A-Leagues players past and present make up Australia’s squad for their two crucial World Cup qualifiers against Japan and Saudi Arabia, with naturalised Aussie Bruno Fornaroli’s inclusion headlining the Socceroos roster.
Perth Glory veteran Fornaroli is not the only uncapped player set to enter the Socceroos’ camp for the first time ahead of the decisive fixtures. In-form Melbourne Victory forward Nicholas D’Agostino and former Melbourne City star Nathaniel Atkinson, now at Hearts in Scotland, are also in the squad.
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Revealed by Glory head coach Richard Garcia on Tuesday, Fornaroli has been included to face Japan in Sydney on March 24 and Saudi Arabia in Jeddah five days later after a change in FIFA’s international rules in 2020, having recently become an Australian citizen following seven years Down Under.
It comes with City talisman Jamie Maclaren due to leave camp after the Japan showdown because of his wedding, while a hamstring injury prevented Hearts midfielder Cam Devlin from being called up.
Graham Arnold’s squad also includes two other uncapped players – Central Coast Mariners defender Kye Rowles and Viking’s ex-Mariners and Wellington Phoenix product Gianni Stensness, who is in line to come in as a defensive midfielder.
Adelaide United goalkeeper Joe Gauci will join the squad in the first week of camp for his own development, with Mathew Ryan and Danny Vukovic not scheduled to arrive in Australia until Tuesday.
“This window represents a great opportunity for our players and staff to do something truly special for Australian football, and we will be focusing all our energies on producing two great performances against Japan and Saudi Arabia and lifting the Socceroos to the World Cup,” Arnold said, with his third-placed team occupying the play-off spot, three points behind Japan and four adrift of Saudi Arabia.
“But I truly view March 2022 as a win-win window for this group. With a play-off spot for June already locked in, if required, the players will be able to come to camp with clear minds as to what’s ahead of them, and enjoy the time that they have working hard together and playing in front of their family, friends, and fans.
“I am energised by the messages that I have received from the boys over the past two days after they were notified of their selections.
“That it means as much to a Bruno (Fornaroli), Nathaniel (Atkinson), Nick (D’Agostino), Kye (Rowles), or Gianni (Stensness), players who have yet to take the pitch for Australia, as it does for a Maty (Ryan) or ‘Lecks’ (Mathew Leckie) highlights to me that they can’t wait to be back together to tackle this challenge head on and continue this great journey together.”
Socceroos squad for Japan and Saudi Arabia qualifiers:
Goalkeepers
Andrew Redmayne (Sydney FC), Mathew Ryan (Real Sociedad), Danny Vukovic (NEC Nijmegen).
Defenders
Milos Degenek (Columbus Crew), Aziz Behic (Giresunspor), Joel King (Odense), Fran Karacic (Brescia), Rhyan Grant (Sydney FC), Kye Rowles (Central Coast Mariners), Trent Sainsbury (Kortrijk).
Midfielders
Nathaniel Atkinson (Hearts), Denis Genreau (Toulouse), Ajdin Hrustic (Eintracht Frankfurt), Jackson Irvine (St Pauli), James Jeggo (KAS Eupen), Connor Metcalfe (Melbourne City), Tom Rogic (Celtic), Craig Goodwin (Adelaide United), Gianni Stensness (Viking).
Forwards
Jamie Maclaren (Melbourne City), Bruno Fornaroli (Perth Glory), Mathew Leckie (Melbourne City), Mitchell Duke (Fagiano Okayama), Martin Boyle (Al-Faisaly), Marco Tilio (Melbourne City), Awer Mabil (Kasimpasa), Nicholas D’Agostino (Melbourne Victory).
