The Suba-roos (Australian Men's Team)

31 man squad picked not 34 as earlier stated.
https://www.socceroos.com.au/news/31-players-bound-kuwait-socceroos-seek-seal-top-spot-group-b

Duke (WSW) made it. Not sure if he misses tomorrow night's game.
Genreau (Macarthur).
Good, Maclaren & Metcalfe (Melb City)
Grant, Ryan McGowan & Redmayne (Sydney FC)
Ikonomidis (Glory)
Tongyik (CCM) 

So big disruption to title hopes of this season's top two sides.

coochiee

34 man squad named this afternoon. 
Duke & Ikonomidis hopefully in there , from a Nix angle.

Well I was totally wrong about Ikonomidis.

Socceroos with a 3-0 win over Kuwait in AFC qualifying.
Leckie, Irvine & Hrustic the scorers.
https://us.soccerway.com/matches/2021/06/03/asia/wc-qualifying-asia/australia/kuwait/3079289/

Maclaren an unused sub.

Also a few days ago the Olyroos (mostly Euro based) lost to Ireland U21s 2-1 in Spain.
Jet's Ramy Najjarine with Olyroos goal.
https://www.socceroos.com.au/news/najjarine-nets-stunner-australia-u23s-defeated-late-ireland-goal

They play Romania U23s, one of the Oly Whites Tokyo pool opponents next week. Will be interesting to hear how that goes.

These plans will create some controversy in Australia for sure.

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-9656047/Covid-19-Australia-Socceroos-skip-hotel-quarantine-play-World-Cup-game-Australia.html?ns_mchannel=rss&ns_campaign=1490&ito=1490

Socceroos to be given a special exemption to SKIP hotel quarantine along with an overseas team to play crucial World Cup game in Australia.

Socceroos beat Taiwan 5-1. MacLaren a pen, Mitch Duke with a double.

https://us.soccerway.com/matches/2021/06/07/asia/wc-qualifying-asia/australia/chinese-taipei/3079293/

https://www.socceroos.com.au/

Socceroos through to next round AFC qualifying with 2 games left. Another win will guarantee them top spot in their pool (ahead of Jordan or Kuwait), and seeding for next round.

Socceroos with a 3-0 win over 10 man Nepal (send off at 45mins, score 2-0).
Lawrence Thomas debut as a late sub for Redmayne.
https://us.soccerway.com/matches/2021/06/11/asia/wc-qualifying-asia/nepal/australia/3079292/

Australia now confirmed to finish 1st in their group (7 wins from 7), and top seeding to next AFC qualifying phase.

Socceroos have Jordan as their last game. Thought there may have been some chance of the A League guys being released early, for the finals playoffs. But I guess as they would have to do 2 weeks MIQ upon return to Aussie that would be pointless.

Really does make Melb City & SFC (3 player each away with Socceroos) more vulnerable than would be usual, hosting next weekend's semis. Adds to that 'what if' feeling for Nix's season. If the Grand Final is contested by two sides other than the big Two, wouldn't be a shock.

Just watched the highlights and only really recognized Leckie in the outfield. I mean I knew Emmerton and Bresciano I had retired, but fark. Checking the team sheet I know Duke. I should know Behich and Metcalfe too, but would need their shirts to figure it out. 
Any names missing from the top leagues I should know? Surely there are a few ‘Roos playing at the top levels yeh?
Edit: just Ryan and Mooy? Wtf happened? 

Tom Rogic I think was unavailable for these games. Also Arnold has been rotating his squad in Kuwait.

But yes the days of Socceroos Golden Generation, peaking at that 2006 Germany World Cup (when they were unlucky to go out in the quarters to eventual winners Italy) are long gone. Then nearly every player in the starting eleven was in the EPL, or top tier somewhere in Europe.

And most of those guys got an early start as youngsters in the old NSL. So one of criticisms of the A League in Aus, is lack of playing time for young kids, hindering player development in Aus. Of course the NSL also had more teams as well, so naturally more opportunities for kids to get a game.

Socceroos with a 1-0 win over Jordan in their final game. 4 wins. Arnold picked his strongest team in this game. Two starters from the A League, Grant & MacLaren.

