Socceroos coach Graham Arnold has revealed the 23-player contingent he’ll be taking to the UAE for the Asian Cup next month, as Australia try to defend their 2015 title.
Arnold has elected to name Aaron Mooy in the squad despite earlier reports a knee injury suffered in the Premier League would keep him out of the tournament.
In a press release, the Socceroos said Phil Coles – the FFA’s senior physiotherapist – would assess Mooy’s injury independently later this week and would provide an additional update on Christmas Day (Australian time).
As per AFC regulations, Australia have until 4pm (AEDT) on Sunday, January 6 – six hours before their first match- to make a definitive decision on Mooy.
In the press conference, Arnold claimed it was Mooy himself who wanted to go the Asian Cup and had subsequently requested a second opinion from the FFA’s medical team.
The next-most notable news is arguably the players who didn’t make the cut, with Adelaide United gun Craig Goodwin being snubbed, and maligned striker Tomi Juric also getting dropped.
Instead, the Socceroos have elected to take Martin Boyle (who only applied for an Australian passport in March), Andrew Nabbout and Jamie Maclaren as the set of strikers.
Star Melbourne Victory duo James Troisi and Terry Antonis have also not made the cut. Antonis is widely tipped to be the man who’ll replace Mooy, however, if the Huddersfield midfielder succumbs to his injury.
Some of the surprising inclusions include A-League duo Rhyan Grant (Sydney FC) and Chris Ikonomidis (Perth Glory).
Overall, it’s a young squad that will take the field in January, with the average age of the travelling players just 26.
Just the three A-League players will be heading over too, with the aforementioned Grant and Ikonomidis joining Western Sydney’s Josh Risdon on the plane.
Arnold was bullish of his side’s chances of tasting success next month, despite 15 members of the 23 man squad playing in the tournament for the very first time.
“Our squad for the upcoming AFC Asian Cup in the UAE blends youth with experience,” Arnold said.
“I know that Australia will enter the Asian Cup with the best camaraderie in the competition.
“In the short amount of time I have had in charge I feel that we have come a long way, and we will travel to the UAE expecting to win every match and ultimately lift the trophy in early February in Abu Dhabi,” he added.
Australia’s Asian Cup campaign kicks off on Sunday, January 6 at 10pm (AEDT), when they clash with Jordan. You can view the full Asian Cup fixtures here.
Full Socceroos 2019 Asian Cup squad
Mark Milligan (c), Mustafa Amini, Aziz Behich, Martin Boyle, Milos Degenek, Alex Gersbach, Rhyan Grant, Chris Ikonomidis, Jackson Irvine, Matthew Jurman, Robbie Kruse, Mitchell Langerak (GK), Mathew Leckie, Missimo Luongo, Awer Mabil, Jamie Maclaren, Aaron Mooy, Andrew Nabbout, Josh Risdon, Tom Rogic, Mathew Ryan (GK), Trent Sainsbury, Daniel Vukovic (GK)
Even though St.Pauli ultimately lost a high-scoring affair, Jackson Irvine was a standout, as well as scoring a late goal.
What if we celebrated all of the achievements big and small, and weeded out those hell-bent on bringing down a game that is doing a hell of a lot right?
A good performance from Michael Ruhs, scoring twice to beat Macarthur and doubling his season goal tally in the process.
Nestory Irankunda has sensationally rejected the chance to play at the Paris Olympics this June after a late bid from the Olyroos to include…
Mathew Ryan's tenure at AZ Alkmaar appears to be over, as the Eredivisie side are seemingly moving on from the 93-time Socceroo. The decision…
One down 49 to go. Socceroos striker Kusini Yengi raised some eyebrows this week when he declared himself to be the talisman striker the…
