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.
(ODD ANDERSEN/AFP/Getty Images)
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.
“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.
“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.”
GARRY
Guest
Well Im very glad we have Wilkinson! I do feel he is slowing up to the extent that he can no longer cover the mistakes of others but his game is still immaculate. I dont get how Warland is below Donachie in the picking order.. purely on experience I guess because the reasons Victory dumped him are visible. Mind you Warland hasnt kicked on yet but maybe needs more playing time. The loss of McGowan hurt as he was likely the long term replacement for Wilkinson. And give Mclaren a chance ..I think he is growing into the Socceroos and remains the outstanding striker in the A League. Re the wedding I think he made the right call..its obviously been rearranged many times so eventually you have a decision..to marry or not, he has chosen to marry
GARRY
Guest
Wilkinson is still a great defender..and you have to remember the diffculties of getting someone from Europe especially at late notice.
Brainstrust
Roar Rookie
I would prefer McLaren go to the wedding. When has he ever scored except against minnows. Wilkinson I though Sydney could finally be rid of him even if it was only one match but apparently he is playing on Friday.
Marcel
Guest
If he simply prefers not to play, then I totally respect that decision...the squad isn't chosen by conscription...best wishes to him, but understand that should be the end of the road with the Socceroos Bottom line is that he is a professional footballer....we are in the middle of the middle of the season....and there is a 5 month off-season in which to organise weddings and such. I'm happy with my assessment that he a fool
Melange
Guest
plenty of weddings have had to be posponed due to covid restriction for the past 2 years and even mclaren has postponed once already - EXACTLY the world cup is something you dream about as a child, not many people can say they’ve played in a world cup - and he has weighed that up vs they affect on his personal life on another delay and chosen a very important event in his personal life. absolutely inexusable picking getting married over a very important
potential life or deathgame for your nation - that's your opinion, wrong as it is. shame on arnie for allowing this to happen and absolutely - shame on Arnie for a lot of things, but not this. shame on maclaren who is obviously under his missus thumb... this generation of players are absolutely soft and the next will be even worse there is no heart or pride in any of them - they are two of the most ridiculous things you've ever posted.Melange
Guest
To him it is. You have chosen only one of his stated reasons, is this in order to make him sound flippant and selfish? Demonise him? The article mentions several reasons including a deposit. Does anyone know, or even need to know, whether their mental health is suffering due to previous delays? They have close family with a grave disease who may not be with them soon to see them get married? The list could go on and on. Bottom line is he's weighed up all factors and doesn't want to put it off any more. Soccer is chasing a little ball around a patch of grass and I love it. But some people put certain personal events in a higher category, he has. Re gender argument, I don't even know why you brought that up.
Melange
Guest
Point 1 - it has, and I'm sure he's made many sacrifices over the years to earn that money. However everyone is entitled to leave and to chose how they balance their personal/professional life. Point 2 - the past 2 years have shown that weddings can't happen at any time.
TheSecretScout
Roar Guru
you're joking right, how can you not see how wrong mclaren is in this situation? plenty of weddings have had to be posponed due to covid restriction for the past 2 years and even mclaren has postponed once already however the world cup is something you dream about as a child, not many people can say they've played in a world cup, it took australia a very long time to qualify for its first world cup and with the speed that asian sides are improving - regularily going might become a thing of a past. It doesnt matter if hes booked the honeymoon in the maldives or bora bora, he has enough money to rebook the trips and the wedding as well and pay for both sides of the family to attend. absolutely inexusable picking getting married over a potential life or death game for your nation marriage is not a reason to miss a match, only things i would deem acceptable would be death of a family member or a child being born (and even then a child being born would be debateable for me) 100% should not be picked for the national team again ( he shouldnt be picked again regardless because he doesnt have the pedigree of an international striker) shame on arnie for allowing this to happen and absolutely shame on maclaren who is obviously under his missus thumb this generation of players are absolutely soft and the next will be even worse - there is no heart or pride in any of them
Marcel
Guest
Yes, there are many things that are far more important than football....this isnt. Its not 1952....theyve lived together for years....His stated reason is that he doesnt want to ask the reception venue for the deposit back. And if you think that the final WC qualifier is just chasing a little ball around a patch of grass ...then it strikes me youve come here for a gender arguement that has no place on this site.