Apparently a fair amount of niggle as Jordan needed a win, to stay alive in qualifying. So useful hit out for Arnold given high stakes games that will exist in next qualifying round.
https://us.soccerway.com/matches/2021/06/15/asia/wc-qualifying-asia/australia/jordan/3079295/
https://www.socceroos.com.au/

Of interest, just in case OFC (0.5 spots) draws AFC (4.5 spots) for those intercontinental playoffs next June (33.33% chance of that), here are the 12 teams through to 3rd round AFC qualifying. 

2 pools of 6 teams. Top 2 in each pool qualify for Qatar. 3rd placed teams each pool, playoff to grab the intercontinental playoff spot. Sadly no Bahrain!!

Lebanon
Syria
Iran 
Iraq
Saudi Arabia
UAE
Oman
China
Japan
South Korea
Vietnam
Australia

North Korea withdrew from qualifying. Qatar of course already qualified as hosts. 

Won't be easy for the Socceroos, who only qualified for Russia through the playoff route. Hence why FFA is pushing NSW Govt to relax 2 week MIQ requirement, so Socceroos can have benefit of home games in Sydney.  Arriving football teams to train in controlled bio secure bubble environments, nets around the ground so spectators can't touch the ball etc etc. 

But will be a lot of public outrage if this is allowed. 30,000 odd Australians still trapped overseas apparently.

martinb

Just watched the highlights and only really recognized Leckie in the outfield. I mean I knew Emmerton and Bresciano I had retired, but fark. Checking the team sheet I know Duke. I should know Behich and Metcalfe too, but would need their shirts to figure it out. 
Any names missing from the top leagues I should know? Surely there are a few ‘Roos playing at the top levels yeh?
Edit: just Ryan and Mooy? Wtf happened? 

Ajdin Hrustic is a good player, plays as an attacking midfielder, was at Groningen in the Eredivisie, and joined Eintracht Frankfurt at the start of the season. He was used a bit sparingly there, but Eintracht are a good side, should’ve got Champions League football, but capitulated towards the end of the season to finish (a still very respectable) 5th in the Bundesliga. 

Harry Souttar is another one, he’s a 200cm or so CB at Stoke. He’s Scottish but Australian by heritage, I think their qualifiers in November 2019 when he debuted might have been the first time he went to Australia. But he has been exceptional for Stoke in the Championship, and is linked with Burnley. He also has 6 goals for the Socceroos already in 5 caps, as he is literally too tall for the Asian defenders to mark so has free headers all the time.

There’s also guys like Mabil (Champions League with Midtjylland), Rukavytsya (top scorer in Israeli league), Degenek (won the league unbeaten in Serbia with Red Star and linked with clubs in Russia), Holland (Europa League with LASK Linz)

Australian Olympic Team for Tokyo – Men’s Football

Name | Position | Age | Olympic Games
Daniel Arzani | Forward | 22 | Debut
Nathaniel Atkinson | Defender | 22 | Debut
Keanu Baccus | Midfielder | 23 | Debut
Nicholas D'Agostino | Forward | 23 | Debut
Thomas Deng | Defender | 24 | Debut
Mitchell Duke* | Forward | 30 | Debut
Denis Genreau | Midfielder | 22 | Debut
Thomas Glover | Goalkeeper | 23 | Debut
Joel King | Defender | 20 | Debut
Ashley Maynard-Brewer | Goalkeeper | 22 | Debut
Riley McGree | Midfielder | 22 | Debut
Connor Metcalfe | Midfielder | 21 | Debut
Dylan Pierias | Midfielder | 21 | Debut
Reno Piscopo | Forward | 23 | Debut
Kye Rowles | Defender | 23 | Debut
Harry Souttar | Defender | 22 | Debut
Ruon Tongyik* | Defender | 24 | Debut
Caleb Watts | Midfielder | 19 | Debut

