Wanderers defender Josh Risdon has been named in Caltex Socceroos Head Coach Ange Postecoglou’s preliminary 30-player squad for October’s crunch 2018 FIFA World Cup Asian Qualifiers against Syria.
The latest Caltex Socceroos squad features 22 of the 23 players originally named for the team’s most recent 2018 FIFA World Cup Asian Qualifiers against Japan and Thailand.
Also included in the Caltex Socceroos’ preliminary squad are European-based players Mile Jedinak, Aziz Behich, Mark Birighitti, Craig Goodwin, James Jeggo and Nikita Rukavytsya, as well as defenders Matthew Jurman from Suwon Samsung Bluewings in Korea Republic and Josh Risdon from Western Sydney Wanderers FC.
While there is still over a week of club football to be played before Postecoglou finalises his 23-player squad for the Caltex Socceroos’ critical play-off matches against Syria, Postecoglou is confident that the group ultimately picked will be ready for October’s play-off games.
“There is a short turnaround from the last matches so we are fully focused on these upcoming fixtures against Syria,” said Postecoglou.
“The players that we have selected for these crucial matches all have the benefit of several club matches under their belts over the past few weeks, and I am confident whichever 23 players we settle on will be able to do the job next month.
“Now that the match venues have been confirmed, we will prepare for our fixtures against Syria just like every other international opposition we faced throughout this campaign,” concluded Postecoglou.
The Caltex Socceroos will begin to assemble in Malacca, Malaysia from Sunday 1 October 2017.
Postecoglou will confirm his final 23-player squad next week.
Caltex Socceroos preliminary 30-player squad for the following matches:
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| Name | Club, Country | A-International Caps (Goals) |
|---|---|---|
| Mustafa AMINI | Aarhus Gymnastikforening (AGF), DENMARK | 2 (0) |
| Aziz BEHICH | Bursaspor, TURKEY | 16 (2) |
| Mark BIRIGHITTI (GK) | NAC Breda, NETHERLANDS | 1 (0) |
| Tim CAHILL | Melbourne City FC, AUSTRALIA | 102 (48) |
| Milos DEGENEK | Yokohama F. Marinos, JAPAN | 12 (0) |
| Alex GERSBACH | Rosenborg BK, NORWAY | 4 (0) |
| Craig GOODWIN | Sparta Rotterdam, NETHERLANDS | 3 (0) |
| Jackson IRVINE | Hull City AFC, ENGLAND | 14 (1) |
| Mile JEDINAK | Aston Villa FC, ENGLAND | 71 (15) |
| James JEGGO | SK Sturm Graz, AUSTRIA | 0 (0) |
| Tomi JURIC | FC Luzern, SWITZERLAND | 28 (8) |
| Matthew JURMAN | Suwon Samsung Bluewings, KOREA REPUBLIC | 0 (0) |
| Robbie KRUSE | VfL Bochum, GERMANY | 57 (4) |
| Mitchell LANGERAK (GK) | Levante UD, SPAIN | 8 (0) |
| Mathew LECKIE | Hertha BSC, GERMANY | 46 (6) |
| Massimo LUONGO | Queens Park Rangers FC, ENGLAND | 30 (5) |
| Awer MABIL | FC Paços de Ferreira, PORTUGAL | 0 (0) |
| Jamie MACLAREN | SV Darmstadt 98, GERMANY | 5 (0) |
| Ryan MCGOWAN | Al-Sharjah SCC, SAUDI ARABIA | 20 (0) |
| Mark MILLIGAN | Melbourne Victory FC, AUSTRALIA | 61 (6) |
| Aaron MOOY | Huddersfield Town AFC, ENGLAND | 27 (5) |
| Josh RISDON | Western Sydney Wanderers FC, AUSTRALIA | 3 (0) |
| Tom ROGIC | Celtic FC, SCOTLAND | 29 (7) |
| Nikita RUKAVYTSYA | Maccabi Haifa FC, ISRAEL | 13 (1) |
| Mathew RYAN (GK) | Brighton & Hove Albion FC, ENGLAND | 37 (0) |
| Trent SAINSBURY | Jiangsu Suning FC, CHINA | 29 (3) |
| Brad SMITH | AFC Bournemouth, ENGLAND | 18 (0) |
| James TROISI | Melbourne Victory FC, AUSTRALIA | 34 (5) |
| Daniel VUKOVIC (GK) | KRC Genk, BELGIUM | 0 (0) |
| Bailey WRIGHT | Bristol City FC, ENGLAND | 19 (1) |
2018 FIFA World Cup Asian Qualifiers – Asian Play-off: Match Details
Syria v Caltex Socceroos
Thursday 5 October 2017
Hang Jebat Stadium, Malacca, Malaysia
Kick-off: TBC
Caltex Socceroos v Syria
Tuesday 10 October 2017
Stadium Australia, Sydney Olympic Park, NSW, Australia
Kick-off: 8pm (AEST)
Both matches will be broadcast LIVE on FOX SPORTS and the Nine Network.
Ticket Details (Sydney Match)
For more information regarding ticketing please visit www.socceroos.com.au/tickets
Road to Russia – Caltex Socceroos Qualifying Path
Australia finished the Final Stage of Asian Football Confederation (AFC) FIFA World Cup Qualifying in third place of Group B behind Japan and Saudi Arabia. As the third-placed team in Group B, Australia will now play a two-legged (home and away play-off series against Group A’s third-placed side, Syria, for the opportunity to face the fourth-placed team from CONCACAF (Central and Northern America) in an Intercontinental Play-off (home and away) series for a place in the 2018 FIFA World Cup.
