Star duo Tom Rogic and Aaron Mooy will return for the Socceroos as they embark on the next step of their World Cup qualifying journey next week.
Celtic midfielder Rogic and Chinese-based Mooy have both been named in a 27-man squad by coach Graham Arnold to face China and Vietnam in the opening matches of the third round of qualifying.
It’s the first time since 2019 either player has been in a Socceroos squad, with both missing June’s qualifiers in Kuwait.
Rogic was given time by Arnold to overcome an ankle problem while Mooy was unavailable as he dealt with the death of his brother Alex.
Arnold said having both key players available was a huge plus, especially with Mathew Leckie unavailable due to an unwillingness to do a mandatory 14-day quarantine period upon his return to Australia.
“Aaron’s gone through some tough times and we’ve been there to support him through those times and he’s looking so forward to catching up with his mates back in the in the Socceroos family and enjoying himself again,” Arnold said.
“I expect he’ll be in good shape but freshness and adrenaline will get him through these games.
“Once he puts that shirt back on, once he’s around his mates again, he may not have played for a while but he’s a top class player, he’s a great guy.”
Sydney FC’s Rhyan Grant is the only A-League-based player picked for the matches with striker Jamie Maclaren, winger Chris Ikonomidis and young midfielder Connor Metcalfe among others ruled out due to quarantine concerns.
Goalkeeper Mat Ryan has been picked despite his start to the Spanish La Liga season with Real Sociedad being disrupted due to a knee injury.
While confident Ryan will be fit to play, Arnold has named four goalkeepers in his 27-man squad including uncapped Paul Izzo.
The ex-Adelaide United shotstopper is one of three potential debutants along with fullbacks Callum Elder and Ryan Strain.
Daniel Arzani is also in the squad after his solid Olympic campaign as he pushes for a first Socceroos appearance since 2018.
The squad will assemble over the next two days in Qatar before the clash with China in Doha on Thursday (4am Friday, AEST).
The away trip to face Vietnam in Hanoi takes place on September 7.
SOCCEROOS SQUAD: Daniel Arzani, Aziz Behich, Martin Boyle, Milos Degenek, Kenneth Dougall, Mitch Duke, Callum Elder, Denis Genreau, Rhyan Grant, Ajdin Hrustic, Jackson Irvine, Paul Izzo, James Jeggo, Awer Mabil, Ryan McGowan, Riley McGree, Aaron Mooy, Tom Rogic, Mat Ryan, Trent Sainsbury, Brad Smith, Harry Souttar, Ryan Strain, Adam Taggart, Lawrence Thomas, Danny Vukovic, Bailey Wright.
Ben of Phnom Penh
Roar Guru
Hrustic has been playing as the left portion of a central midfield pairing for Eintracht. Doing a good job of it as well.
Ben of Phnom Penh
Roar Guru
China have named a very, er, experienced squad.
Hudddo
Roar Rookie
Dont agree much
Hudddo
Roar Rookie
We need players that are at the moment are too erratic with so much flair their own team can't read them? He's way to green, and has to learn how to protect the ball. Lots of talent in the world, lots of failures too. To add league 2 belgium should be to low to represent, noting the current depth in the mid and the lack of game time the kids had.
chris
Guest
I was at the game and I can tell you he made the hairs stand up on the back of your neck whenever he got the ball. It's hard to quantify maybe, with stats etc. But he was electric. We need him at his best. He makes defenders second guess as to what they should do. Breaks up defensive patterns. Lifts the players around him.
chris
Guest
Thanks for that. We will need to work for every goal, but we are in no worse position on that front than even Japan.
TheSecretScout
Roar Guru
*cough* rale rasic *cough*
Winter A League is Awesome
Roar Rookie
And which coach has done anything with the socceroos besides gus? Even ange left before the world cup games and now he is at Celtic. Apparently he was not good enough for the socceroos either.
TheSecretScout
Roar Guru
most sane coaches would not take attacking players who arent playing and who havent been scoring goals/assisting. arnie is out of his depth as a national team coach, constantly picks his favourites over players that are actually performing. hes made puzzling selections for the qualifiers earlier this year, the olympics and now the upcoming qualifiers
Winter A League is Awesome
Roar Rookie
Yeah but which late teens player has made it onto a world cup stage as a midfielder in recent Australian history? Plus who in the socceroos has come on a big game and made a difference in recent history? Guys like jmac, kruise,Leckie, nabbout didnt do much in the socceroos. How many goals have been scored in group stages by a striker or attackive mid in open play? Its easier to look good as a defender or defensive midfield when you are under attack for the whole game. Maybe Arzani may come on as a winger again for a short spell. I think its a nice card to have up your sleeve.