Devlin, Wales, Najjarine & Jordan Holmes are the traveling reserves 

RR

Australian Olympic Team for Tokyo – Men’s Football

Name | Position | Age | Olympic Games
Daniel Arzani | Forward | 22 | Debut
Nathaniel Atkinson | Defender | 22 | Debut
Keanu Baccus | Midfielder | 23 | Debut
Nicholas D'Agostino | Forward | 23 | Debut
Thomas Deng | Defender | 24 | Debut
Mitchell Duke* | Forward | 30 | Debut
Denis Genreau | Midfielder | 22 | Debut
Thomas Glover | Goalkeeper | 23 | Debut
Joel King | Defender | 20 | Debut
Ashley Maynard-Brewer | Goalkeeper | 22 | Debut
Riley McGree | Midfielder | 22 | Debut
Connor Metcalfe | Midfielder | 21 | Debut
Dylan Pierias | Midfielder | 21 | Debut
Reno Piscopo | Forward | 23 | Debut
Kye Rowles | Defender | 23 | Debut
Harry Souttar | Defender | 22 | Debut
Ruon Tongyik* | Defender | 24 | Debut
Caleb Watts | Midfielder | 19 | Debut

Devlin, Wales, Najjarine & Jordan Holmes are the traveling reserves 

Congrats Piscopo & Devlin (gets to travel to Japan at least).

Would be very interesting, if Reno stood out at the Olympics, and some Euro club made Nix a tidy offer with one year left on his contract.

I guess same applies to Lewis & Waine as well.

Mitch Duke as one of 2 over age players is an interesting choice. Didn't realise before reading this article, just how many young Aussies there are in Europe - if mostly just in youth teams by the sound of it.

Hopefully there is a Olyroos verus Oly Whites warm up game in Japan.

https://www.ftbl.com.au/news/biggest-exclusions-from-the-olyroos-tokyo-olympics-squad-566640

Cameron Devlin can also feel unlucky after his nomination for Young Player of the Year. Fellow breakout stars this season like Stuttgart-bound Alou Kuol, Marco Tolio and Stefan Colakovski also fail to make the side as late bolters.

Arnie got turned down by most clubs when he approached them for over aged players to be released. That is why he only went for Duke and a 3 days too old Tongyik.

RR

Arnie got turned down by most clubs when he approached them for over aged players to be released. That is why he only went for Duke and a 3 days too old Tongyik.

Be surprising if Melb City stopped Arnold from taking Jamie Mclaren. Unless the AFC Champions League is now going to be reschuled around time of the Olympics.

coochiee

RR

Arnie got turned down by most clubs when he approached them for over aged players to be released. That is why he only went for Duke and a 3 days too old Tongyik.

Be surprising if Melb City stopped Arnold from taking Jamie Mclaren. Unless the AFC Champions League is now going to be reschuled around time of the Olympics.

J-Mac has just been away for a month with the Socceroos, maybe he opted to not go away for another couple of months to the Olympics. I dunno

Australia have been drawn into Group B for the next stage of World Cup qualifying:

🇯🇵 Japan
🇸🇦 Saudi Arabia
🇨🇳 China
🇴🇲 Oman
🇻🇳 Vietnam

— A-League Hub (@AleagueHub) July 1, 2021

Top 2 advance, 3rd goes into a play off.

RR

Australia have been drawn into Group B for the next stage of World Cup qualifying:

🇯🇵 Japan
🇸🇦 Saudi Arabia
🇨🇳 China
🇴🇲 Oman
🇻🇳 Vietnam

— A-League Hub (@AleagueHub) July 1, 2021

Top 2 advance, 3rd goes into a play off.

That's a reasonably kind draw. Only two Middle Eastern teams (out of 7 left in last round AFC qualifying), where the Socceroos have struggled more to win, compared to East Asia.

FFA are very keen to get NSW/Federal Govt permission to host qualifying games in Sydney, without 2 week MIQ requirement for visiting teams, and overseas based Socceroos players. 2 week MIQ requirement obviously ain't workable for international football. Certainly a big disadvantage if the Australia can't have home games.

Socceroos squad for latest AFC qualifiers. Only one A League player, Rhyan Grant - mostly due to MIQ requiurements/travel restrictions.

Champness's new team mate Behich in there. Mitch Duke there from J2.
Singh lost to Jackson Irvine over the weekend, whilst Tuiloma got up over Brad Smith today. Tzanev lost to Baily Wright's Sunderland last weekend. Cacace lost to Trent Sainsbury a few weeks back in Belgium.

