Some overseas bolters: Aleksandar Susnjar The uncapped and practically unknown defender is the real bolter on the 29-man roster and could receive his first senior international call-up. 22-year-old Susnjar, who plays for FK Mlada Boleslav in Czech Republic, impressed in the heart of defence for Australia at January’s 2018 AFC U-23 Championship in China. Brad Jones The Feyenoord Rotterdam custodian is back in the Caltex Socceroos mix and in line for his first cap since a 30-minute cameo against Ecuador in 2014. Now 35, the former Liverpool stopper has been in superb form in the Netherlands, helping Feyenoord to their first Eredivisie title in 18 years last season, keeping 17 clean sheets. James Meredith Buoyed by the arrival of Caltex Socceroos legend Tim Cahill at Millwall, the inclusion of the 29-year-old defender means he’ll join his club-mate in the Caltex Socceroos fold. Practically an ever-present for the Lions in the Championship this season after his move from Bradford, he’ll look to add to the two caps he earned in the early stages of 2018 FIFA World Cup qualification against Bangladesh and Kyrgyzstan. https://www.socceroos.com.au/news/overseas-bolters-van-marwijks-first-squad
A-Leaguers: Andrew Nabbout While not strictly a Hyundai A-League player anymore after his move to Urawa Red Diamonds was confirmed on Monday, the now former Newcastle Jets attacker has been in irresistible form in 2017/18. A series of eye-catching performances and wonderful strikes, including a goal-of-the-season contender against Western Sydney, have thrust Nabbout into the limelight and almost demanded inclusion in van Marwijk’s plans. Dimi Petratos Nabbout may have grabbed many of the headlines, but his Jets team-mate has been just as impressive in Newcastle’s stellar season. Second only to Nabbout in the goalscoring stakes this season with nine goals, the former Sydney FC and Brisbane Roar attacker (and new dad) may just cap a superb Hyundai A-League campaign with a plane ticket to Russia. Josh Brillante The Sydney FC midfielder has been the model of consistency in the past two seasons, anchoring the Sky Blues’ record-breaking campaigns. The combative 24-year old earned the last of his five Caltex Socceroos caps in October 2014 but his performances in the Hyundai A-League have seen the drums beating for an international recall. https://www.socceroos.com.au/news/hyundai-a-league-bolters-van-marwijks-first-squad
Ange’s fringe misses out https://www.foxsports.com.au/footba...s/news-story/8ad13ebfa5ab894f85f2f2a9dd53c4da
Bert's dropped 3 from the initial squad: http://www.news.com.au/sport/footba...d/news-story/7d70dd20296f13ca1a40020b507ac98d
Its meant tongue in cheek but I'm still not sure why we have planned nothing for the next friendly window (or the one after that) when we have an Asian Cup early next year and a new coach that needs to familiarise himself with the team.
Graham Arnold today Confirmed no Friendlies in September. One game in October and 2 in November. No opponents announced yet, but 1 game will be a Cahill Farewell, probably in November at home. That’s if we are not suspended by FIFA before then which is becoming more likely, with the FFA and the small federations rejecting the congress change proposal. Proposal will be rejected in September, FIFA will try to install a normalisation committee, FFA will launch legal action to block that and the suspension will be handed down after that. Unless some of the small states can see logic before then.
https://twitter.com/football_r... Potential friendlies lined up? Vs India in Perth Oct 16th Vs Lebanon in Sydney Nov 16th Vs Panama in Melbourne Nov 20th
No official matches for any Asian nations before the Asian Cup in January 2019. All qualifying has finished for now. There’s so much trouble going on at FFA headquarters at the moment there’s probably been no time or money to spend on getting decent opposition to Australia. Although it seems likely now there will be a friendly against South Korea at some stage before the Asian Cup.
Confirmed: South Korea at Suncorp Stadium on November 17. https://www.news.com.au/sport/footb...m/news-story/5f221a41321975922a0f4e740467fe26
And here's Arnie's first squad for the Turkey training camp: https://www.news.com.au/sport/footb...d/news-story/1260e12add4dee2f0b67675f6477e41b Full Squad: Goalkeepers: Brad Jones, Mitchell Langerak, Mat Ryan, Danny Vukovic. Defenders: Aziz Behich, Milos Degenek, Ben Garuccio, Alex Gersbach, Matthew Jurman, Josh Risdon, Trent Sainsbury, Alex Susnjar, Bailey Wright. Midfielders: Kenneth Dougall, Denis Genreau, Ajdin Hrustic, Jackson Irvine, Mile Jedinak, Massimo Luongo, Mark Milligan, Aaron Mooy. Attackers: Mustafa Amini, Daniel Arzani, Mitchell Duke, Apostolos Giannou, John Iredale, Tom Juric, Robbie Kruse, Awer Mabil, Jamie Maclaren, Dimi Petratos.
One of the recent Arnold interviews suggested the October friendly/friendlies would be held in Middle East. Makes more sense to me to play Bahrain/Oman/Kuwait away (closer to Europe for the players), than all the way back to my hometown against a meaningless opponent such as India.
I agree all the signs point to a ME camp for October. Maybe they will play India in the Middle East, although India possibly have a friendly with China in China on October 13th. Qatar, UAE, Jordan appear to already have a full booking for October, but the other West Asian nations appear to be available.
Kuwait v Caltex Socceroos (International Friendly) Date: Monday, 15 October 2018 (local time) Venue: To be confirmed (Kuwait City, Kuwait) Kick-off: To be confirmed Broadcast: Live in Australia on FOX SPORTS and Network TEN https://www.socceroos.com.au/news/caltex-socceroos-set-october-friendly-against-kuwait-0
Squad for the South Korea & Lebanon games announced: Mustafa Amini, Aziz Behich, Martin Boyle, Milos Degenek, Alex Gersbach, Jackson Irvine, James Jeggo, Tomi Juric, Matthew Jurman, Robbie Kruse, Mitch Langerak, Mathew Leckie, Massimo Luongo, Awer Mabil, Jamie Maclaren, Mark Milligan, Aaron Mooy, Andrew Nabbout, Josh Risdon, Tom Rogic, Mathew Ryan, Trent Sainsbury, Danny Vukovic Train-on players: Thomas Deng, Craig Goodwin, Rhyan Grant, Dimi Petratos https://www.news.com.au/sport/footb...s/news-story/bc307f7706f85197d0c83e4f4c238055
Started watching tonight's friendly against OMAN but 20 minutes in it looks too much like a training session in uniform. Off to bed I think.