Ange names squad for UAE, Qatar

Socceroos coach Ange Postecoglou today named a 23-man squad to play fellow 2015 AFC Asian Cup nations United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Qatar in October.

The Socceroos face the UAE in Abu Dhabi on Friday 10 October and then play Qatar in Doha on Tuesday 14 October as Postecoglou continues to give players an opportunity at international level to create more depth ahead of the 2015 AFC Asian Cup.

“We are still giving players we’ve identified for the National team an opportunity to experience international football to ensure we create a deeper pool of players to call on for the Asian Cup and beyond,” Postecoglou said.

“These two games give us a few more to throw into the mix with an experienced core group of players to see how they cope with the training intensity and the demands of international football before we start monitoring them all leading into the Japan match.

“We will be in a position to select a settled squad for the Japan match in November, which will offer a strong indication of where we are at leading into the Asian Cup although players can always come into the squad with strong form and fitness at club level.”

The Socceroos squad includes four Hyundai A-League players, 14 members of the final squad from the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil and just one uncapped player, Sydney FC striker Bernie Ibini.

The matches take place at the same time as the opening round of the Hyundai A-League 2014/15 season and Postecoglou admitted to a balancing act between the local competition and the needs of the National Team.

“We were mindful that the matches coincide with the first weekend of the A-League and we tried to not be too disruptive but ultimately this is our National team and everyone agrees this is the highest honour in the game and we will always pick players deserving of that honour,” Postecoglou said.

The 23-man Socceroos squad is:

NAME

CLUB, COUNTRY

A-International Caps (goals)

Aziz BEHICH

Bursaspor, TURKEY

5 (2)

Mark BRESCIANO

Al Gharafa, QATAR

79 (13)

Joshua BRILLANTE

ACF Fiorentina, ITALY

3 (0)

Tim CAHILL

New York Red Bulls, USA

73 (35)

Jason DAVIDSON

West Bromwich Albion F.C., ENGLAND

12 (0)

Adam FEDERICI

Reading FC, ENGLAND

8 (0)

Ivan FRANJIC

FK Torpedo Moskva, RUSSIA

10 (0)

Chris HERD

Bolton Wanderers FC, ENGLAND

2 (0)

James HOLLAND

FK Austria Vienna, AUSTRIA

14 (0)

Bernie IBINI-ISEI

Sydney FC, AUSTRALIA

-

Mile JEDINAK

Crystal Palace FC, ENGLAND

49 (6)

Tomi JURIC

Western Sydney Wanderers FC, AUSTRALIA

5 (1)

Mitchell LANGERAK (gk)

B.V. Borussia 09 Dortmund, GERMANY

4 (0)

Mathew LECKIE

FC Ingolstadt 04, GERMANY

13 (1)

Massimo LUONGO

Swindon Town FC, ENGLAND

3 (0)

Mark MILLIGAN

Melbourne Victory FC, AUSTRALIA

32 (2)

Tommy OAR

FC Utrecht, NETHERLANDS

19 (1)

Mat RYAN (gk)

Club Brugge KV, BELGIUM

11 (0)

Trent SAINSBURY

P.E.C. Zwolle, NETHERLANDS

2 (0)

Brad SMITH

Swindon Town FC, ENGLAND

2 (0)

Nikolai TOPOR-STANLEY

Western Sydney Wanderers FC, AUSTRALIA

3 (0)

James TROISI

S.V. Zulte Waregem, BELGIUM

13 (1)

Alex WILKINSON

Jeonbuk Hyundai FC, KOREA REPUBLIC

8 (0)

UAE v Australia

10 October 2014

Mohamed Bin Zayed Stadium, Abu Dhabi, UAE

Kick-Off 6.30pm (1.30am AEDT October 11)

Qatar v Australia

14 October 2014

Lekhwiya Stadium, Doha, Qatar

Kick-Off 7.30pm (3.30am AEDT October 15) 

Both matches will be broadcast LIVE and exclusive on FOX SPORTS.