22-man Socceroos squad named for Iraq 2014 WCQ
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Socceroos Head Coach Holger Osieck today named a 22-player squad that will face Iraq in a 2014 FIFA World Cup Asian Qualifier in Doha, Qatar on Tuesday 16 October (Kick-off 1:15am AEDT).
Mark Milligan (suspension), Tommy Oar and Carl Valeri return to the Socceroos squad, while David Carney, Sasa Ognenovski and Jason Davidson, who are searching for clubs or injured, have missed selection for the eighth meeting between the Australia and Iraq at senior men’s international level.
The most recent meeting was in the quarter-finals of the AFC Asian Cup Qatar 2011 where the Socceroos were victorious 1-0 courtesy of a Harry Kewell goal in extra time.
The Socceroos are currently in third position of Group B with draws against Oman (0-0) and Japan (1-1) and a loss against Jordan (1-2) in their opening matches of the final round of the 2014 FIFA World Cup Asian Qualifiers.
Iraq are in fourth place of Group B after draws with Jordan (1-1) and Oman (1-1) and a loss to Japan (0-1).
The game is a must win for the Socceroos.
“We know we are in a very special situation right now,” Osieck told reporters on Wednesday.
“This has become a crucial game but I’m very confident with the players available we can do it and get the points that we need.”
Osieck stressed he was not losing patience with the team’s veterans, but said he would urge them to be better leaders.
“I have to be very critical. I expect in particular from what you call senior players the guidance for the entire group and I will get that pretty clearly across when we have the opening of the camp in Doha,” he said.
“It’s not enough to enter the pitch and do some stuff and after the final whistle you are relieved of your duties. It’s ongoing, starting from the moment we arrive in our hotel to when we depart.”
Osieck has scrapped a planned warm-up match against United Arab Emirates, feeling it would be detrimental to play another match in difficult Middle Eastern conditions.
Socceroos Squad v Iraq
Mark Bresciano, Alex Brosque,tim Cahill, James Holland, Brett Holman, Mile Jedinak, Brad Jones (Gk), Robbie Kruse, Mitchell Langerak (Gk), Ryan Mcgowan, Matthew Mckay, Mark Milligan, Lucas Neill, Jade North, Tommy Oar, Nikita Rukavytsya, Adam Sarota, Mark Schwarzer (Gk), Matthew Spiranovic, Archie Thompson, Carl Valeri, Luke Wilkshire
(with AAP)
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October 3rd 2012 @ 12:33pm
wisey_9 said | October 3rd 2012 @ 12:33pm | Report comment
Whilst I’m all for Carney being dropped… who is going to play left back?
October 3rd 2012 @ 1:06pm
Hoof said | October 3rd 2012 @ 1:06pm | Report comment
From what I’ve read elsewhere, McKay looks like he’s going to be at LB.
October 3rd 2012 @ 2:09pm
Ben of Phnom Penh said | October 3rd 2012 @ 2:09pm | Report comment
Hopefully McGowan gets a start at CB in the absence of Ogre. I was led to believe Valeri was injured? If he is coming back from injury he may not be a started at DM. It will also be interesting to see who gets a run (if either) off the bench out of Holland & Sarota.
In all a squad of players who are performing well for their clubs at the moment.
October 3rd 2012 @ 2:22pm
Melange said | October 3rd 2012 @ 2:22pm | Report comment
I’ve been meaning to ask for a while, Dino Djulbic is a regular in the CSL. I didn’t see many of his games but the ones I did he seemed to be a the goods, how do others rate him? Would you rate him better then Og?
Good to see Oar back and a pity about De Vere with the timing of his injury. Also seems the criticism of Herd was harsh considering he’s only played 1 match for Villa and he carried an injury into it.
I don’t want to see Jedi/Valeri in the same squad any more, pick one or the other but time to move on from both. Prefer to see a specialist left back as well, but how long have we been sayng that.
October 3rd 2012 @ 2:51pm
Realfootball said | October 3rd 2012 @ 2:51pm | Report comment
Our defence looks awful at best. Neill is horribly slow. Spiranovic has proven to be utterly mediocre, and that’s on a good day. Too often he’s simply a liability. McKay is too slow for LB and will get carved up by a fast winger. North is not international standard by any measure. Wilkshire has been abysmal of late.