TheSecretScout
Roar Guru
humour me. you’re the coach of australia, are you going to pick a player thats barely kicked a ball in 5 years and his body breaks down all the time. Or are you going to pick a player that has been playing 20-30 games a season for the past 5 years who chips in with goals/assists. the first player i mentioned might be able to beat a man at ease, but the second who may not be as skillful is a lot more consistent
TheSecretScout
Roar Guru
lol i did laugh at your comment. see you get it, alot of others dont. Arzani is incredibly gifted technically, but he doesnt score or assist.
TheSecretScout
Roar Guru
what exactly did he contribute though ???
TheSecretScout
Roar Guru
exclude his technical skills from this conversation Arzanis a winger/attacking mid, i would be expecting him to score or assist (he does neither) and has never really done that in his professional career. I gave this exact feedback to multiple interested parties when he was at the COE several years ago, gifted player technically but for the position/s he plays he needs to contribute more. even when he was getting solid game time at city, how many goals did he score 2/3? how many assits 2/3? he's played barely 20 games in 5 years and hes nearly 23. This does not warrant selection for a national team in any way, shape or form. I dont think theres any other australian coach that would pick him for the squads Its another reason arnold is not fit for a national team job, he picks players that dont deserve to be there eg arzani, duke etc you cant compare mooy to arzani, mooy has had minimal injuries; arzani's promise has been decimated by them
Chris Lewis
Roar Guru
My attitude is nothing is ever guaranteed. If football becomes the biggest Australian sport, so be it. I do enjoy watching the A-League and Premier League, albeit it is very hard to watch everything when you are a fan of many sports.
Punter
Roar Rookie
Chris, there are many multiple sports followers like yourself on here & you are most welcome. I too am firstly a football fan, but also love Golf, swimming, the Wallabies, Test Cricket, and any sport Australia competes at international level. However, Johan, has a history here of coming on the football tab & bagging out the A-League & Socceroos. Why I don’t know, maybe he has seen many top flights games & is fearful that if Australia (Socceroos) or the A-League got big, if may affect his AFL.
Winter A League is Awesome
Roar Rookie
The end product was dangerous situations and breaking down the opponent’s formation. How do you defend a half pitch pass? How do you set up against it. If these keep coming every 5 to 10 minutes all of a sudden you have broken the other teams’s structure. I remember Mooy had something like a season rate of 10 goals and 20 assists at City but he was probably mid 20s instead of Arzani in late teens.
Nick Symonds
Guest
Rogic has scored 27 goals from 144 matches at Celtic (1 every 5.3 matches) while Hrustic has scored 25 from 97 (1 in 3.9) at Groningen and 11 from 33 (1 in 3) at Eintracht Frankfurt. McGree was able to score about a goal every second match in the A-League when he was used in an attacking role and included in the starting squad. Of the three, Rogic has the lowest strike rate, but with all the chatter about his "revival" I think he'll be the one to start as attacking mid. Although he's only scored once and contributed two assists across nine matches this season under Postecoglou. If that's the case, then moving Hrustic to the right could allow them both to play at the same time and McGree could be held in reserve to come on as a sub for Rogic. But after you go past Hrustic, Rogic, McGree and Mabil you're only left with Arzani, Genreau, Mooy, Irvine, and Jeggo none of whom have good goal scoring records. There's no depth. As we've seen in previous campaigns, cards and injuries can really put a big dent in things if you lose an important player and can't replace them. When Arnie took on the role with the Olyroos to look for depth, you'd think he would put more emphasis on that with the senior squad.
TheSecretScout
Roar Guru
no end product, its the thing that's been missing in his game since his teenage years - i've seen nothing to change my initial views many years ago
Brainstrust
Roar Rookie
I am worried about the return of Mooy and Rogic , Duke is ok as a striker and has a decent work rate a loss versus Leckie but certainly not the tap in king McLaren , Hrustic is blind to the overlapping fullback if he plays on the right I prefer him in the center. Mooy never the best physically amd getting on, in China players become lazy, if he is played at 6 then Australia are in big trouble, epsecially if Rogic is also starting. Having more technical talent is no use when they are so physically limited. Irvine as the box to box 6 is the best option. There is hardly any top flight any more, Is EPL the top flight? Paying a 36 year old an absolute fortune makes its a retirement league in the Middle East. What happened to the desire of those to play in it versus other leagues, if you have to be paid double your worth to play in the EPL its not a top league.