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| Graham Arnold, Head Coach of Australia looks on during the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 Qualifier match between Oman and Australia at Sultan Qaboos Sports Complex on February 01, 2022 in Muscat, Oman. |
Two players who
achieved recent European club honours were among a squad of 29 named by
Socceroos coach Graham Arnold on Saturday for Australia’s final World Cup
qualifying campaign in Qatar in June.
Ajdin Hrustic
became a Europa League champion with Eintracht Frankfurt in Seville this month
while Tom Rogic won the Scottish Premier League with Celtic FC.
The players are
set to arrive in Qatar’s capital Doha over the next three days as Australia
attempts to qualify for a fifth consecutive World Cup.
The Socceroos'
qualification hopes come down to a playoff match against United Arab Emirates
on June 7 at Ahmad Bin Ali Stadium. If Australia wins that match, it will play
Peru on June 13 at the same stadium.
The winner of
the UAE-Australia match vs. Peru will join Group D featuring France, Denmark,
and Tunisia at the World Cup which will be held between November 21 and
December 18.
“We have selected a large squad for this window for a few reasons, but first and foremost because so many of our players have been in great form for their clubs over recent months,“ Arnold said. “Additionally, with several players set to enter the UAE match on yellow cards, we needed to ensure that we have cover in every area to ensure we’re not caught short at any time.”
The Socceroos
will play a friendly match against Jordan in Qatar on June 1 to warm up for the
UAE match.
Australia
squad: Nathanial Atkinson, Aziz Behich, Martin Boyle, Nicholos D’Agostino,
Jason Davidson, Milos Degenek, Kenny Dougall, Mitchell Duke, Denis Genreau,
Craig Goodwin, Ajdin Hrustic, Jackson Irvine, Fran Karacic, Joel King, Mathew
Leckie, Awer Mabil, Jamie Maclaren, Riley McGree, Aaron Mooy, Andrew Redmayne,
Tom Rogic, Kye Rowles, Mathew Ryan, Trent Sainsbury, Gianni Stensness, Adam
Taggart, Marco Tilio, Danny Vukovic, Bailey Wright.
