Hyundai A-League stars named in Caltex Socceroos squad

Caltex Socceroos Head Coach Ange Postecoglou has named a 30-man squad for the 2018 FIFA World Cup Qualifier against Saudi Arabia at Adelaide Oval on June 8.

The 30-man squad includes five players from the Hyundai A-League, six uncapped players and, for the first time since 2008, a set of brothers, with Adelaide-born siblings Ryan and Dylan McGowan named in Postecoglou’s squad for the hometown clash against Saudi Arabia.

The squad will be trimmed to 23 players on Wednesday May 31 with the same squad moving onto Melbourne for the friendly with Brazil on June 13 and then Russia for the 2017 FIFA Confederations Cup, where the Caltex Socceroos will face Germany, Cameroon and Chile in the group stage.

 “I’m happy with the 30-man squad we have been able to name for the upcoming June international window but initially our energy and focus will be solely on the World Cup Qualifier against Saudi Arabia in Adelaide,” Postecoglou said. “It is the most important game we will play over the June period.”

Tim Cahill netted the decisive goal as Melbourne City downed Adelaide United 1-0 on Friday night.

“The group is tight at the moment and Saudi Arabia will be a tough opponent but we have always been strong on home soil and I see no reason why that won’t continue in front of our fans at Adelaide Oval on June 8.”

The team will begin assembling in Adelaide on Friday (2 June) giving Postecoglou and his staff extra preparation for what is shaping as a crucial World Cup Qualifier against Saudi Arabia.

“With most of the players’ season coming to an end in the last week or two we will have a lot of players in early, which gives us a good opportunity to do make sure we are ready for the Saudi Arabia game.

“We’ll be together for the best part of a month and previously we have been able to work towards some great outcomes when we have had an extended period together like the World Cup and Asian Cup.

Riley McGree.

“Saudi Arabia is the focus and we will work towards that game but after that match we have a good opportunity to test ourselves against the Number One country in the world and then expose the players to top international competition in World Cup country.”

MATCH DETAILS – 2018 FIFA World Cup Qualifier

Caltex Socceroos v Saudi Arabia

Thursday 8 June 2017

Adelaide Oval

7.30pm kick off (8pm AEST)

The match will be broadcast LIVE on Fox Sports and Channel Nine

For more information regarding ticketing please visit www.socceroos.com.au/tickets

Caltex   Socceroos squad for the following matches / tournaments:

  • 2018 FIFA World Cup Qualifier v Saudi Arabia (Adelaide; June 8)
  • Friendly v Brazil (Melbourne; June 13)
  • 2017 FIFA Confederations Cup (Russia; June 19 – July 2)

  Name

Club, Country

A International Caps (Goals)

Mustafa AMINI

Aarhus Gymnastikforening (AGF), DENMARK

1 (0)

Aziz BEHICH

Bursaspor, TURKEY

11 (2)

Mark BIRIGHITTI (gk)

Swansea City AFC, ENGLAND

1 (0)

Tim CAHILL

Melbourne City FC, AUSTRALIA

96 (48)

Milos DEGENEK

Yokohama F Marinos, JAPAN

7 (0)

Alex GERSBACH

Rosenborg BK, NORWAY

2 (0)

Craig GOODWIN

FC Sparta Rotterdam, NETHERLANDS

3 (0)

Rhyan GRANT

Sydney FC, AUSTRALIA

Ajdin HRUSTIC

FC Groningen, NETHERLANDS

Jackson IRVINE

Burton Albion FC, ENGLAND

9 (1)

Mile JEDINAK

Aston Villa FC, ENGLAND

70 (15)

James JEGGO

SK Sturm Graz, AUSTRIA

Tomi JURIC

FC Luzern, SWITZERLAND

22 (4)

Robbie KRUSE

Uncontracted

50 (4)

Mitchell LANGERAK (gk)

VfB Stuttgart FC, GERMANY

7 (0)

Mathew LECKIE

FC Ingolstadt 04, GERMANY

39 (5)

Massimo LUONGO

Queens Park Rangers FC, ENGLAND

25 (5)

Jamie MACLAREN

SV Darmstadt 98, GERMANY

2 (0)

Dylan McGOWAN

FC Pacos de Ferreira, PORTUGAL

Ryan McGOWAN

Guizhou Zhicheng, CHINA

18 (0)

Riley McGREE

Adelaide United FC, AUSTRALIA

Mark MILLIGAN

Baniyas FC, UAE

55 (5)

Aaron MOOY

Huddersfield Town AFC, ENGLAND

22 (5)

Tom ROGIC

Celtic FC, SCOTLAND

23 (5)

Mathew RYAN (gk)

KRC Genk, BELGIUM

31 (0)

Trent SAINSBURY

FC Internazionale Milano, ITALY

22 (3)

Brad SMITH

AFC Bournemouth, ENGLAND

14 (0)

James TROISI

Melbourne Victory FC, AUSTRALIA

28 (4)

Daniel VUKOVIC (gk)

Sydney FC, AUSTRALIA

Bailey WRIGHT

Bristol City FC, ENGLAND

14 (1)

ROAD TO RUSSIA – QUALIFYING PATH

The Final Stage of Asian Football Confederation (AFC) World Cup Qualifying sees Australia placed into Group B alongside Japan, Saudi Arabia, Thailand, Iraq and the UAE with the two top sides automatically qualifying for the 2018 FIFA World Cup.

The third-placed teams in both AFC Groups will then play each other (home and away) for the opportunity to face the fourth-placed team from CONCACAF (Central and Northern America) in a home and away series for the final place in the 2018 FIFA World Cup.

MATCH DETAILS (World Cup Qualifier, friendly and Confederations Cup)

June 8                   Australia v Saudi Arabia (World Cup Qualifier)     Adelaide Oval                    7.30pm (8pm AEST)

June 13                 Australia v Brazil (International friendly)                MCG                                      8pm AEST

June 19                 Australia v Germany (Confederations Cup)           Fisht Stadium Sochi         6pm (1am AEST)

June 22                 Cameroon v Australia (Confederations Cup)         St Petersburg Stadium   6pm (1am AEST)

June 25                 Chile v Australia (Confederations Cup)                    Spartak Stad Moscow     6pm (1am AEST)

The Caltex Socceroos tackle Saudi Arabia in a crucial World Cup Qualifer in Adelaide on June 8. Click Here for Tickets

Socceroos v Saudi Arabia banner.