Getting to the stage where is a lot of AWs playing at similar levels, to most of the Socceroos.

https://www.sportingnews.com/au/football/news/socceroos-squad-rogic-mooy-return-arzani-earns-surprise-recall-for-world-cup-qualifiers/5ap709yg6vgv1mopxsbyk1c7j


Socceroos 27-man squad (vs. China & Vietnam)

Name Team
Daniel Arzani | Lommel SK, Belgium | Ryan McGowan | Kuwait SC, Kuwait
Aziz Behich | Giresunspor, Turkey | Riley McGree | Birmingham City, England
Martin Boyle | Hibernian, Scotland | Aaron Mooy | Shanghai Port, China
Milos Degenek | Red Star Belgrade, Serbia | Tom Rogic | Celtic, Scotland
Kenneth Dougall | Blackpool, England | Mathew Ryan (GK) | Real Sociedad, Spain  Mitch Duke | Fagiano Okayama, Japan | Trent Sainsbury | KV Kortrijk, Belgium  Callum Elder | Hull City, England | Brad Smith | Seattle Sounders, USA
Denis Genreau | Toulouse FC, France | Harry Souttar | Stoke City, England
Rhyan Grant | Sydney FC, Australia | Ryan Strain | Maccabi Haifa, Israel
Ajdin Hrustic | Eintracht Frankfurt, Germany | Adam Taggart | Cerezo Osaka, Japan Jackson Irvine | St Pauli, Germany | Lawrence Thomas (GK) | SønderjyskE Fodbold, Denmark Paul Izzo (GK) | Xanthi FC, Greece | Danny Vukovic (GK) | NEC Nijmegen, Netherlands  James Jeggo | Aris Thessaloniki, Greece | Bailey Wright | Sunderland, England  Awer Mabil | FC Midtjylland, Denmark

coochiee

Socceroos squad for latest AFC qualifiers. Only one A League player, Rhyan Grant - mostly due to MIQ requiurements/travel restrictions.

Champness's new team mate Behich in there. Mitch Duke there from J2.
Singh lost to Jackson Irvine over the weekend, whilst Tuiloma got up over Brad Smith today. Tzanev lost to Baily Wright's Sunderland last weekend. Cacace lost to Trent Sainsbury a few weeks back in Belgium.

Getting to the stage where is a lot of AWs playing at similar levels, to most of the Socceroos.

https://www.sportingnews.com/au/football/news/socceroos-squad-rogic-mooy-return-arzani-earns-surprise-recall-for-world-cup-qualifiers/5ap709yg6vgv1mopxsbyk1c7j


Socceroos 27-man squad (vs. China & Vietnam)

Name Team
Daniel Arzani | Lommel SK, Belgium | Ryan McGowan | Kuwait SC, Kuwait
Aziz Behich | Giresunspor, Turkey | Riley McGree | Birmingham City, England
Martin Boyle | Hibernian, Scotland | Aaron Mooy | Shanghai Port, China
Milos Degenek | Red Star Belgrade, Serbia | Tom Rogic | Celtic, Scotland
Kenneth Dougall | Blackpool, England | Mathew Ryan (GK) | Real Sociedad, Spain  Mitch Duke | Fagiano Okayama, Japan | Trent Sainsbury | KV Kortrijk, Belgium  Callum Elder | Hull City, England | Brad Smith | Seattle Sounders, USA
Denis Genreau | Toulouse FC, France | Harry Souttar | Stoke City, England
Rhyan Grant | Sydney FC, Australia | Ryan Strain | Maccabi Haifa, Israel
Ajdin Hrustic | Eintracht Frankfurt, Germany | Adam Taggart | Cerezo Osaka, Japan Jackson Irvine | St Pauli, Germany | Lawrence Thomas (GK) | SønderjyskE Fodbold, Denmark Paul Izzo (GK) | Xanthi FC, Greece | Danny Vukovic (GK) | NEC Nijmegen, Netherlands  James Jeggo | Aris Thessaloniki, Greece | Bailey Wright | Sunderland, England  Awer Mabil | FC Midtjylland, Denmark

It kind of feels like there’s a missing generation of Aussie talent somewhere. Rogic hasn’t moved up from Celtic, Amini hasn’t set the world on fire, Mooy is out of the EPL or Championship, Juric is back home and not obviously a class above like some had thought…and now even Leckie is going to be back in Aussie. Kruse has gone from pushing for a place in a top 3 Bundesliga team to bottom of the A league. Langerak has retired from international football. Rukavytsya has had a solid career, but seems out of the picture at 34. 
Honestly seems like a bunch of the Melbourne City boys should be overseas starting with Metcalfe. 
Even Mark Milligan could have maybe pushed on a bit further than he did perhaps. Though he’s done now too. 

