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Socceroos setbacks as Rogic set to miss crucial World Cup qualifiers and striker has wedding clash

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21st March, 2022
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Australia’s World Cup hopes are set to take another hit with Celtic midfielder Tom Rogic expected to be ruled out of key qualifiers with an ankle injury.

Reports in Scotland suggest the injury, which Rogic sustained in the first half of Celtic’s 4-0 win over Ross County on the weekend, will prevent him from linking up with the Socceroos.

Celtic boss Ange Postecoglu had initially hinted that Rogic would be cleared to play for his country but the 29-year-old now seems poised to remain in Glasgow in the lead-up to the Old Firm derby on April 3.

Australia play the first of two qualifiers against Japan in Sydney on Thursday before a clash with Group B leaders Saudi Arabia in Jeddah on March 30.

The Socceroos are third in their qualifying group and have won just one of their past five qualifiers.

Victories in both fixtures should guarantee a direct passage to the World Cup in Qatar but the absence of Rogic represents a further blow to Australia’s hopes of avoiding the play-off route.

Coach Graham Arnold, who has accepted a $25,000 fine by Football Australia for breaching NSW self-isolation protocols, is already without the services Aaron Mooy, Riley McGree, Adam Taggart, Jackson Irvine and Harry Souttar.

Tom Rogic reacts after missing a goal opportunity

(ODD ANDERSEN/AFP/Getty Images)

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Despite the breach, Arnold — who tested positive for COVID-19 for the second time in two months — could still be on the touchline for the key clash with Japan at Stadium Australia provided he returns a negative result at the completion of his self-isolation period.

Meanwhile, Socceroos striker Jamie Maclaren says he had no option but to make the tough call to miss the second match against Saudi Arabia because of his wedding.

Maclaren will be available for Thursday’s must-win game against Japan in Sydney but will not travel to Jeddah for next week’s clash with the Green Falcons — a match which could well determine if the Socceroos qualify directly for this year’s tournament in Qatar or face a treacherous play-off route to the finals.

The complicating factor is his looming wedding to partner Iva Arapovic, an event the pair have repeatedly had to postpone during the COVID-19 pandemic.

“I’ve had a bit on my mind since 2020 when I was trying to marry my partner. A lot has happened,” Maclaren told Sky Sports Radio’s Big Sports Breakfast.

“Obviously setbacks have happened. Everyone’s been through this whole COVID period for the last two years and the unpredictability of it is difficult.

“This date was chosen well over a year ago and the phone call to the boss (Socceroos coach Graham Arnold) was a hard one but at the same time I’ve got no choice.

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“I can’t change the date and the venue hold the money and at the same time my partner has sacrificed a lot as well.

“It’s a tough position to be in but I’m here focused, ready for the Japan game.”

Australia sit third in Group B in the third stage of Asian qualifying, three points behind second-placed Japan with just the two matches to play.

Only the top two teams qualify automatically for Qatar, with the third-placed nation to face the third-place finisher in Group A — currently the United Arab Emirates — in a playoff in June.

The winner of that match will then face the fifth-placed finisher from South American qualifying for a place at the finals.

“The boys that are coming in are top players as well,” Maclaren said.

“They’re there for a reason.

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“Thursday night can’t come around quick enough.

“We’ve got a great squad and a lot of guys who can change the game in the heat of the moment.

“Really looking forward to Thursday, it’s going to be a cracker.”

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