Do you feel for Socceroo Archie Thompson?...I do.

Now whatever you think of Archie, he has been to the World Cup, was in the Asian Cup squad but didn't play.

He missed out to Mark Viduka, John Aloisi, and you could argue even Brett Holman and Harry Kewell in both tournaments.

But come the European season, Viduka can't make the Argentina game in Melbourne and Aloisi didn't have a club.

and of course Archie starts!...

And according to the pundits, not me, but many others lumped large amounts of praise on Archie's performance.

So certainly he would be in the next Socceroos squad.

Right?

Wrong?

And Viduka and Aloisi are out and still no place for Archie!

Well as a footballer everyone wants to play for the National team. Indeed we the punters want everyone to play ie Viduka,Joe Simunic etc.

Imagine the cricket team not selecting a guy who had done well in the last game and had been in all the previous squads...or the Wallabies for that matter.

So Archie didn't get selected. Game time for the Socceroos is crucial to future selection. Archie knows this better than anyone.

Since his first half show in the WCQ against Uruguay in Montevideo his next real game was against Argentina. He did well, even Robbie Slater and Craig Foster said so!

Surely he would have a chance to at least remain in the squad.

But now he's dropped.

The official line is, we're taking a European squad.

But when I was left out of a side for any reason I felt dropped. I'm sure Archie does to.

Archie should have been selected. He's not here to hold up the A-League. His mate at Melbourne Leigh Broxham can go on National duty with the Olyroos this week, even Sebastian Ryall for the Under 20's but not Archie.

Not Archie. He misses out on the greatest prize of all, Socceroo selection.

Even a trip to London, where the breakfast's are great:)

And this is the last game before the WCQ which start in February.

And we expect loyalty from Viduka and co.

Loyalty, FFA, is a two way street.