Ajdin Hrustic, fresh off winning the Europa League with Eintracht Frankfurt, and ex-Celtic star Tom Rogic are among the players picked for Australia’s World Cup playoff match against the United Arab Emirates on Saturday.
In March, the Socceroos’ attempt to qualify for a sixth consecutive World Cup was thwarted by defeats to Japan and Saudi Arabia.
They’ll face the UAE in an Asian qualifying playoff in Doha on June 7, with the victor facing Peru a week later to secure a spot in this year’s finals in Qatar.
Hrustic, an attacking midfielder, comes into camp fresh off a Europa League victory, helping Frankfurt defeat Rangers in a penalty shootout, while Rogic was a crucial member of Celtic’s Scottish league-winning team.
When the group was rocked hard by Covid withdrawals and injuries, coach Graham Arnold chose nine players who were not engaged in the Japan and Saudi games.
Craig Goodwin of Adelaide, Mathew Leckie of Melbourne City, and Kye Rowles of Central Coast, as well as striker Adam Taggart, playmaker Aaron Mooy, Rogic, and Jackson Irvine, have all returned.
The return of A-League Golden Boot winner Jamie Maclaren, who missed the Saudi game in March to get married, bolstered Arnold’s strikeforce.
“Our qualification journey for this year’s World Cup has been challenging, however the bigger the challenge, the greater the reward,” said Arnold, whose job is on the line.
“Just like in 2017 and 2005 I have full belief that our boys will emerge through the playoff system and seal Australia a place at the World Cup.”
Arnold was expected to be fired after Australia’s failure to qualify for the World Cup by default, but Football Australia urged him to stay until the completion of the qualifying season.
In preparation for the match with UAE, Australia will play a friendly against Jordan in Doha on June 1.
Australia squad
Nathaniel Atkinson (Hearts/SCO), Aziz Behich (out of contract), Martin Boyle (Al-Faisaly/KSA), Nick D’Agostino (Melbourne Victory), Jason Davidson (Melbourne Victory), Milos Degenek (Columbus Crew/USA), Kenny Dougall (Blackpool/ENG), Mitchell Duke (Fagiano Okayama/JPN), Denis Genreau (Toulouse/FRA), Craig Goodwin (Adelaide United), Ajdin Hrustic (Eintracht Frankfurt/GER), Jackson Irvine (St. Pauli/GER), Fran Karacic (Brescia/ITA), Joel King (Odense Boldklub/DEN), Mathew Leckie (Melbourne City), Awer Mabil (out of contract), Jamie Maclaren (Melbourne City), Riley McGree (Middlesbrough/ENG), Aaron Mooy (Shanghai Port FC/CHN), Andrew Redmayne (Sydney FC), Tom Rogic (out of contract), Kye Rowles (Central Coast Mariners), Mat Ryan (Real Sociedad/ESP), Trent Sainsbury (out of contract), Gianni Stemsness (Viking FK/DEN), Adam Taggart (Cerezo Osaka/JPN), Marco Tilio (Melbourne City), Danny Vukovic (NEC Nijmegen/NED), Bailey Wright (Sunderland/ENG)
