Sydney FC shotstopper Danny Vukovic has been seleced in Head Coach Ange Postecoglou’s 23-man squad for the bumper month of June, which will see the Caltex Socceroos take on Saudi Arabia and Brazil on home soil before meeting Germany, Cameroon and Chile in the group stage of the 2017 FIFA Confederations Cup in Russia.
The Caltex Socceroos start with its most important match of June, a 2018 FIFA World Cup Qualifier against Saudi Arabia at Adelaide Oval on June 8.
The squad, which will start assembling in Adelaide on Friday, contains just three uncapped players with Ajdin Hrustic, Dylan McGowan and Danny Vukovic joining the likes of Mile Jedinak, Tim Cahill, Tom Rogic, Mat Ryan, Aaron Mooy, Mathew Leckie and Mark Milligan for the month-long camp.
“There has been some tough decisions in cutting the squad from 30 down to the final 23 but that’s a good sign of the strength of the squad we have been able to name and the depth we have been able to cultivate over the last three years,” Postecoglou said.
“If you look through the squad we now have a core group of players who have played 30, 40 and more caps and have experienced World Cup, Asian Cup and the tough road of World Cup qualifying.
“There are some players who are unlucky to miss out but if you look at the 23 players we have selected everyone has earned their Socceroos call up whether they are one of the experienced players with World Cup and Asian Cup experience or the three uncapped players.
“June is a big month and we will need to test that depth but initially our focus is solely on the World Cup Qualifier against Saudi Arabia at Adelaide Oval on June 8.”
Postecoglou’s squad will arrive in Adelaide on a high with a number of players coming off huge seasons in Australia and around the globe with many claiming trophies, promotion and against-the-odds victories in relegation battles.
“We’re pleased with the momentum a lot of the players will bring into camp with good form, fitness and success with their clubs,” Postecoglou said. “Many of the boys will come into camp on the back of winning trophies and breakthrough seasons and that confidence and enthusiasm will help us in Adelaide and beyond.
“We face a very tough test against Saudi Arabia and then the opportunity to play four big nations in Australia and overseas. The next four weeks will be crucial in our quest to not only qualify for the 2018 World Cup but to make an impact when we get there.”
Caltex Socceroos squad for the following matches / tournaments:
- 2018 FIFA World Cup Qualifier v Saudi Arabia (Adelaide; June 8)
- Friendly v Brazil (Melbourne; June 13)
- 2017 FIFA Confederations Cup (Russia; June 19 – July 2)
Aziz BEHICH – Bursaspor, TURKEY – 12 (2)
Tim CAHILL – Melbourne City FC, AUSTRALIA – 96 (48)
Milos DEGENEK – Yokohama F Marinos, JAPAN – 7 (0)
Ajdin HRUSTIC – FC Groningen, NETHERLANDS – –
Jackson IRVINE – Burton Albion FC, ENGLAND – 9 (1)
Mile JEDINAK – Aston Villa FC, ENGLAND – 70 (15)
Tomi JURIC – FC Luzern, SWITZERLAND – 22 (4)
Robbie KRUSE – Uncontracted – 50 (4)
Mitchell LANGERAK (gk) – VfB Stuttgart FC, GERMANY – 7 (0)
Mathew LECKIE – Hertha BSC, GERMANY – 39 (5)
Massimo LUONGO – Queens Park Rangers FC, ENGLAND – 25 (5)
Jamie MACLAREN – SV Darmstadt 98, GERMANY – 2 (0)
Dylan McGOWAN – FC Pacos de Ferreira, PORTUGAL – –
Ryan McGOWAN – Guizhou Zhicheng, CHINA – 18 (0)
Mark MILLIGAN – Baniyas FC, UAE – 55 (5)
Aaron MOOY – Huddersfield Town AFC, ENGLAND – 22 (5)
Tom ROGIC – Celtic FC, SCOTLAND – 23 (5)
Mathew RYAN (gk) – KRC Genk, BELGIUM – 31 (0)
Trent SAINSBURY – FC Internazionale Milano, ITALY – 22 (3)
Brad SMITH – AFC Bournemouth, ENGLAND – 16 (0)
James TROISI – Melbourne Victory FC, AUSTRALIA – 28 (4)
Daniel VUKOVIC (gk) – Sydney FC, AUSTRALIA – –
Bailey WRIGHT – Bristol City FC, ENGLAND – 14 (1)
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