Troisi calm ahead of cut-throat final

Melbourne Victory forward James Troisi is a picture of focus ahead of Friday’s Hyundai A-League elimination final against Sydney FC, reports www.goal.com.

With the World Cup on the horizon and his club future up in the air, James Troisi could be forgiven for occasionally letting his thoughts drift elsewhere, but the Melbourne Victory forward is a picture of focus ahead of Friday’s Hyundai A-League elimination final against Sydney FC, reports www.goal.com.

Troisi has been one of Victory’s best players this season, coming off the bench to help earn a 2-2 draw away to the Newcastle Jets in Round 26, before scoring – and starring – in the 4-1 thrashing of Wellington Phoenix last weekend.

On Tuesday he made one of his most important contributions yet, netting a vital second goal in injury time to seal a memorable 2-0 win over holders Guangzhou Evergrande in the AFC Champions League.

The 25-year-old is on loan from Serie A side Atalanta, who co-own his registration with Juventus. Having struggled badly for game-time and been excluded from first-team training at the Stadio Atleti Azzurri d’Italia, he is surely unlikely to want to return to Bergamo. But will he seek to make his move to the Big V a permanent one?

“At the end of the season I’ll have to sit down and have a chat with the club,” he said.

“At the moment I’m just focused on Friday, taking every game as it comes and trying to do the best I can to help the team.”

National team matters must also be a potential distraction. Robbie Kruse’s enforced absence from the Socceroos frame due to a serious knee injury has left a gaping void for a direct, versatile forward and in-form Troisi would appear to fit the bill perfectly ahead of the eagerly anticipated tournament in Brazil.

But it seems the policy of head coach Ange Postecoglou not to offer individual players personalised feedback on their place in the pecking orders – much publicised in the case of Lucas Neill – extends even to a player he brought to the A-League before vacating the Victory hot seat.

“No-one really speaks to Ange much,” Troisi said.

“Obviously we know he’s watching every game and keeping a close eye on us. The most important thing for me and the boys … is (to) just keep doing what we’re doing on the pitch and we’ll see what happens after that.”

That would appear to be a sound strategy indeed, and if those accomplished performances keep coming in the final weeks of the season, it would be a brave person who bets against Troisi pulling on the green and gold in South America.

Hyundai A-League 2014 Elimination Final
Melbourne Victory v Sydney FC
Friday 18 April, 2014
Etihad Stadium
Kick Off: 7.30pm
Gates Open: 6.00pm

Click here to purchase tickets.
Follow the match on Twitter using the hashtag #ALeagueFinals.