World Cup dreams, not vibes, coming into focus for Martin Boyle
With every day that passes, veteran Socceroo Martin Boyle gets closer to belatedly living his lifelong dream of playing at a World Cup. But he knows he's got plenty of work to do before then
MONTREAL, Canada – With every day that passes, veteran Socceroo Martin Boyle gets that much closer to belatedly living his lifelong dream of playing at a World Cup. But with nine months to go and a cadre of young prodigies breathing down his neck, the attacker isn’t taking anything for granted.
For the second-straight month, Boyle was one of the regular figures called into a squad that was largely defined by experimentation and due diligence in October, one of only two players in the squad, which features 14 players with ten or fewer caps, with double-digit international goals to his name – the other being Mitch Duke.
Though wrist surgery ruled him out of coach Tony Popovic’s first camp and a dip in form with club side Hibernian saw him serve as an unused substitute in his second, Boyle has forced his way into the coach’s rotation in the windows since: starting five straight games before being used as a late substitute in the second game of last month’s Soccer Ashes.
With just two windows to come before Popovic picks his squad for the tournament, it’s a run of form that is increasingly bringing the World Cup into focus for Boyle – three years on from when his dreams of taking the field in Qatar were dashed by a torn ACL and he enshrined himself in Aussie football folklore by pivoting to a role as the Socceroos ‘Chief Vibes Officer’.
With club side Hibernian in indifferent form, however, winning just one of their opening seven games of the new Scottish campaign against five draws, and with plenty of competition for spots in Green and Gold, the 32-year-old isn’t taking anything for granted.
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“I have to keep performing at club level -- scoring goals and assists is what I’m paid to do,” Boyle told JDL Media. “I have to do that, keep working hard and not get caught up in the moment. Someone can take your spot – you can do all that hard work, and someone else can come in and take your spot.
“So I need to just, first and foremost, keep being me, keep working hard and doing what I’ve done all through my career and enjoy it.
“Obviously, I’d like to score more goals and contribute towards the nation. I’ve obviously missed a few chances [in recent games] and they do eat away at you. So maybe if I just be a little bit more composed, I know goals and chances will come.”
Of course, helping to add to Australia’s excitement surrounding the World Cup, youngsters such as Nestory Irankunda, Adrian Segečić, and Nicholas Milanović have all emerged as potential attacking options on the flanks in recent months – dominating the discourse as a result.
But while these players are ostensibly coming for his job, part of that competition he references and welcomes, the 32-year-old is also as excited as anyone to see them emerge, having got a firsthand look in camp about what they can bring to the squad in the years to come.
“I am a young kid at heart – don’t get me wrong,” Boyle laughed. “But it’s exciting. Whether I’m selected or not selected, I’ll give my 100%. I’ll try to do as much as I can, and always try to get better, even if I’m sitting on the sofa watching the lads.
“I just wish I had that ability at that age when I was coming through, because some of them are exceptional. Segečić and Irankunda, they’re fantastic prospects – really exciting for Australian football.
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“But it does take time to transition. If we’re patient with them, we will get the best out of them, which I believe is what the boss is doing.”
An extension in his Hibs contract triggered during the offseason, Boyle is once again a regular at Easter Road, starting all bar one game across League, Cup, and European football. Though unable to convert a golden chance in last weekend’s Edinburgh Derby loss to Hearts, he’s contributed four goals and an assist in all competitions.
The triggered extension, however, was only for a single season, meaning that Boyle will be a free agent come the end of the campaign.
But while it felt like much of West Australia spent several months trying to manifest his signing with Perth Glory before the activation of that clause last season, Boyle says he’s giving much serious thought beyond the current campaign – with the World Cup and further success with Hibs atop his goals.
“No, it’s still early on in the season,” he said. “Obviously, the older I get, the more you do start to think about it.
“But I try to let my football do the talking. If I’m playing well, then there could be suitors. If not, then football... It’s rough. It can be cutthroat come the end of the season.
“Never really been in that position where I’ve been a free agent. But it’s a long way away. I’ve ambitions, I know I’ll be 33 when the World Cup comes around, but I still have dreams to come true and ambitions to achieve, and that’s going to the World Cup, and, obviously, ultimately doing really well for Hibernian.
“I’ve got to the 100 [goals] club for Hibs. I’d like to get to 400 appearances. It would be a good milestone, and I feel like I’ve been consistent. My injuries, I missed a lot [of football], but I’m thankful I’ve come back strong as ever.
“But, yeah, going to the World Cup and representing Hibernian would be a really nice feeling.”
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