Caltex Socceroos Head Coach Ange Postecoglou has promoted five fresh faces to his final 23-player squad for next month’s crunch 2018 FIFA World Cup Asian Qualifiers against Syria.
Former Hyundai A-League players Aziz Behich, Craig Goodwin, Nikita Rukavytsya, and Matthew Jurman, have each been promoted to Postecoglou’s latest 23-player squad, as has current Western Sydney Wanderers FC defender Josh Risdon.
18 of the players originally named in Postecoglou’s 23-player squad for the team’s recent FIFA World Cup Asian Qualification matches against Japan and Thailand have retained their spot in the latest Caltex Socceroos squad.
The Caltex Socceroos will aim to take a step towards the 2018 FIFA World Cup, which will be hosted by Russia, by securing a two-legged play-off victory over Syria following games in Melaka, Malaysia on October 5, and Sydney, Australia on October 10.
“I am confident that we have a group of players capable of achieving our goal of progressing to the next stage of qualification,” Postecoglou said.
“As I have mentioned on many occasions, it is important for us to have a large and vocal home crowd for the second match of this series, and I’m sure the boys will appreciate all the support from the local fans.”
To purchase tickets to the home leg in Sydney (Tuesday 10 October 2017) please visit www.socceroos.com.au/tickets .
The Caltex Socceroos will begin to assemble in Melaka, Malaysia from Sunday 1 October 2017. Following the away leg on neutral territory, the group will arrive home in Australia on Friday 6 October 2017.
| Name | Club, Country | A-International Caps (Goals) |
|---|---|---|
| Mustafa AMINI | Aarhus Gymnastikforening (AGF), DENMARK | 2 (0) |
| Aziz BEHICH | Bursaspor, TURKEY | 16 (2) |
| Tim CAHILL | Melbourne City FC, AUSTRALIA | 102 (48) |
| Milos DEGENEK | Yokohama F. Marinos, JAPAN | 12 (0) |
| Craig GOODWIN | Sparta Rotterdam, NETHERLANDS | 3 (0) |
| Jackson IRVINE | Hull City AFC, ENGLAND | 14 (1) |
| 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) |
| 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) |
Match Details:
2018 FIFA World Cup Asian Qualifiers – Asian Play-offs – 1st leg
Syria v Caltex Socceroos
Thursday 5 October 2017
Hang Jebat Stadium, Melaka, Malaysia
Kick-off: 8.30pm (local) / 11.30pm (AEDT)
2018 FIFA World Cup Asian Qualifiers – Asian Play-offs – 2nd leg
Caltex Socceroos v Syria
Tuesday 10 October 2017
Stadium Australia, Sydney Olympic Park, NSW, Australia
Kick-off: 8pm (AEDT)
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 in 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) for a place in the 2018 FIFA World Cup.
