New Socceroos boss Bert van Marwijk has named his first Socceroos squad, with friendlies against both Norway and Colombia set to be played at the end of the month.
Van Marwijk has named a 29-man preliminary squad for the pair of matches, handing recalls to Brad Jones, Jamie Maclaren and James Meredith.
A serious left-field selection comes in the form of Aleksandar Susnjar, with the uncapped defender currently playing in the Czech Republic first league for FK Teplice.
Of the recalled players, Jones has been out of the Australian system for almost four years. The goalkeeper made his debut in 2007 and only made four appearances, playing just half a match under Ange Postecoglou. Maclaren and Meredith have made five and two appearances in the national colours respectively.
Among the squad is Tim Cahill, who has been finding his feet at Championship club Millwall, as well as regulars like Mile Jedinak, Matthew Leckie, Aaron Mooy and first-choice goalkeeper Mathew Ryan.
Van Marwijk said he and his staff had done lots of scouting and were happy with the squad picked for the friendlies.
“Since my appointment with the Socceroos, my staff, scouts and I have monitored over 100 Australian players in the A-League, as well as in leagues across Europe and Asia,” said van Marwijk.
“We are pleased with the initial 29 players we have picked for our upcoming games against Norway and Colombia and will finalise the squad next week.
“There are still a couple of weeks before the group gathers in Oslo, so we will continue to monitor the health and fitness of all the players in the preliminary squad, as well as those on our longer list of potential World Cup squad members.
“Our upcoming matches against Norway and Colombia will provide a great chance for the players selected to press their claims for Russia, however, the door remains ajar for all players not picked for the March window.”
The A-League is also represented in the squad with four players picked. James Troisi, Josh Brillante, Dimitri Petratos and Josh Risdon have all been included for the pair of friendlies which shape as key build-up matches for the Socceroos ahead of their World Cup campaign later this year.
Socceroos squad for friendlies
Aziz Behich, Joshua Brillante, Tim Cahill, Milos Degenek, Alex Gersbach, Jackson Irvine, Mile Jedinak, Brad Jones (gk), Tomi Juric, Matthew Jurman, Robbie Kruse, Mitchell Langerak (gk), Mathew Leckie, Massimo Luongo, Jamie Maclaren, James Meredith, Mark Milligan, Aaron Mooy, Andrew Nabbout, Dimitri Petratos, Josh Risdon, Tom Rogic, Nikita Rukavytsya, Mathew Ryan (gk), Trent Sainsbury, Aleksandar Susnjar, James Troisi, Daniel Vukovic (gk), Bailey Wright.
Socceroos friendly fixtures
Norway vs Australia, Friday 23 March 2018, Ullevaal Stadion, Oslo.
Colombia vs Australia, Tuesday 27 March 2018, Craven Cottage, London.
j,binnie
Guest
Nem - I know that there are many young players by pass the HAL but it wasn't me who was trying to sell the message that all our good players had played in the A-League. The way I read it it was what you were trying to say. Cheers jb.
Kaks
Roar Guru
Considering you wouldnt be able to name any other moments that those to have contributed to the team in the last 4 years, I imagine you're content with two incredibly inconsistent players who are unable to deliver on a regular basis.
Cousin Claudio
Roar Guru
28 of the 29 have played in the A-League Groveller, including super hero Tim Cahill.
Cousin Claudio
Roar Guru
Geez the A-League is so bad, how did any of them ever get to play for Australia. Won't matter, the A-League will shut down by Christmas and we'll all be watching AFLX on the moon Pip.
Cousin Claudio
Roar Guru
Hey guys, lets be as negative as we can about football on every football article on this site. How about it? Maybe Aussie Bert will surprise us Pip and do such a good job that he is offered the Aussie coaching job ahead of Arnie after the world cup, just like Aussie Guus did.
Nemesis
Guest
Not really, jb. Players can move to any country on the planet & bypass the ALeague. Susnjar, Luongo & Irvine certainly have had no involvement with the ALeague. I think Bailey Wright might have trialed with MVFC, but he was not picked up. The ALeague competes with hundreds of other leagues around the world for talent. Guys like Mahazi, Markelis, Gallifuoco, Ikonomidis all went straight from junior state football to foreign clubs. I can name dozens of others, who have bypassed the ALeague. Complete myth that everyone has to play ALeague. I'm surprised by you. I thought you would know better.
AGO74
Guest
Fair call. I mean we should aspire to be like the Australian AFL team for the hybrid/"what the hell mongrel game are we watching?" series against Ireland chosen entirely from domestic comp players, showing yet again that the AFL is without question the best AFL comp in the world.
AGO74
Guest
Match formations will definitely be interesting but geez I'd love to be a fly on the wall at training sessions. 3 months to the World Cup would see a high level of intensity at any time but with a brand new manager it will be on for young and old.
j,binnie
Guest
This squad, 29 in number, has very little of the new coach's ideas to be analysed. The vast majority of the squad have all been named in previous squads chosen by AP, and I would suggest that any prospective analysts bide their time until we see BVM'S first eleven to play in the friendly, before trying to "read " his mind. Cheers jb.
AGO74
Guest
Not uncommon for national managers to let somebody who has just cracked team and found form to remain at club for continuity - but also let player know we are watching you and to keep it up. I think Ange did something similar with a couple of players last year.
Kris
Guest
We don't know if Arzani was invited and refused.
j,binnie
Guest
Nem - Can't help asking a question Why do you keep pushing this "I played in the A- league" evidence as some sort of measure achieved?. The HAL is now 13 years old and if we accept that the average of any Socceroo squad picked today as being around 26, then it stands to reason that the majority of the squad would have been playing "junior" (under 14) football when the HAL commenced, so where else would our emerging stars have played??? Cheers jb.
Nemesis
Guest
Agree. Kruse got the vital away goal in Syria & Troisi scored the elegant goal at the Confed Cup against Chile.
Kaks
Roar Guru
Is Troisi your love child by any chance?
Kaks
Roar Guru
True, I mean Kruse and Troisi have been incredible for both Club and Country so they demand selection....
Nemesis
Guest
FACT: In the past 12 months, only AUS has only had 1 player NOT play in the ALeague who has scored for the National Team. 18 goals scored in total over the past 12 months. 17 scored by players who were in ALeague when they scored, or started their careers in ALeague. I WAS MADE IN THE A-LEAGUE
No1 in particular
Guest
True...
Fadida
Guest
Da Silva he been anonymous for the last few months
Nemesis
Guest
Well, just as well BvM is coaching.
Nemesis
Guest
Always good to know the Aussie Rules community is watching our ALeague & our National Team. Do you know how many of the Brazil NT and Argentinean NT play in their respective domestic leagues? Wonder if it's more than 4?