Sydney FC young gun Terry Antonis has earned a Socceroos call up for Australia’s clash against Japan later this month after Ange Postecoglou selected the Sky Blue in his 23-man squad.
After impressive displays in the Hyundai A-League for Sydney FC this season, capped off by a phenomenal long range strike against the Central Coast Mariners at the weekend, Antonis will be in contention to take part in the last international friendly before Australia hosts the AFC Asian Cup 2015 in January.
The squad contains no uncapped players but recalls for other Hyundai A-League stars Matt McKay, Mitch Nichols, and Aaron Mooy, who have all started the 2014/15 season in strong form for their respective clubs.
McKay will be making his first appearance for the Socceroos since undergoing surgery after the 2014 FIFA World Cup while Antonis, Mooy and Nichols have an opportunity to push their claims for a place in the squad for the AFC Asian Cup 2015 Australia.
Postecoglou has made five changes to the squad that played the UAE and Qatar with McKay, Nichols, Antonis, Mooy and Robbie Kruse coming in for Adam Federici, Bernie Ibini, Tomi Juric and Brad Smith. Tommy Oar was not considered due to a minor injury.
“The Japan match is the final hit out before the Asian Cup and we’ll have a good week of training leading into the game so we can continue to work on what we’ve been trying to achieve before we take on a tough opponent in Japan,” Postecoglou said.
“The squad we’ve selected has a core group of players we have been working with over the last 12 months but it still gives an opportunity to a few more younger players who have started the season well in the A-League.”
The Socceroos will start assembling in Osaka on Monday 11 November ahead of the match on 18 November.
The 23-man Socceroos squad is:
Terry ANTONIS – Sydney FC, Australia – 3 (0)
Aziz BEHICH – Bursaspor, Turkey – 6 (2)
Mark BRESCIANO – Al Gharafa, Qatar – 80 (13)
Joshua BRILLANTE – ACF Fiorentina, Italy – 5 (0)
Tim CAHILL – New York Red Bulls, USA – 75 (35)
Jason DAVIDSON – West Bromwich Albion F.C., England – 13 (0)
Ivan FRANJIC – FK Torpedo Moskva, Russia – 11 (0)
Chris HERD – Aston Villa, England – 3 (0)
James HOLLAND – FK Austria Vienna, Austria – 15 (0)
Mile JEDINAK – Crystal Palace FC, England – 51 (6)
Robbie KRUSE – TSV Bayer 04 Leverkusen, Germany – 31 (3)
Mitchell LANGERAK (gk) – B.V. Borussia 09 Dortmund, Germany – 5 (0)
Mathew LECKIE – FC Ingolstadt 04, Germany – 15 (1)
Massimo LUONGO – Swindon Town FC, England – 4 (0)
Matt McKAY – Brisbane Roar FC, Australia – 49 (1)
Mark MILLIGAN – Melbourne Victory FC, Australia – 33 (2)
Mitch NICHOLS – Perth Glory, Australia – 4 (0)
Aaron MOOY – Melbourne City FC, Australia – 3 (3)
Mat RYAN (gk) – Club Brugge KV, Belgium – 12 (0)
Trent SAINSBURY – P.E.C. Zwolle, Netherlands – 3 (0)
Nikolai TOPOR-STANLEY – Western Sydney Wanderers FC, Australia – 4 (0)
James TROISI – S.V. Zulte Waregem, Belgium – 15 (1)
Alex WILKINSON – Jeonbuk Hyundai FC, Korea Republic – 10 (0)
MATCH DETAILS
Japan v Australia
18 November 2014
Yanmar Stadium Nagai, Osaka
Kick-Off 7.20pm (9.20pm AEDT)
The Japan v Australia match will be broadcast LIVE on FOX SPORTS and ABC TV.
*Terry Antonis is sponsored by proud Player Partner Arthur Galan AG.
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