Socceroos head coach Graham Arnold has confirmed his 29-man squad for the crucial Doha play-off campaign, with striker Adam Taggart returning from an injury with the mission to fire Australia in the Doha. Qatar World Cup 2022 this year.
Taggart has been named for next month’s crucial Asian play-off against the United Arab Emirates in Qatar, along with returning stars Aaron Mooy, Tom Rogic and Jackson Irvine. It is Taggart’s first call-up to the national team since October, when a knee injury ruled out the 28-year-old from the back half of Australia’s group stage matches.
In their absence, the Socceroos went from leading the group to finishing third behind Saudi Arabia and Japan, forcing them to play in the June 7 play-off against the United Arab Emirates. The winner of this match will face the South American nation Peru on June 13 to secure a place in Group D with France, Denmark and Tunisia at this year’s World Cup, which will be held on June 21. November to December 18.
“It simply came to our notice then. It’s football, “Taggart told the AAP.” This is the challenge we face now. .
“It’s kind of an all-or-nothing scenario we’ve gotten into,” Taggart said. “It’s important to get into it, make the most of it and enjoy it and make sure we get to the World Cup. You can’t stop what has happened in the last few games, there’s still a lot to play for … we just have to make sure that our way of looking at it is positive. “
Arnold has named nine players who did not play in the last qualifying matches against Japan and Saudi Arabia, when one team was severely affected by COVID-19 withdrawals and games lost due to injury.
There are returns for Adelaide winger Craig Goodwin, Melbourne City striker Mathew Leckie and Central Coast defender Kye Rowles along with Taggart, Mooy, Rogic and Irvine. Melbourne Victory winger Jason Davidson has also been selected and could make his first Socceroos appearance since 2015.
In addition to Taggart, Arnold’s attacking strength is bolstered by the return of Men’s A-League Golden Boot winner Jamie Maclaren after losing the Saudi Arabian match. in March to get married. Ajdin Hrustic also arrives on the field following his recent Europa League win over Eintracht Frankfurt.
However, these calls mean that there is no place for Uruguayan-born striker Bruno Fornaroli after his widespread debut in March. Connor Metcalfe, Ben Folami, James Jeggo and Rhyan Grant are others to miss. Arnold also overlooked Johnny Warren medalist Jake Brimmer and Central Coast Scottish forward Jason Cummings.
Australia is warming up for its must-see match against the United Arab Emirates with a friendly in Doha against Jordan on Wednesday (Thursday, 4am AEST), and players will arrive in the Qatari capital in the next three days.
The Socceroos ’qualifying path to this World Cup began in September 2019 with a 3-0 win over Kuwait in Kuwait City. Now, after 18 games, 12 wins and 43 goals, Australia’s journey to qualify for a fifth consecutive World Cup final is reaching its peak with these play-offs against the United Arab Emirates (UAE). and Peru for the next fortnight.
“Our qualifying trip for this year’s World Cup has been a challenge, but the bigger the challenge, the bigger the reward,” Arnold said. “Like in 2017 and 2005, I am fully convinced that our boys will come out through the play-off system and seal Australia a place in the World Cup.”
“We have selected a great squad for this window for some reason, but especially because many of our players have been in great shape for their clubs in recent months. Also, with several players ready to enter the UAE game with yellow cards, we had to make sure we had coverage in all areas to make sure we didn’t fall short at any point.
“I’ve heard Rale Rasic comment recently that ‘Socceroos’ history is always a super story,’ so on the centenary of our national team there would be no better way for this group of players and staff to honor those who they have preceded that by writing another proud chapter in the history books through the FIFA World Cup qualifier ™ “, he concluded.
The Socceroos squad for June 2022 features a wide variety of players who will enter the field after recently securing individual and / or club honors. Ajdin Hrustic became European League champions this month with Eintracht Frankfurt in Seville, while Tom Rogic won the Scottish Premier League with Celtic FC, as well as the men’s footballer of the year award for professional footballers. of Australia.
Denis Genreau helped dismiss his club, FC Toulouse, for the Ligue 2 title in France and was also named PFA Young Player of the Year this week. Meanwhile, Nathaniel Atkinson played in the Scottish Cup final, Joel King was an unused substitute in the Danish Cup final and Bailey Wright played a prominent role in helping his team, the Sunderland AFC, in get promotion to the English Championship at Wembley.
And three players from the squad will take part in tonight’s A-League men’s grand final, with Mathew Leckie, Jamie Maclaren and Marco Tilio with the potential to enter the Socceroos field in the new cloud if they defeat Western United FC at the ‘AAMI Park.
SOCCEROOS SQUADNathaniel Atkinson, Aziz Behich, Martin Boyle, Nicholas D’Agostino, Jason Davidson, Milos Degenek, Kenny Dougall, Mitch 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, Maty Ryan, Trent Sainsbury, Gianni Stensness, Adam Taggart, Marco Tilio, Danny Vukovic, Bailey Wright.