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Getting their own back

Marc Fox

After countless examples of losing players to foreign poachers, Australia are this week toasting their second successful attempt at encouraging a home grown player to commit his international future to the land of his birth.

Aston Villa's Shane Lowry has followed Middlesbrough's Rhys Williams in renouncing his adopted country in favour of pursuing a possible World Cup 2010 place with Pim Verbeek's South Africa-bound Socceroos.

In May, Williams turned his back on Wales despite 10 under-21 appearances and has since played twice for the Socceroos in senior internationals.

Now Lowry, the Perth-born defender, has followed suit. His played just once at under-21 level for the Republic of Ireland - the homeland of both his parents - but frequently represented the under-19s and even played against Australia for the under-23s last summer.

The 20-year-old was in line to face Estonia on Wednesday before withdrawing on the eve of the game and informing the Football Association of Ireland of his intention to apply to Fifa to switch his official nationality.

The game's governing body must sanction all such moves, but with Lowry under 21 and without a senior cap the process should be straightforward.

The most famous examples of Australians snubbing the green and gold were Croatia trio Josip Simunic, Joe Didulica and Anthony Seric.

All three were born and raised in Australia, and attended the Australian Institute of Sport during their formative years, but chose to play for the land where their parents were born.

More recently, Melbourne-born central defender Sasa Ognenovski, who plays for Seongnam Ilhwa, accepted a call-up to play for Macedonia after bizarrely being voted one of their country's best football talents despite having no contract with the local football association.

Seventeen-year-old Adelaide midfielder Brad Inman, who plays at Newcastle United, is currently representing Scotland at under-19 level thanks to the parentage rule, and Paul Giannou, who was born in Greece, raised in Melbourne and has played for both the Australian under-17s and the Greek under-19s, remains committed to the 2004 European champions at this stage.

However, Australia have scored another goal by winning the tug-of-war over Liverpool's reserve goalkeeper Dean Bouzanis. The talented 18-year-old has been called into Australia's squad for this month's under-20s World Cup in Egypt despite having played a handful of games for the Greek under-19s.

Verbeek will be delighted to have Lowry and Williams in his plans for next year's World Cup.

The Dutchman's defensive stocks are limited, and the national team's frailties without first choices Lucas Neill and Craig Moore in the middle were exposed in Wednesday's 3-1 loss to South Korea.

Both newcomers to the international fold can operate in central defence (although Williams has won his two Socceroos caps at right-back and has principally played in midfield for Middlesbrough this season), which delivers additional depth looking ahead to South Africa.

Moore will be 34 by the time the showpiece tournament starts next June, while there are also questions about where he'll play to prepare after the A-League season finishes in March.

Meanwhile, Neill remains clubless after rejecting West Ham's offer to stay at Upton Park and also missed the South Korea defeat.

In their places Patrick Kisnorbo and Mark Milligan formed a new partnership, but neither shone and there is precious little in reserve for Verbeek.

Marc Fox

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