Socceroos coach Ange Postecoglou has selected a 23-man squad for the second round of World Cup qualifiers including Tomi Juric.
The team has plenty of experience with every player credited with at least two international appearances for the Socceroos. It’s just the second time in the Postecoglou era that a squad has been selected with no uncapped players.
“This squad sets us up well for the huge challenge we have ahead over the next 12 months to qualify for the World Cup but importantly it is specific to the first task at hand, which is Iraq in Perth and then the UAE in Abu Dhabi,” Postecoglou said.
Juric, who recently signed with Luzern in Switzerland will have his chance to impress once again.
The Socceroos will have no shortage of strike power with Nathan Burns, Robbie Kruse and Mathew Leckie all selected.
The Socceroos face Iraq and the UAE next month with Saudi Arabia, Thailand and Japan also in the group.
“Both Iraq and UAE present challenges for us and every player will need to be ready to hit the ground running. As has been the case right through, form and fitness are central to the squad we’ve selected and I believe we have the squad to get us off to a good start,” Postecoglou said.
As always Tim Cahill will look to provide inspiration as the Socceroos’ most experienced player. Having moved back to Australia to play for Melbourne City, Cahill is now the only member of the Socceroos who isn’t playing club football overseas.
However, Postecoglou hinted that he’s always willing to look to the A-League for in-form players.
“We have a much broader group of players that we know we can rely on and others from outside the group will make a strong contribution in the coming months, particularly from within the A-League, which is yet to get underway for this season.”
“Some of our players have made moves during the off season and I’m pleased that the vast majority will come into the camp with a good pre season and a few meaningful matches under their belt,” he said.
Socceroos squad for World Cup Qualifiers v Iraq and UAE
Nathan BURNS
Tim CAHILL
Milos DEGENEK
Adam FEDERICI
Alex GERSBACH
Apostolos GIANNOU
Chris IKONOMIDIS
Jackson IRVINE
Mile JEDINAK
Tomi JURIC
Robbie KRUSE
Mitchell LANGERAK
Mathew LECKIE
Massimo LUONGO
Ryan MCGOWAN
Mark MILLIGAN
Aaron MOOY
Tommy ROGIC
Mathew RYAN
Trent SAINSBURY
Brad SMITH
Matthew SPIRANOVIC
Bailey WRIGHT
whiskeymac
Guest
Is there anyone in the next batch who display the same credentials (or likely to) re leadership? I think the Villa move is good for him. Hopefully they will go up again and he with them.
Ben of Phnom Penh
Roar Guru
Leadership on and off the field is one of his key strengths which is why the Villans were prepared to pay so much and why so many Palace fans are wary of his departure. I dare say the move has elongated his Socceroos career, especially if he was destined to play a part-time role at Crystal Palace.
Bondy
Guest
I wonder if Mile going to the Championship eliminates his captaincy for the Roos .. I like the squad, I'd start Burns & Kruse to lead the line ...
whiskeymac
Guest
Oh i agree. The context was more along the lines of realising promise. Patafta was at Benfica, on the fringes with Guus and then faded away. Sadly. Amini has been much more productive. But, for me and i assume others, he has much more than what hes had so far.
The Phantom Commissioner
Roar Rookie
Clueless and obsessed more like.
Griffo
Roar Guru
Amini is no where near Patafta: Patafta arrived back here early 20's from Portugal youth/first team setup without really starting there, then switch from (IIRC) Victory to the Jets, where he didn't really impress van Egmond enough to get a consistent start before being released. Amini went from Dortmund youth/researve setup with fairly regular starting to Denmark, doing well there and switching to a better team and performing. I can't remember if Okon is still in charge of U20 Young Socceroos? I thought he was released, or at least should have been in line with Vidmar at U23. I suspect Ange is more his own man and has the tools to analyse overseas players on the radar, but if scouting by eyeball is (and would be) part of the process, are they sending Okon to see Amini? Amini has to just keep performing and putting his name in the mix. Also being a '6' or '8' he is up against a couple of players in a congested midfield. Good to see him come on board a camp during final phase qualifying so that the NT setup can view him first hand. I would like to know what Gombau would think of him...
Midfielder
Guest
Should read hardly picked
Midfielder
Guest
Agree has never been picked since he had a run in with Paul Oken
whiskeymac
Guest
I think he must(i) but will need to probably show consistency in his club - did he do much at Randers, sadly it doesnt get reported much- hopefully he will realise all that potential thats been promised. I think he will and not end up like Patafta. I would think that with Milligan Jedinak Valeri etc reaching 29-32yo that there's an opportunity for a deep lying midfielder/ def midfielder with good European experience to get a "go".
Realfootball
Guest
Amini should get a chance at some point, surely.
Realfootball
Guest
Clueless and offensive. As usual.
bobbym
Guest
Apostolos GIANNOU is not scoring in China can't see him becoming an answer- let's hope Tagget , McLaren or someone else gives us more options in the goal scoring department- really need Juric to stay fit and step up
whiskeymac
Guest
Good squad. Rogic scoring and playing well for Celtic; Mooy getting good reviews for the Terriers and Irvine scoring recently too (although that haircut makes him look like Posh spice)... definitely some good form in the first few games in Europe from some. How are Ikonomidis and Degenek going? I think the most important form would have to be from the out an out strikers though how are juric and Giannou going? Its a solid squad but goals are a bit of a problem at times...
Franko
Guest
terry antonis not getting a run at PAOK?
Griffo
Roar Guru
Agree Rob... I will also add in general when the A-League gets back in season, how many will make the squad, given there are probably a few others overseas who may bring themselves into contention.
Ben of Phnom Penh
Roar Guru
We even have a few in-form players who failed to make the squad. Of those I am glad Goodwin is not included as we have a plethora of players on the left and he really needs to get bedded down at Sparta Rotterdam. Once he's entrenched in the port city he'll be ok for inclusion as being able to play both left wing and full back provides us with cover and gives Ange tactical options.
Bob Brown
Roar Guru
Great news. Tickets for the first Sydney Derby to be played at the Sydney Olympic Stadium at 7:30PM Saturday 8 October went on sale this week to members only of SFC and Wanderers. Ticket sales have been fantastic so far and most good supporter seats already sold. Each club expects to sell 20K or more to their club faithful. Tickets for the general public go on sale from 11am tomorrow and Ticketek is expecting a stampede and another 30K! Be a part of history Sydney as we look certain to break the all-time A-League match and first round attendance records.
LordBrucie
Guest
You can take a horse to water but you canny make it drink! How long will possty ignore the performances of those who put in good shifts week in week out! That having been said the socceroos will qualify for Russia cos the opposition in this FIFA zone is laughable. Green Gully could declare independence from Oz and probably qualify!
Bob Brown
Roar Guru
More Good News for Football NSW. The Asian Cup was such a success for NSW that they made a huge surplus and have announced that they will chip in $4 million for the NSW Asian Cup 2015 Legacy Fund to be spent on NSW Football clubs. Read more on Football NSW website, with applications open from early September and close on 24 February 2017. And they said it wouldn't turn a profit.
Towser
Guest
Always keep one eye on overseas players and my general impression as others have stated is that this is a squad picked on form. Is this then the most "in Form" Socceroos squad for a good while, my thoughts answer "YES".