Stevo
Roar Rookie
We need to pray for a miracle coz these absences are making things look grim. Of course I'll watch the game but it'll be with my hands over my eyes and occasionally sneaking a look.
Hudddo
Roar Rookie
2 points: •That ball chasing has made him generate a large amount of money over the years, it is most likely paying for the wedding. •He has been selected in probably one of the most important games of football this country will see for quite some time, weddings can happen any day, the gravitas around this game has come from my recollection maybe 5-10 times in my lifetime, and the implications of the results affect us all.
Melange
Guest
Some of the comments on here make McLaren's decision even more admirable. He's showing perfect perspective, chase a little ball around a patch of grass in the hope you can kick it between two sticks, or marry the person he loves and hopes to spend the rest of his life with? Get a grip people, some things are more important than football.
Harry Selassie
Roar Rookie
Australia is the only national team in the world that I know of where a player will miss the final World Cup qualifier because he is getting married. Absolutely astonishing, past Covid enforced delays or not. On the other hand if Mclaren does not produce against Japan, the final match away to Saudi Arabia could essentially be meaningless anyway. So let's see what Mclaren does on Thursday. Melbourne City I heard denied Curtis Good's selection as the late replacement, so next option was Wilkinson who is there for his veteran presence, it is very unlikely he would play.
AGO74
Guest
Actually apparently he’s been called in just for the Japan game and will play for Sydney fc next night so presumably not going to Saudi Arabia?? If that’s the case he’s been clearly called in just for the leadership component which is fair enough in the circumstances with a lot of young guys likely to play.
AGO74
Guest
It's a squad of 27. Given the late notice that these guys are being called I'd have called in a couple of guys from Europe just for the purposes of the Saudi match - Luongo and Wright. Realistically Wilkinson is 4th/5th choice. I'd say he's just been brought in from off-field leadership point of view in what is a couple of very tough fixtures. Bringing in a 20 or 21 y.o. who is as yet uncapped - this is not the right match date for it. Let's face it though, if we are going to have an injury/COVID struck match date, probably better than this when the odds of us qualifying are about 10 to 1 rather than the playoffs in May/June. Not to say we won't be afflicted then either.....
NoMates
Roar Rookie
This is the most important game thus far and players are sticking there nose up at it because of embarrassing excuses. What is a hard game against Japan became even harder. Maybe like me players have given up and are saving them self for the play offs. Playing micky mouse games against the top teams just doesn't have the draw for these guys to step up.
At work
Roar Rookie
I’m surprised it took you until your 3rd paragraph to state the obvious. :silly: I too was surprised, but not really, that Wilko has been selected. He’s quality, but a little slower now and there’s surely better options around…
TheSecretScout
Roar Guru
no disrespect to alex wilkinson, who is a class act on as well as off the pitch. but how in the world does he get chosen in this squad? i can name several centrebacks off the top of my head who are playing regularly in europe, that are over a decade younger and warrant a call up all arnie ever does, is choose players he's coached before. You can get away with this at club level, but not international. the scoreline could get very ugly against japan
Hawks12
Guest
Of course he injured. The big clubs in the world don’t care about Socceroo qualifier. It’s a business out there in the football world. And in the end really doesn’t matter we are no hope of winning next two games. We are sliding well down in world football ranks
Edward
Guest
Why on earth hasn't Massimo Luongo been called in. Can't believe he wasn't selected first up given Mooy's absence and their playing style similarities. Especially as he's now fit (for the past couple of months) and he's in top form since returning from injury, plus he's in his prime (age wise) and on his day he can be a match winner.