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It’s been two years since Adam Taggart last played for the Socceroos and it’s two years until the next World Cup, so the recalled striker has a narrow focus on simply performing against Lebanon in Sydney on Thursday, freed up by the comforts of home.
Taggart earned a call-up from national coach Graham Arnold on the back of 15 goals in 19 appearances for Perth Glory in the A-League this season, including his team’s only two goals against Newcastle with the Socceroos’ boss watching that cemented his place.
The 30-year-old again found the net in a 2-1 loss to the Wanderers last weekend, and having returned from four seasons playing in Korea and then Japan, Taggart felt like he was perfectly placed mentally to make the most of his opportunity.
“It’s always been something at the back of my mind,” he said of a return to the international set-up, having last played for the Socceroos in September 2022.
“Coming back to Australia was just one of those things to get back to enjoying football and scoring goals.
“I knew that if I could get back into a rhythm, then the national team is always something that all of us want to be involved in.”
Taggart said the glut of games he played in Asia took its toll and the load impeded his chances of being fit at the right times for Arnold to look his way.
But a better balance at the Glory has resulted in his best form and at the right time, with Taggart and Bruno Fornaroli, who also has 15 goals in the A-League this season, set for the scoring duties in two clashes against Lebanon in Sydney and then Canberra.
“I think playing in Asia in the four years leading up to coming back to Perth, your loads are always higher, it’s a lot harder to stay fit I found,” he said.
“That was always the biggest challenge and you know when I was fit I seem to be doing all right, but that was always the biggest challenge and has been a big challenge for me my whole career.
“So I think just going back to Perth getting into a good training schedule something that you know fits in with my family and the weekly routine that gets me ready for a game has probably worked really well for me and I think this season I’ve been able to play most games.
“I‘ve always probably been a bit in and out of the this squad a lot, sometimes due to injuries, sometimes due to form and game time when I was younger, so it’s probably been a bit of a story of my international career, so it always means something to be back involved and I obviously cherish being in here and I’m looking forward to trying to contribute as much as I can and show what it means to me.”
Taggart also knows injuries to others have opened the door for him and a lot can happen between now and the 2026 World Cup when it comes to selection.
“I think there’s two years of a long time, still a lot can happen and it’s always going to be based on form and how you’re performing for the national team up until then,” he said.
“So I’ll be trying to take this opportunity with both hands and I’ll just do the best that I can. As a striker it’s always about scoring goals, so I’ll be looking to do that.”
FULL SOCCEROOS SQUAD TO FACE LEBANON
Goalkeepers: Mathew Ryan, Joe Gauci, Thomas Glover
Defenders: Nathaniel Atkinson, Jordan Bos, Cameron Burgess, Thomas Deng, Gethin Jones, Lewis Miller, Kye Rowles, Harry Souttar
Midfielders: Keanu Baccus, Ajdin Hrustic, Jackson Irvine, Riley McGree, Connor Metcalfe, Patrick Yazbek
Forwards: Brandon Borrello, Mitchell Duke, Bruno Fornaroli, Craig Goodwin, John Iredale, Sam Silvera, Adam Taggart, Kusini Yengi
