Despite speculation about how heavily he’ll feature in Australia’s World Cup campaign, Tim Cahill has made the cut for Australia’s preliminary World Cup squad.
19-year-old rising star Daniel Arzani has also been named in the squad to go to Russia, alongside 21-year-old Fran Karacic as a notable bolter.
Lawrence Thomas appears to have been unlucky to miss out on inclusion given the high praise he drew throughout Melbourne Victory’s A-League finals series.
The current squad features all 26 of the players that Socceroos coach Bert van Marwijk picked for friendlies in Europe earlier this year, plus some new faces.
It will be cut back down to 26 players next week before the team travels to Turkey for a pre-world cup training camp.
“I am not a person who changes all the time and we thought for a long time about the first squad that we selected,” said van Marwijk.
“I had a good experience with the 26 players in the ten days that I worked with them, so I had no reason not to nominate them again. But we have since seen other players so there will be a few new names in the squad.”
Australia will play friendlies against Czech Republic and Hungary before the world cup begins in June, where the side is fixtured against France, Denmark and Peru.
| Name | Club, Country | A-International Caps (Goals) |
| Daniel Arzani | Melbourne City FC, Australia | 0 (0) |
| Aziz Behich | Bursaspor, Turkey | 21 (2) |
| Joshua Brillane | Sydney FC, Australia | 5 (0) |
| Tim Cahill | Millwall FC, England | 105 (50) |
| Milos Degenek | Yokohama F Marinos, Japan | 17 (0) |
| Alex Gersbach | Racing Club de Lens, France | 4 (0) |
| Apostolos Giannou | AEK Larnaca, Cyrpus | 5 (0) |
| Jackson Irvine | Hull City AFC, England | 17 (2) |
| Mile Jedinak | Aston Villa FC, England | 75 (18) |
| Brad Jones (Gk) | Feyenoord Rotterdam, Netherlands | 5 (0) |
| Tomi Juric | FC Luzern, Switzerland | 34 (8) |
| Matthew Jurman | Suwon Samsung Bluewings, Korea Republic | 4 (0) |
| Fran Karacic | NK Lokomotiva, Croatia | 0 (0) |
| Robbie Kruse | VfL Bochum, Germany | 62 (5) |
| Mitchell Langerak (Gk) | Nagoya Grampus, Japan | 8 (0) |
| Mathew Leckie | Hertha BSC, Germany | 51 (6) |
| Massimo Luongo | Queens Park Rangers FC, England | 34 (5) |
| Jamie Maclaren | Hibernian FC, Scotland | 5 (0) |
| James Meredith | Millwall FC, England | 2 (0) |
| Mark Milligan | Al Ahli SC, Saudi Arabia | 66 (6) |
| Aaron Mooy | Huddersfield Town AFC, England | 32 (5) |
| Andrew Nabbout | Urawa Red Diamonds, Japan | 2 (0) |
| Dimitri Petratos | Newcastle Jets, Australia | 1 (0) |
| Josh Risdon | Western Sydney Wanderers FC, Australia | 6 (0) |
| Tom Rogic | Celtic FC, Scotland | 35 (7) |
| Nikita Rukavytsya | Maccabi Haifa FC, Israel | 18 (1) |
| Mathew Ryan (Gk) | Brighton & Hove Albion FC, England | 42 (0) |
| Trent Sainsbury | Grasshopper Club Zurich, Switzerland | 33 (3) |
| Aleksandar Susnjar | FK Mlada Boleslav, Czech Republic | 1 (0) |
| James Troisi | Melbourne Victory, Australia | 37 (5) |
| Daniel Vukovic (Gk) | KRC Genk, Belgium | 1 (0) |
| Bailey Wright | Bristol City FC, England | 22 (1) |
Evan askew
Guest
He plays in the Croatian league with lokomotiv Zagreb, who he captains He has also appeared for the Croatian u21 national side.
Grobbelaar
Roar Guru
He may have captained the last game, but only as a fill in, he did not start the season as the regular captain (understandable, aged 21). He only started playing senior football last season when the first choice right-back got a long-term injury. Nevertheless, good on him, he is an intriguing player, he got a chance and took it with both hands, and my gut feel is that he has the mentality and maturity to impress Lambertus and get a WC gig. Having grown up in Croatia, he'll have the best football education of any current socceroo, and the level he is playing at would easily be the equal of a Millwall.
Kris
Guest
He captains the league side as well (who put 3 past Dynamo Zagreb last night). "“I was looked at for the Confederations Cup last year but got injured." https://theworldgame.sbs.com.au/article/2018/05/07/ive-always-barracked-australia-says-bolter-karacic
Grobbelaar
Roar Guru
CC The other day I said that the fact that we have two players from MIllwall in the squad probably tells us everything about the quality of the squad. We now have only one player from MIlwall in the squad (the other is now unemployed).
Grobbelaar
Roar Guru
He captains the U21 team. Lambertus was guarded when discussing him. He was born in Croatia (never been to Australia) and learned his craft in Croatia, so odds on he has received a far better football education than most of the squad (indeed, most of any socceroo in its history). He is a specialist right-back, and thus the only specialist right-back in the squad (every other option can play there as a secondary role). He's a big risk, but he is actually a very good chance of making it if he can impress Lambertus.
Jack
Guest
I can’t imagine Karacic makes the 32 if the intention is not to take him. Plays as captain for his top flight club at 21 is that right ??? Trolisi is my least favourite player breaks down so many attacking raids
At work
Roar Rookie
You forgot his third skill Redondo; hitting row Z
Cousin Claudio
Roar Guru
Good luck Aussie Bert, you will need it. I can't see that squad even beating Melbourne Victory. This could be our most embarrassing WC ever. Can't wait for Richard Hinds to put the boot into Sokkah once again, when we are sent packing from Russia and hear him go on about how great Victorian Rules is, in comparison.
Cousin Claudio
Roar Guru
I would have swapped Thomas for Jones, who is a bit of a dodgy keeper from time to time.
Griffo
Roar Guru
He’s actually stated his preference is for Australia but he hasn’t
completelyexplicitly said he’d never play for Iran, either. Sometimes issues with young players taking any ticket to a World Cup. Only time will tell. If he’s dropped from the 26 immediately we’ll see.Griffo
Roar Guru
A bit disappointed McGree isn’t included but there is only room for so many 19 year olds. His choice now is where he will get game time as that is what he needs at this stage. Warming Brugge’s pine won’t help his Asian Cup inclusion, which is his next target.
punter
Guest
Thanks LH for the update.
Lionheart
Guest
Franjic had injuries, at the world cup, coming home and out for some time, then he had a bad season of no pay in Russia and when he came back to MC he had two years of injury.
LuckyEddie
Guest
True
JJ
Guest
On the other side of the spectrum, No one would have expected Mooy to be where he is now. Its just what happens. Hardly on the Socceroos radar 4 years ago.
Lionheart
Guest
no more than many others
punter
Guest
Well put Barca4life, it's always interesting how certain players develop or don't, like you said 4 years ago Oar was playing no 10 in a much higher league then the A-League & playing good football, his 1 season back in the A-League a few seasons back showed very little of that form.
LuckyEddie
Guest
True to a degree Fadida but then it begs the question - where does it all end. It's a bit sad we are discussing cheating instead of the players skills.
fadida
Guest
Ruka adds nothing that I couldn't cover
fadida
Guest
He's so good that like Kewelm he's already ready.