I think we will lose to Iraq. I hope not, but that’s my call. And then I hope Frank Lowy has the cojones to do to the lamentable Osieck what he did to the far less lamentable Farina in 2005 – remove him and find someone who can resusitate our WC campaign.
Our only hope in this game is to outscore Iraq, because they will score against us. But where will the goals come from? Holman isn’t a goalscorer, nor is Brosque. Nor is Kruse. Nor is Ruka. That leaves the aging Cahill, who isn’t even a true striker. In fact, our best prospect is Thompson off the bench, and what a condemnation of Osieck and his timid, reactionary selection policies that is. A 34 year old who couldn’t make the bench in his prime.
Our WC campaign is in deep trouble.
October 3rd 2012 @ 3:00pm
heart of sydney said | October 3rd 2012 @ 3:00pm | Report comment
>>I think our WC campaign is in deep trouble.
It has been since the day HO announced the team to play Jordan. This bloke has all the imagination of a set of traffic lights. The best one can say is that he is not prone to panic.
October 3rd 2012 @ 3:02pm
whiskeymac said | October 3rd 2012 @ 3:02pm | Report comment
Good to see some different names. well old names but new, ie not just the usual names as per the last two or three.
..
As has been mentioned let’s hope some of these guys are able to carry good club performances through into the NT for this match.
October 3rd 2012 @ 3:36pm
Midfielder said | October 3rd 2012 @ 3:36pm | Report comment
Wonders aloud screaming about Troisi …. and why not give Wiko a look at least in training for the team as a CB …
Tim Cahill says on an interview on SBS defence is our major problem…
October 3rd 2012 @ 3:40pm
Fussball ist unser leben said | October 3rd 2012 @ 3:40pm | Report comment
I’m very happy with this squad.
Perhaps, the only changes I’d make are:
Emerton for North
DeVere for Spiranovic
However, the Starting XI is more important than the squad – I think it’s time to let some of the younger guys start the games
My Starting XI would be:
—————Schwarzer————
McGowan—-Lucas—-Spiranovic——Davidson
—-Sarota——————————McKay———
————-Bresc———-Holman—————–
Robbie K—————————–Brosque
October 3rd 2012 @ 4:48pm
Realfootball said | October 3rd 2012 @ 4:48pm | Report comment
Yep, well I sincerely hope you and all the rest of us are as happy with the result. Not for the first time, I find myself wondering if you are really Holger Osieck in disguise.
Puzzled by the fact that you have included Davidson when he is not in the squad.
Agree, however, that you have named a good looking side, barring the central defense.. There is no hope, however, of the side that takes the park looking like that, I fear, and the centre of the defense looks awfully like a direct path to goal for any opposing players with an ounce of pace.
October 3rd 2012 @ 4:43pm
dasilva said | October 3rd 2012 @ 4:43pm | Report comment
god damn, when are we going to pick an actual left back in a squad.
So the only option for left back is mckay or north
I’m quite sure a few A-league left back (rose or cassio) would do a better job at that position then a makeshift fullback
October 3rd 2012 @ 5:39pm
clayton said | October 3rd 2012 @ 5:39pm | Report comment
So a utility / midfielder defender playing out of position is better than any full time left back we have playing today?
Aziz Behich, Josh Rose, Cassio and Jason Davidson could do a job in that spot.
Are Cahill and Holman gonna start together? Could be wrong, but I don’t think I have seen them play well together. Holman wants to play down the middle. Cahill wants to play down the middle.
October 3rd 2012 @ 6:17pm
dasilva said | October 3rd 2012 @ 6:17pm | Report comment
to be fair Jason Davidson is injured and that’s why he is not selected.
However I agree with your examples of better alternatives
October 3rd 2012 @ 7:25pm
whiskeymac said | October 3rd 2012 @ 7:25pm | Report comment
josh rose has a right to feel bemused and or aggrieved by these constant selections of utilities in a position he has made his own in the HAL.