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Socceroos coach Holger Osieck has selected a squad of 23-players for the upcoming international friendly matches against New Zealand and Serbia.
Socceroos captain Lucas Neill leads the side, with twelve of the players from the 2-1 win over Germany in an international friendly in Monchengladbach have been named in the current selection.
Tim Cahill, David Carney, Harry Kewell and Mark Schwarzer were unavailable for selection due to injury concerns.
Melbourne Victory striker Archie Thompson has been rewarded for his performances in the AFC Champions League with his first selection under Holger Osieck and his first appearance since playing against Kuwait in Canberra last year.
South Australian James Troisi returns to the Socceroos squad after last playing against China in 2008 along with Queenslanders Dario Vidosic and Michael Zullo.
Goalkeepers Adam Federici and Nathan Coe are also named in the Socceroos squad along with Japanese-based players Alex Brosque, Josh Kennedy, Mark Milligan and Matthew Spiranovic.
Rhys Williams makes his long awaited return to the Socceroos following a successful recovery from a groin injury that ruled him out of contention to play at the 2010 FIFA World Cup and sidelined him for a large part of the past 12 months.
“From my point of view these games have a particular significance because they are part of our preparation program for the starting World Cup campaign in September,” Osieck said.
“There are definitely some interesting players on the list, some players I want to see which should be given the opportunity to show their potential, if they are up to the standard of the Socceroos.”
Jason Culina is continuing to recover well from a serious knee injury, and should be back for the A-League pre-season with the Newcastle Jets.
Strikers Nikita Rukavytysa, Scott McDonald and Nathan Burns were notable for their absence in the squad.
Upcoming International Friendlies:
Socceroos v New Zealand
Adelaide Oval, Adelaide, South Australia
Sunday 5 June 2011
Socceroos v Serbia
Etihad Stadium, Melbourne, Victoria
Tuesday, 7 June 2011
SOCCEROOS SQUAD – Tuesday 24 May 2011
| Name | CLUB, COUNTRY |
| Alex BROSQUE | Shimizu S-Pulse, Japan |
| Nathan COE (gk) | Sonderjysk Elitesport, Denmark |
| Brett EMERTON | Blackburn Rovers, England |
| Adam FEDERICI (gk) | Reading FC, England |
| Brett HOLMAN | AZ Alkmaar, Netherlands |
| Mile JEDINAK | Genclerbirligi SK, Turkey |
| Josh KENNEDY | Nagoya Grampus, Japan |
| Neil KILKENNY | Leeds United FC, England |
| Robbie KRUSE | Melbourne Victory, Australia |
| Mitchell LANGERAK (gk) | Borussia Dortmund, Germany |
| Jonathan McKAIN | Al Nassr, Saudi Arabia |
| Matthew McKAY | Brisbane Roar, Australia |
| Mark MILLIGAN | JEF United, Japan |
| Lucas NEILL | Galatasaray SK, Turkey |
| Sasa OGNENOVSKI | Seongham Ilwha Chunma, Korea |
| Matthew SPIRANOVIC | Urawa Red Diamonds, Japan |
| Archie THOMPSON | Melbourne Victory, Australia |
| James TROISI | Kayserispor Kulubu, Turkey |
| Carl VALERI | U.S. Sassuolo Calcio, Italy |
| Dario VIDOSIC | DSC Arminia Bielefeld, Germany |
| Rhys WILLIAMS | Middlesbrough FC, England |
| Luke WILKSHIRE | FK Dinamo Moscow, Russia |
| Michael ZULLO | FC Utrecht, Netherlands |