Trent Sainsbury another. At Zwolle with Thomas, and briefly PSV. But he’s been everywhere since. China, Israel and now Belgium without ever getting that big move. Brad Smith went from Liverpool down to MLS.

Some of their better players now are Boyle and Souttar who ain’t even proper Aussies.

So different to their very good 2006 WC team full of EPL regulars.

coochiee

https://www.canberratimes.com.au/story/7414568/socceroos-ease-past-china-in-wc-qualifier/?cs=14275

Good result for them, and the biggest gun in their group Japan lost to Oman at home last night also

Socceroos a chance to host home WC qualifying games from Octover 7th, in Sydney. Ironically whilst interstate borders likely shut.

https://www.sportingnews.com/au/football/news/socceroos-return-realistic-as-football-australia-detail-homecoming-plans-with-fans-no-certainty/y8ig7306rhwe1tbvbjpozfau5

Socceroos up 1-0 in Hanoi. Ryan Grant only A League player in the squad with the goal. 

About 10 mins after he had a nervous VAR wait, when his handball in the Aussie box, not considered worthy of a pen

Finishes 1-0. So Socceroos start 10 game qualifying with 2 wins. Main group rivals shape as Saudi (also 2 wins) & Japan (who won in China after earlier home loss to Oman).

https://www.news.com.au/sport/football/grant-goal-gives-socceroos-a-10th-straight-win-on-the-road-to-next-years-world-cup/news-story/fbb6fbe2f1aa41289931d5b03b4f213c

Oman & Japan for Arnie's mob in October window.

Out of curiosity last nights Socceroos starting eleven came from -

La Liga (Ryan), Belgian top flight (Sainsbury), MLS (Smith), A League (Grant), The Championship (Souttar & McGree), Bundesliga 2 (Irvine), SPL (Rogic), Danish top flight (Mabil), Bundesliga (Hrustic) & J1 (Taggart).

So club level wise, not that different at all to a 1st eleven for the AWs.

https://www.socceroos.com.au/news/afc-confirm-doha-location-australia-against-oman

Football Australia, together with the NSW Government, recently announced that the Commonwealth Bank Matildas will host Brazil in a two-match series in NSW on 23 October and 26 October at CommBank Stadium in Parramatta.

While the Socceroos’ AFC Asian Qualifiers – Road to Qatar™ (Final Round) match against Oman will come too soon for permissions to be received to play that fixture on home soil, Football Australia is confident that the two-game Matildas friendly series being hosted on home-soil, will help to pave the way for the Socceroos to play Asian qualifiers in New South Wales from November onwards.

The Socceroos are scheduled to host Saudi Arabia in Australia on 11 November with advanced discussions with the NSW Government on-going so that this fixture can be played in Australia.

https://www.sportingnews.com/au/football/news/socceroos-squad-smith-tests-positive-to-covid-19-ikonomidis-and-karacic-in-for-oman-japan-world-cup-qualifiers/14pyi4m3cpw89127acm2q1wmy5

Covid cases obviously still an issue in the MLS it seems.

Socceroos will be training in Doha just across the water from the All Whites in Bahrain, before their first game against Oman.

Socceroos 25-man squad (vs. Oman & Japan)

