DBasia.news – The Australian national team coach, Graham Arnold, has finally announced the names of the 26 players he will bring to the 2022 World Cup which will be held in Qatar in November-December. Australia are in Group D with Denmark, Tunisia and defending champions France.
The 2022 World Cup will be Australia’s sixth World Cup. The Socceroos made dramatic progress through the play-offs when they beat Peru last June on penalties. By far Australia’s best achievement was reaching the last 16 at the 2006 World Cup in Germany.
Unfortunately, Australia has also never won a match in the last two editions of the World Cup (2014 and 2018). Graham Arnold, 59, is expected to turn Australia’s fortunes around in Qatar, although they are also in a tough group with France and Denmark.
Arnold has a combination of young and senior players in the Australia squad, experienced players such as Mathew Ryan and Aaron Mooy are expected to lead the young players at the 2022 World Cup. Let’s take a look at the Australian squad.
Goalkeeper
Mathew Ryan, Andrew Redmayne, and Danny Vukovic are the three goalkeepers that Arnold brought to Qatar. Ryan is the captain of the team as well as the first choice in Australia’s goal.
The 30-year-old goalkeeper has 75 caps and currently plays for Copenhagen, having previously played for Club Brugge, Valencia, Brighton & Hove Albion, Arsenal and Real Sociedad.
Meanwhile, Vukovic, who plays for a local club, Central Coast Mariners, has experience playing at the 2018 World Cup. Then Redmayne, the goalkeeper for Sydney FC, was Australia’s hero in the penalty shootout against Peru.
Defender
Milos Degenek, Nathanial Atkinson, Joel King, Fran Karacis, Bailey Wright, Harry Souttar, Kye Rowles, Aziz Behich, Thomas Deng. Arnold brought nine players into the Australia squad for the 2022 World Cup.
Among them Behich was the most experienced. The 32-year-old defender has 53 caps and plays for Scottish club Dundee United. Besides Behic, there are also Wright (Sunderland) and Degenek (Columbus Crew).
Their experience can be a good lesson for young players like Harry Souttar, Joel King and Nathaniel Atkinson. One name that was surprisingly not called was Trent Sainsbury. Whereas the 30-year-old defender is experienced and plays in Qatar with Al-Wakrah.
Midfielder
In the midfield position, Arnold called Aaron Mooy, Craig Goodwin, Jackson Irvine, Cameron Devlin, Riley McGree, Ajdin Hrustic, and Keanu Baccus.
If in the past Australia had Tim Cahill, then in the 2022 World Cup their senior player in the middle position is Aaron Mooy. The 32-year-old player plays for Celtic and has played for Brighton & Hove Albion.
His ability to regulate the rhythm of play is needed by Australia, as well as Irvine and Hrustic who played in Europe with St. Pauli and Eintracht Frankfurt. While Tom Rogic was not called up as he had refused to play for Australia.
Attacker
Arnold will bring eight forwards to the 2022 World Cup, namely Mathew Leckie, Martin Boyle, Jamie Maclaren, Craig Goodwin, Mitchell Duke, Jason Cummings, Garang Kuol and Awer Mabil.
Arnold tried to present attacks on the flanks with experienced players such as Leckie (Melbourne City) and Mabil (Cadiz). Maclaren is also a mainstay in the center forward position.
One name that is quite interesting to look forward to is the 18-year-old striker, Garang Kuol. After performing well with the Central Coast Mariners, Kuol joined Newcastle United.
Australia’s squad for the 2022 World Cup:
Goalkeepers: Mathew Ryan, Andrew Redmayne, Danny Vukovic
Backline: Milos Degenek, Nathanial Atkinson, Joel King, Fran Karacis, Bailey Wright, Harry Souttar, Kye Rowles, Aziz Behich, Thomas Deng
Midfield: Aaron Mooy, Craig Goodwin, Jackson Irvine, Cameron Devlin, Riley McGree, Ajdin Hrustic, Keanu Baccus
Forward: Mathew Leckie, Martin Boyle, Jamie Maclaren, Craig Goodwin, Mitchell Duke, Jason Cummings, Garang Kuol, Awer Mabil