CahillTex Socceroos

Just on that Socceroos squad. See that Stensness was dropped. 
And Devlin was overlooked.

https://www.smh.com.au/sport/soccer/siege-mentality-arnold-shakes-up-socceroos-before-must-win-qualifiers-20220121-p59q61.html

There were some surprising exclusions, with Denis Genreau and Cameron Devlin, who are in terrific form for Toulouse and Heart of Midlothian respectively, not picked due to Arnold’s preference for other players in Australia’s deep pool of central midfielders.

“I’m loving the fact he’s over at Hearts and he’ll be playing 50 games this year,” Arnold said. “He’ll end up in the Socceroos. But at this moment in time ... we’ve got some depth in that position.”

coochiee

Just on that Socceroos squad. See that Stensness was dropped. 
And Devlin was overlooked.

https://www.smh.com.au/sport/soccer/siege-mentality-arnold-shakes-up-socceroos-before-must-win-qualifiers-20220121-p59q61.html

There were some surprising exclusions, with Denis Genreau and Cameron Devlin, who are in terrific form for Toulouse and Heart of Midlothian respectively, not picked due to Arnold’s preference for other players in Australia’s deep pool of central midfielders.

“I’m loving the fact he’s over at Hearts and he’ll be playing 50 games this year,” Arnold said. “He’ll end up in the Socceroos. But at this moment in time ... we’ve got some depth in that position.”

Stensness got covid & Arnie doesn't rate Devlin it seems.

Going to be a huge clash in Sydney next week. Socceroos will be desperate to avoid the June Playoffs (AFC & then CONEMBOL)
 
https://www.socceroos.com.au/news/socceroos-squad-set-be-announced-japanese-press-prepare-descend-sydney

Football Australia’s preparations for next week’s key FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022™ AFC Asian qualifier against Japan at Stadium Australia in Sydney will ramp up this week, with several key milestones on the road to the encounter set to take place.

Tomorrow, the Socceroos’ squad for the team’s March matches against Japan (home) and Saudi Arabia (away) is set to be named by Australia’s Head Coach Graham Arnold, while at the weekend, the first of an enormous contingent of Japanese media traveling to cover the qualifier will touchdown from Tokyo.

With just eight days to go until the encounter at Stadium Australia, the Socceroos know that direct qualification for this year’s FIFA World Cup™ in Qatar remains firmly at their feet. However, the team will likely need to win both games this month to advance to world football’s showpiece and avoid having to navigate play-off fixtures in June, as Australia did for Russia 2018.

Arnold’s selections will arrive in camp in Sydney between Sunday and Tuesday next week ahead of Thursday’s clash with Japan at Stadium Australia – the scene of so many famous and iconic Socceroos and Australian sporting moments in the past.

Arnold said he’s excited for the players to arrive in camp and flagged that some fresh faces could be passing through Sydney’s Arrivals Halls ahead of the showdown.

“The players and staff are in great spirits and are motivated by the opportunity that is in front of us this month,” Arnold said.

“With a play-off spot for June already locked in, if required, we view this camp as a win-win window – we have the opportunity to qualify directly with great performances in Sydney and Jeddah, but regardless the time together will be beneficial as our players only get limited periods together in national team colours.”

“We’ll be finalising the squad, which is likely to feature some fresh energy, today ahead of tomorrow’s squad announcement,” he said. 

Australia’s clash with Japan is set to be covered from every angle across the continent and internationally next week, with a large contingent of Japanese press set to arrive in Sydney for the encounter.

With Australia’s international borders now open, over 60 Japanese photographers, journalists, and TV crew members will land in the New South Wales capital for the contest.

RR

Hearing Fornaroli and D’Agostino will be named in Socceroos squad to play Japan!

— Ray Gatt (@Gatty54) March 15, 2022

Fornanoli makes it. So does Stensness. No Devlin (who's injured now anyway). Quite cool how they name their Junior club as well. Idea for NZF re future AWs naming??
https://www.socceroos.com.au/news/march-squad-announcement

Olyroos graduates Nathaniel Atkinson and Nicholas D’Agostino – who has been in scintillating form for Melbourne Victory of late – will make their first contributions to a Socceroos camp in Sydney next week, while Perth Glory ace Bruno Fornaroli has been called up after he was recently granted Australian citizenship.

With Fornaroli’s Australian citizenship now granted, Football Australia has submitted paperwork to FIFA requesting to switch Fornaroli’s international football allegiance from Uruguay to Australia and is anticipating that this will be approved prior to next Thursday’s match against Japan. In late 2021 Football Australia underwent through the same process regarding the versatile Gianni Stensness, who has also been included in the Socceroos’ squad for March 2022.

Goodwin & Rowles have been forced out cuz of covid. They are really having a few issues ahead of some must win games.

RR

Goodwin & Rowles have been forced out cuz of covid. They are really having a few issues ahead of some must win games.

I would actually currently rate the AWs a higher chance of making the World Cup.

Socceroos (with a heap of guys now unavailable (Covid/injuries) to automatically qualify must beat Japan (haven't done that since 2009) in Sydney, then Saudi Arabia away.

Failing that they will finish at least 3rd in their pool, and if that happens they play the other 3rd placed team in the other AFC pool. Win that & it's the 5th team from Sth America in June. Never easy, but a one off game in Qatar will be to their advantage.

Missed the news Rogic is out as well.

Sokkah Twitter is having a tantrum that City blocked Curtis Good being called up late, so they had to pick Alex Wilkinson instead.

Good wasn't on the extended squad list provided by the FFA, so City are under no obligation to release him. They have 4 out with the Socceroos already and 3 games to play in the next 10 days.

Stensness starting for Australia against Japan.... currently 0-0 after 40 mins, Japan carving them up but can't score, including hitting the cross bar twice so far.

It's on Sky Sport 7 by the way.

Oi Oi Edgecumbe

RR wrote:

Missed the news Rogic is out as well.

Sokkah Twitter is having a tantrum that City blocked Curtis Good being called up late, so they had to pick Alex Wilkinson instead.

Good wasn't on the extended squad list provided by the FFA, so City are under no obligation to release him. They have 4 out with the Socceroos already and 3 games to play in the next 10 days.

that's not good

Yeh, that’s no good 

siac

Stensness starting for Australia against Japan.... currently 0-0 after 40 mins, Japan carving them up but can't score, including hitting the cross bar twice so far.

It's on Sky Sport 7 by the way.

2-0 win to Japan, goals late at 89 & 94 mins.

Stensness subbed off at 90 mins. Fornaroli made his debut coming on for Mitch Duke at 68 mins. Duke playing for J2 club Fagiano Okayama, leading the line against the Blue Samurai. When you analysis that, not surprising the Socceroos lost.

They travel to play their last game in Saudi Arabia, in a dead rubber, as they will already finish 3rd in their game.

3rd spot in the other group still up in the air - but mostly likely will be UAE (3rd currently), who are about to play Iraq in neutral Riyadh. UAE are 3 points ahead of Lebanon (4th & 0-3 losers to Syria overnight, in a bad result for them).

Last round Lebanon travel to Iran (2nd), and UAE host Sth Korea (1st).

So Socceroos to play either UAE or Lebanon in June. Win that, and then is 5th team from CONEMBOL. And way Socceroos are going the first game will be tough enough (esp in Qatar), let alone the 2nd match.

Arnie under the pump.
https://twitter.com/TheRealALM/status/1507865322833195011