it will be interesting because we grew up in the same neighbourhood, Knox in Melbourne, and played in the same team Knox City for five years,” he said.
“We lived about two minutes away from each other but didn’t go to the same school, although we’ve always been in the same team so it will be strange on Saturday.
“We both played in midfield back then. We had a good partnership in the middle of the park and dominated the leagues.
“After Knox I went to Canberra and he moved to Scotland. There’s a rule in Australia that you can’t move abroad unless you’re over 18 or have heritage in that country and Jackson’s Scottish background made it possible to leave when he was 16.
“I stayed in Australia and played A-League and then I came over and our paths crossed again.
“The national team coaches have been keep in touch with us as much as possible and I know it was the case with Jackson because there was a time he was playing for Scotland and he was sort of off the radar.
“In recent years Australia have really tightened up in that department because they can’t afford to lose out on young talent playing overseas in the bigger leagues.
“But you’re always hopeful for an outside chance of making this World Cup squad. There’s been a few injuries in my position so all you can do is keep playing for your club and hope for the opportunity.
“Lucas Neill has always been the rock in defence and then Rhys Williams picked up an injury so he’s 50-50 for the World Cup.
“Behind them you have Sasa Ognenovski playing for Sydney FC and a couple of other young boys so it’s just a case of crossing your fingers. It’s a big few months for me but I want to give myself a chance by playing well.”
Good and Irvine are captain and vice-captain respectively of Australia’s Under-23 team, nicknamed the Olyroos as they compete in the Olympics, and the pair are driven to make the step up to full international football.
There was disappointment for the duo in the recent Under-20s World Cup in Turkey when Australia failed to qualify from a group that contained Colombia, Turkey and El Salvador, but Good believes playing against opposition of a high standard served him well.
Colombia boasted highly-rated youngster Juan Quintero, who has been compared to Lionel Messi and attracted attention of several high-profile clubs before signing for Porto in the summer.
“It was still an unbelievable experience, the whole build-up to it was great and good exposure for us,” he added.
“It gave us a real incentive to step up and play for the full team at the World Cup proper which is the ultimate ambition I guess.
“All you can do is play your best and hopefully get on the radar.”
Good has kept in close contact with his Melbourne mate and reckons the move to Dundee United has been the right one.
“I spoke to Jackson before I came to Scotland and he spoke very highly of it,” he added.
“He’s been at the wind-up with the texts this week, he’s pretty confident he’s going to win but I tend to disagree!
“Our friends and family have been streaming the games to keep up to date with how we’re doing.
“I would have said they’d meet up and watch it but my old man was saying it’s a 2am kick off back home so it would be a bit of a nightmare waking up at that time in the morning.
“We don’t have a bet on yet but I’d end up buying dinner win or lose – he never puts his hand in his pocket!”