Melbourne Victory playmaker James Troisi has been named in a 30-man squad for Australia’s two crucial 2018 FIFA World Cup qualifiers this month.
The extended squad for matches against Iraq (March 23 in Tehran) and the UAE (March 28 in Sydney) was announced by Caltex Socceroos head coach Ange Postecoglou on Wednesday.
The squad will be trimmed to 23 following this weekend’s matches, with players all over the world given one last chance to press their claims for a place.
“We have named an extended squad with a few notable returns, but we will make a final decision after this weekend’s matches around Australia, Asia and Europe,” Postecoglou said.
“With the Asian leagues and some countries in Europe only just starting, I wanted to have another look.
“There is also recognition for some players who have been in good form in the A-League and have the characteristics to fit in with some of our experienced players as we move into an important stretch of qualifying.
“It is encouraging to have the experience of Tim Cahill, Tomi Juric, Mass Luongo, Mitch Langerak and James Troisi back in the squad, but we also have some players on the fringe who have been knocking on the door of both the squad and the starting side.”
Troisi, who scored the winning goal for Australia in the 2015 AFC Asian Cup Final, has been in outstanding form for Victory this season.
Following his return to the club in August last year, the 28-year-old has scored five goals in 20 Hyundai A-League appearances.
Caltex Socceroos squad: Mustafa AMINI (AGF Aarhus, DENMARK), Aziz BEHICH (Bursaspor, TURKEY), Nathan BURNS (FC Tokyo, JAPAN), Tim CAHILL (City, AUSTRALIA), Milos DEGENEK (Yokohama F Marinos, JAPAN), Ryan EDWARDS (Partick Thistle FC, SCOTLAND), Alex GERSBACH (Rosenborg BK, NORWAY), Craig GOODWIN (Sparta Rotterdam, NETHERLANDS), Rhyan GRANT (Sydney FC, AUSTRALIA), Chris IKONOMIDIS (AGF Aarhus, DENMARK), Jackson IRVINE (Burton Albion FC, ENGLAND), Mile JEDINAK (Aston Villa FC, ENGLAND), James JEGGO (SK Sturm Graz, AUSTRIA), Tomi JURIC (FC Luzern, SWITZERLAND), Robbie KRUSE (Liaoning Whowin FC, CHINA), Mitchell LANGERAK (VfB Stuttgart FC, GERMANY), Mathew LECKIE (FC Ingolstadt 04, GERMANY), Massimo LUONGO (Queens Park Rangers FC, ENGLAND), Awer MABIL (Esjberg Fb, DENMARK), Riley McGREE (Adelaide United, AUSTRALIA), Matthew McKAY (Brisbane Roar, AUSTRALIA), Mark MILLIGAN (Baniyas FC, UAE), Aaron MOOY (Huddersfield Town AFC, ENGLAND), Mathew RYAN (KRC Genk, BELGIUM), Trent SAINSBURY (FC Internazionale Milano, ITALY), Brad SMITH (AFC Bournemouth, ENGLAND), James TROISI (Melbourne Victory, AUSTRALIA), Daniel VUKOVIC (Sydney FC, AUSTRALIA), Rhys WILLIAMS (Perth Glory, AUSTRALIA), Bailey WRIGHT (Bristol City FC, ENGLAND)
Tickets for Australia’s match against the UAE at Sydney’s Allianz Stadium on Tuesday, March 28 are available here.