Daniel Arzani | Lommel SK, Belgium | Fran Karacic | Brescia, Italy |
Aziz Behich | Giresunspor, Turkey | Awer Mabil | FC Midtjylland, Denmark |
Martin Boyle | Hibernian, Scotland | Ryan McGowan | Kuwait SC, Kuwait |
Milos Degenek | Red Star Belgrade, Serbia | Riley McGree | Birmingham City, England | Kenneth Dougall | Blackpool, England | Aaron Mooy | Shanghai Port, China | Mitch Duke | Fagiano Okayama, Japan | Tom Rogic | Celtic, Scotland |
Callum Elder | Hull City, England | Mathew Ryan (GK) | Real Sociedad, Spain |
Denis Genreau | Toulouse FC, France | Trent Sainsbury | KV Kortrijk, Belgium |
Rhyan Grant | Sydney FC, Australia | Harry Souttar | Stoke City, England |
Ajdin Hrustic | Eintracht Frankfurt, Germany | Adam Taggart | Cerezo Osaka, Japan | Jackson Irvine | St Pauli, Geermany | Lawrence Thomas (GK) | SønderjyskE Fodbold, Denmark | Chris Ikonomidis | Melbourne Victory, Australia | Danny Vukovic (GK) | NEC Nijmegen, Netherlands | James Jeggo | Aris Thessaloniki, Greece |

Socceroos with a 3-1 win over Oman to be 3W from 3 games. Game across the water from Bahrain in Doha. 'Home' game for Australia. Mitch Duke with the 3rd goal.

Saudi also a perfect 3 from 3 in same group. They beat Japan 1-0. Japanese with 1W 2L record will now be desperate to beat Socceroos in a few days at home.

coochiee

Socceroos with a 3-1 win over Oman to be 3W from 3 games. Game across the water from Bahrain in Doha. 'Home' game for Australia. Mitch Duke with the 3rd goal.

Saudi also a perfect 3 from 3 in same group. They beat Japan 1-0. Japanese with 1W 2L record will now be desperate to beat Socceroos in a few days at home.

With that win it’s now 11 wins in a row for the Socceroos in 2022 WCQ, which is apparently a world record for a single campaign - beating Germany, Spain and Mexico who all have 10. If they win in Japan then that could already be half a foot in Qatar, especially as from next month they’ll have home games, though Japan in third is ominous for if OFC gets drawn against AFC in the playoff.

carlind

coochiee

Socceroos with a 3-1 win over Oman to be 3W from 3 games. Game across the water from Bahrain in Doha. 'Home' game for Australia. Mitch Duke with the 3rd goal.

Saudi also a perfect 3 from 3 in same group. They beat Japan 1-0. Japanese with 1W 2L record will now be desperate to beat Socceroos in a few days at home.

With that win it’s now 11 wins in a row for the Socceroos in 2022 WCQ, which is apparently a world record for a single campaign - beating Germany, Spain and Mexico who all have 10. If they win in Japan then that could already be half a foot in Qatar, especially as from next month they’ll have home games, though Japan in third is ominous for if OFC gets drawn against AFC in the playoff.

Early days in qualifying, and of course OFC need to draw the AFC pool ball - but Japan wouldn't be the worst team to play. Them losing to Oman in Game 1 an interesting result.

But reasonably short flight NZ-Japan, some confidence from Olywhites taking them to pens at Olympics, and not too much culture shock or as hostile compared to going to Bogota, Panama City or wherever.

Also the Japanese being incredibly polite are unlikely to arrange fighter jet flyovers, fans spitting at them (Socceroos in Uruguay awhile back) or any of the other antics that the passionate Latino nations can get up to!

But yeah this sort of crystal ball gazing is all a bit pointless until Playoff draw is made (sounds like will be later this month). Still Socceroos v Blue Samurai game in a few days will be an interesting one.

Confirmed Socceroos to host Saudi at Parramatta Stadium next month. First home game in 2 years.

https://www.smh.com.au/sport/soccer/socceroos-to-return-home-after-two-years-as-matildas-escape-covid-scare-20211028-p5943z.html

https://www.socceroos.com.au/news/november-squad-announcement

The sole uncapped player in Australia’s squad for November 2021 is former Central Coast Mariners utility Gianni Stensness, who is now playing his football in Norway with Viking FK. Stensness, who hails from the Northern Beaches of New South Wales and played his junior football with PitTwiter RSL FC and Collaroy Cromer Strikers FC, has represented both Australia and New Zealand at youth level in the past, however recently pledged his senior national team allegiance to the green and gold.

Socceroos vs Saudi Arabia at 9:55pm on SS7

Stensness was an unused sub.

https://www.sportingnews.com/au/football/news/socceroos-vs-saudi-arabia-live-score-updates-highlights-from-world-cup-qualifying/69c7u9wdmh2f1i9dj4plzbx7u