Game star Tom Rogic has retired from the Socceroos squad in a massive blow to Australia’s hopes of qualifying for the World Cup.
The Socceroos’ hopes of qualifying for the World Cup have hit hard following the decision of fit player Tom Rogic to withdraw from the Australian national team for the upcoming Qatar playoffs.
Rogic, who starred in Celtic in the Hoops’ 2021-22 Scottish Premiership victory, has mentioned “personal reasons” for retiring from Australia’s last national team.
The Socceroos face the United Arab Emirates in Doha on Wednesday (AEST) in the sudden death playoff.
The winner of this match will face Peru on June 14 (AEST) in another matter of doing or dying, with the prize being a place at the November-December World Cup in Qatar.
Rogic, who also missed Australia’s March defeats against Japan and Saudi Arabia in March, had been named in the 29-man Socceroos squad when he was announced last Saturday, but has not yet joined the squad. selection in Doha.
Socceroos coach Graham Arnold said Rogic’s retirement, which will not be replaced by the squad, was “unfortunate”.
“My focus now has to be on the players we have here in Qatar,” Arnold said.
“We have selected an expanded team of quality players and I think we will get something special for Australia over the next two weeks.”
The Socceroos will prepare for their match against the United Arab Emirates against Jordan in a friendly match on Thursday morning (AEST) in Doha.