Wanderer Josh Risdon has been named in Caltex Socceroos Head Coach Bert van Marwijk’s 26-player squad for Australia’s pre-tournament training camp in Antalya, Turkey, and international friendly match against the Czech Republic in St Polten, Austria on June 1.
The 26-player squad includes uncapped 19-year-old attacker Daniel Arzani from Melbourne City FC in the Hyundai A-League, as well as exciting 22-year-old prospect Fran Karacic, who is currently plying his trade with NK Lokomotiva in Croatia’s top-flight.
The Caltex Socceroos’ all-time leading goalscorer, Tim Cahill, remains on track to represent the green and gold at a remarkable fourth FIFA World Cup, as does Saudi Arabia-based utility Mark Milligan, who made his national team debut in 2006.
20 of the 26 players bound for Turkey have featured in the Hyundai A-League at some stage in their careers, with five current players – Arzani (Melbourne City FC), Joshua Brillante (Sydney FC), Dimitri Petratos (Newcastle Jets), Josh Risdon (Western Sydney Wanderers FC), and James Troisi (Melbourne Victory) – all vying for a place in Australia’s final 23-player squad for Russia.
Last week in Sydney van Marwijk announced a 32-player preliminary squad for the 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia™, and stated that his squad would need to be reduced twice prior to FIFA’s 23-player final squad submission deadline on June 4.
Six players – Alex Gersbach, Apostolos Giannou, Mitchell Langerak, Jamie Maclaren, Aleksandar Susnjar, and Bailey Wright – have been informed that they have not advanced to the next phase of the selection process.
Van Marwijk said that while it was difficult to make the required cuts to his preliminary selection, he feels he will have a balanced and eager group of professionals to work with in Turkey and Austria.
“It is always a challenging task to reduce a squad, however this is the nature of professional sport at the highest level,” said van Marwijk. “Overall, I believe we have named a strong and ambitious squad for our training camp in Turkey and friendly against Czech Republic in Austria.”
“I am sure that in training in Antalya, and in our match against the Czech Republic, we will see players pushing to go to a higher level as they compete for a place in the final squad,” he said.
Australia’s final list of 23 players is scheduled to be announced in Turkey on Sunday, 3 June. The squad will continue their build-up for the 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia™ with a further friendly against Hungary in Budapest on Saturday, 9 June (local time).
The Caltex Socceroos’ pre-tournament camp in Antalya will commence on Sunday, 20 May 2018.
HERE IS THE FULL 26-MAN CALTEX SOCCEROOS EXTENDED SQUAD
|
Name |
Club, Country |
A-International Caps (Goals) |
|
Daniel ARZANI |
Melbourne City FC, AUSTRALIA |
0 (0) |
|
Aziz BEHICH |
Bursaspor, TURKEY |
21 (2) |
|
Joshua BRILLANTE |
Sydney FC, AUSTRALIA |
5 (0) |
|
Tim CAHILL |
Millwall FC, ENGLAND |
105 (50) |
|
Milos DEGENEK |
Yokohama F. Marinos, JAPAN |
17 (0) |
|
Jackson IRVINE |
Hull City AFC, ENGLAND |
17 (2) |
|
Mile JEDINAK |
Aston Villa FC, ENGLAND |
75 (18) |
|
Brad JONES (Gk) |
Feyenoord Rotterdam, NETHERLANDS |
5 (0) |
|
Tomi JURIC |
FC Luzern, SWITZERLAND |
34 (8) |
|
Matthew JURMAN |
Suwon Samsung Bluewings, KOREA REPUBLIC |
4 (0) |
|
Fran KARACIC |
NK Lokomotiva, CROATIA |
0 (0) |
|
Robbie KRUSE |
VfL Bochum, GERMANY |
62 (5) |
|
Mathew LECKIE |
Hertha BSC, GERMANY |
51 (6) |
|
Massimo LUONGO |
Queens Park Rangers FC, ENGLAND |
34 (5) |
|
James MEREDITH |
Millwall FC, ENGLAND |
2 (0) |
|
Mark MILLIGAN |
Al Ahli SC, SAUDI ARABIA |
66 (6) |
|
Aaron MOOY |
Huddersfield Town AFC, ENGLAND |
32 (5) |
|
Andrew NABBOUT |
Urawa Red Diamonds, JAPAN |
2 (0) |
|
Dimitri PETRATOS |
Newcastle Jets, AUSTRALIA |
1 (0) |
|
Josh RISDON |
Western Sydney Wanderers FC, AUSTRALIA |
6 (0) |
|
Tom ROGIC |
Celtic FC, SCOTLAND |
35 (7) |
|
Nikita RUKAVYTSYA |
Maccabi Haifa FC, ISRAEL |
18 (1) |
|
Mathew RYAN (Gk) |
Brighton & Hove Albion FC, ENGLAND |
42 (0) |
|
Trent SAINSBURY |
Grasshopper Club Zurich, SWITZERLAND |
33 (3) |
|
James TROISI |
Melbourne Victory, AUSTRALIA |
37 (5) |
|
Daniel VUKOVIC (Gk) |
KRC Genk, BELGIUM |
1 (0) |
Caltex Socceroos pre-2018 FIFA World Cup Russia Friendlies:
Caltex Socceroos v Czech Republic
Date: Friday, 1 June 2018 (local time)
Venue: NV Arena, St. Polten, Austria
Kick-off: 1pm local (9pm AEST – Friday, 1 June 2018)
Broadcast: Live in Australia on FOX SPORTS and Network Ten
Hungary v Caltex Socceroos
Date: Saturday, 9 June 2018 (local time)
Venue: Groupama Arena, Budapest, Hungary
Kick-off: 5.30pm local (1.30am AEST – Sunday, 10 June 2018)
Broadcast: Live in Australia on FOX SPORTS and Network Ten
Caltex Socceroos 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia Group C Matches:
France v Caltex Socceroos
Date: Saturday, 16 June 2018
Venue: Kazan Arena, Kazan, Russia
Kick-off: 1pm local (8pm AEST – Saturday, 16 June 2018)
Broadcast: Live in Australia on SBS and Optus Sport
Denmark v Caltex Socceroos
Date: Thursday, 21 June 2018
Venue: Samara Arena, Samara, Russia
Kick-off: 4pm local (10pm AEST – Thursday, 21 June 2018)
Broadcast: Live in Australia on SBS and Optus Sport
Caltex Socceroos v Peru
Date: Tuesday, 26 June 2018
Venue: Fisht Stadium, Sochi, Russia
Kick-off: 5pm local (12pm AEST – Wednesday 27 June 2018)
Broadcast: Live in Australia on SBS and Optus Sport
