Head Coach Ange Postecoglou has named a provisional 46-man Socceroos squad for the AFC Asian Cup 2015.
The squad, which will be trimmed to 23 before the tournament starts, reflects Postecoglou’s desire to broaden the base of players to strengthen the squad as it strives to rise to the challenge of facing Asia’s best nations on home soil from 9 January.
The provisional Socceroos squad contains:
- 30 players who have taken the field in five internationals since the World Cup. Plus a further two named in squads without taking the field.
- All 23 members of the 2014 FIFA World Cup squad.
- Four uncapped players.
- 16 players from the Hyundai A-League.
“I’m happy with the depth of squad we have been able to name and it is now up to these 46 guys to ensure they are selected in the final squad for the Asian Cup and rise to the challenge ahead,” Postecoglou said.
“We have set about trying to broaden the depth of players and I’m happy with how that has transpired over the last five matches since the World Cup. We have a good group of players to choose from for what will be an exciting time for Australian football.”
Postecoglou has also offered an opportunity for Rhys Williams, Robbie Kruse and Josh Kennedy to push for a return to international tournament football after injury ruined their 2014 FIFA World Cup aspirations.
“Josh, Robbie and Rhys missed the World Cup through injury so it is nice to be able to select them in the provisional squad and there is no doubt their proven international record will give us a boost if they are named in the final squad of 23,” Postecoglou said.
There is also hope for Hyundai A-League players Terry Antonis, Luke Brattan, Nathan Burns, Daniel De Silva, Bernie Ibini-Isei, Tomi Juric, Aaron Mooy, Mitch Nichols, Josh Risdon, Nikita Rukavytsya, Nikolai Topor-Stanley, who have come into the frame after good early season domestic form.
“We still have three or four weeks before we finalise the squad so there is opportunity for all 46 players to push their claims for inclusion in the final list of 23.”
AFC Asian Cup Socceroos Squad announcement timetable:
- AFC Asian Cup regulations specify a squad of between 23-50 players must be nominated to the AFC by December 9.
- The final squad of 23 must be submitted by December 30.
- Players injured up to the start of the tournament can be replaced but the new player must come from the original list submitted on December 9
The 46-man preliminary Socceroos squad is:
Name, Club, Country, A International Caps (Goals)
Mustafa Amini, B.V. Borussia 09 Dortmund, Germany, –
Terry Antonis, Sydney FC, Australia, 3 (0)
Aziz Behich, Bursaspor, Turkey, 7 (2)
Oliver Bozanic, FC Luzern, Switzerland, 5 (0)
Luke Brattan, Brisbane Roar, Australia, –
Mark Bresciano, Al Gharafa, Qatar, 81 (13)
Joshua Brillante, ACF Fiorentina, Italy, 5 (0)
Nathan Burns, Wellington Phoenix, New Zealand, 7 (0)
Tim Cahill, New York Red Bulls, USA, 76 (36)
Jason Davidson, West Bromwich Albion F.C., England, 13 (0)
Daniel De Silva, Perth Glory, Australia, –
Adam Federici (gk), Reading FC, England, 9 (0)
Ivan Franjic, FK Torpedo Moskva, Russia, 12 (0)
Eugene Galekovic (gk), Adelaide United, Australia, 8 (0)
Ben Halloran, Fortuna Dusseldorf, Germany, 6 (0)
Chris Herd, Aston Villa, England, 3 (0)
James Holland, FK Austria Vienna, Austria, 15 (0)
Bernie Ibini-Isei, Sydney FC, Australia, 2 (0)
Mile Jedinak, Crystal Palace FC, England, 52 (6)
Brad Jones (gk), Liverpool FC, England, 4 (0)
Tomi Juric, Western Sydney Wanderers FC, Australia, 5 (1)
Josh Kennedy, Nagoya Grampus, Japan, 36 (20)
Robbie Kruse, TSV Bayer 04 Leverkusen, Germany, 32 (3)
Mitchell Langerak (gk), B.V. Borussia 09 Dortmund, Germany, 5 (0)
Mathew Leckie, FC Ingolstadt 04, Germany, 16 (1)
Massimo Luongo, Swindon Town FC, England, 5 (0)
Ryan McGowan, Shandong Luneng Taishan FC, China, 12 (0)
Matt McKay, Brisbane Roar, Australia, 50 (1)
Mark Milligan, Melbourne Victory FC, Australia, 33 (2)
Aaron Mooy, Melbourne City, Australia, 4 (3)
Mitch Nichols, Perth Glory, Australia, 5 (0)
Tommy Oar, FC Utrecht, Netherlands, 20 (1)
Josh Risdon, Perth Glory, Australia, –
Nikita Rukavytsya, Western Sydney Wanderers FC, Australia, 13 (1)
Mat Ryan (gk), Club Brugge KV, Belgium, 13 (0)
Trent Sainsbury, P.E.C. Zwolle, Netherlands, 4 (0)
Brad Smith, Liverpool FC, England, 4 (0)
Matthew Spiranovic, Western Sydney Wanderers FC, Australia, 21 (0)
Adam Taggart, Fulham FC, England, 7 (3)
Nikolai Topor-Stanley, Western Sydney Wanderers FC, Australia, 4 (0)
James Troisi, S.V. Zulte Waregem, Belgium, 16 (1)
Carl Valeri, Melbourne Victory FC, Australia, 52 (1)
Dario Vidosic, FC Sion, Switzerland, 23 (2)
Alex Wilkinson, Jeonbuk Hyundai FC, Korea Republic, 11 (0)
Rhys Williams, Middlesbrough, England, 14 (0)
Bailey Wright, Preston North End FC, England, 1 (1)
SOCCEROOS ASIAN CUP GROUP STAGE MATCHES
Australia v Kuwait – Melbourne Rectangular Stadium, Friday 9 January 8pm kick off (AEDT)
Australia v Oman – Stadium Australia, Tuesday 13 January 8pm kick off (AEDT)
Australia v Korea Republic – Brisbane Stadium, Saturday 17 January 7pm kick off (8pm AEDT)
Tickets to all AFC Asian Cup matches, including the three Socceroo group stage games, are available by logging onto www.tickets.afcasiancup.com
FOX SPORTS will screen all 32 matches exclusively live in HD throughout Australia while the Socceroos group stage matches will be screened on ABC1 on two hour delay.
