Australia's Garang Kuol faces a wait and see if he will be on the plane for the next FIFA World Cup.
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(AP Photo/Jorge Saenz)
Sparta Prague manager Brian Priske has issued some public tough love in the direction of Socceroos star Garang Kuol – as the FIFA Men’s World Cup fast approaches.
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The forward, who grew up in Shepparton, was one of the standout stars of the Qatar finals, having burst onto the scene for Australia on the biggest stage after making the squad for the tournament as a teenager.
The star lit up the competition by becoming the youngest player to feature in a knockout stage clash since the legendary Pele in 1958 at the tender age of 18 years and 79 days old.
The Goulburn Valley sensation became a household name overnight and very nearly achieved sporting immortality in the dying embers of Australia’s clash with eventual tournament victor Argentina.
With just the opposition goalkeeper to beat, Emi Martinez denied Kuol from close-range in the 97th minute of the last 16 tie to deny the side from Down Under what would have been a timely equaliser.
His record as the youngest player to represent the Socceroos at senior level at a World Cup earned him a place in the history books and a switch to the Premier League soon beckoned with Newcastle United.
Since those heady days, the now 21-year-old plies his trade in the Czech Republic with giant Sparta Prague, having arrived there via loan moves to clubs in Scotland and the Netherlands.
This season, Kuol has played 15 times in the Czech top flight, while grabbing his only goal of the campaign in a UEFA Conference League clash away against Scottish outfit Aberdeen.
Reflecting on the five-time international’s performance across the term, Sparta boss Priske provided a mixed prognosis.
Australia's Garang Kuol, left, and Argentina's Lionel Messi battle for the ball during the World Cup in 2022.
“He had good and weak moments in the match,” he said in a balanced assessment of the forward’s showing in a 0-0 draw with Viktoria Plzen.
The 38-time domestic title holders booked their place in next year’s UEFA Champions League following the stalemate, with this coming after the derby with Slavia Prague was abandoned in their favour in the previous game.
“He has huge potential and talent, which we often talk about with him, but the time is slowly coming to an end when it is enough to just be a talent,” Priske said.
“He has to start transforming it into stable performances, goals and assists.
“Today I hoped that he could decide the match with a goal or a big assist, but in some passages I would like to see him more involved. It is mainly up to him now.”
It remains to be seen whether Kuol will be in the thoughts of Tony Popovic when the Socceroos head coach comes to picking his 26-man squad for the 2026 FIFA Men’s World Cup finals.
With the roster for the tournament in the United States, Canada and Mexico to be announced on June 1, the striker was included in a “second intake” of players attending the pre-tournament camp in Florida.
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