Soccer: Barbarouses eyes long career

Kosta Barbarouses. Photo / Getty Images

Kosta Barbarouses hopes his recall to the All Whites will be the stepping stone to a lengthy stay on the international soccer stage.

A standout first season with newly-crowned A-League champions Brisbane has seen the 21-year-old striker included in the New Zealand squad for a friendly against China in Wuhan on Saturday morning (NZ time).

With coach Ricki Herbert indicating that all 17 players are likely to get a run, Barbarouses is in line to add to his solitary cap, gained in November 2008, when an under-strength New Zealand side suffered a 2-0 defeat away to Fiji.

Barbarouses views the fixture against China as a chance to cement a place in the squad ahead of the qualifiers of the 2014 World Cup in Brazil.

"Hopefully, when I do get the chance to get on the field, I'll make the most of it," he said.

"I'd like to stay involved with the national team now for the rest of my career. Hopefully this is the stepping stone for that."

The attacking third of the field has become highly competitive in the battle for All White spots.

The line-up against China also contains Shane Smeltz, Chris Killen and Chris Wood, while Rory Fallon, an original selection, has withdrawn because of a groin injury.

"There's some really good players in the striking department, but I think I offer something a little bit different from a few of the taller players," Barbarouses said.

"Hopefully there's a few combinations we can try and I think some of them will work pretty well."

Born in Wellington, Barbarouses made 21 appearances, and scored two goals, in three seasons for his hometown club, the Phoenix, before moving across the Tasman last year.

The switch to Brisbane has produced immediate success, his speed and mobility helping to net him 12 goals, making him Brisbane's top scorer for the 2010-11 season.

He was also just one of four Roar players to play in all 33 matches of a campaign that ended in a stunning grand final victory over the Central Coast Mariners this month.

Barbarouses started in the title decider in front of 50,000 fans at Suncorp Stadium, before being subbed in the 71st minute with the score still at 0-0.

In a match described as one of the best seen in Australasia, the Mariners, with All White midfielder Michael McGlinchey among their number, broke the deadlock with two goals in the first half of extra time to take what seemed an unassailable lead.

The Roar were still two goals down with just four minutes to play before they turned the contest on its head with two dramatic strikes, and then went on to win the penalty shootout.

It was, Barbarouses said, the greatest match he had played in.

He admitted he would be lying if he said he was confident of a Brisbane comeback as the clock wound down.

"But once we scored the first goal and had the momentum, I knew we could push on," he said.

"Once the second goal went in, everyone was pretty confident going into penalties.

"It was an amazing night, an amazing feeling and it will stay with us for the rest of our lives."

- NZPA