Baccus 'over the moon' after named in World Cup squad

Gianluca Filosi 1668119496,1668120628

Keanu Baccus believes his decision to join St Mirren during the summer has been vindicated after securing his ticket on the plane to the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022™ squad.

Baccus is one of 26 players called up by Australia Head Coach Graham Arnold.

In doing so, he becomes the first-ever Saints player in the club’s history to be part of a FIFA World Cup.

The defensive midfielder has been rewarded for his stellar form in the Scottish Premiership where he has started 13 matches and scored two goals after 14 rounds.

Baccus revealed he was ‘over the moon’ when he received the news, stating it was an extremely proud moment for himself and his family.

“Very proud and obviously a massive achievement of mine that I’ve wanted since I was a young boy,” he told St Mirren in an interview.

“It’s finally here and it’s come so I’m over the moon.”

The 24-year-old earned his maiden Socceroos call-up in September, and later capped in the match against New Zealand in Auckland as a second-half substitute.

Baccus detailed the moment he was informed he would be going to the biggest tournament on the planet.

“I received the call from the head coach yesterday and he mentioned to me that he wants to invite me over to Qatar and be part of the squad,” he said.

“I didn’t know whether to cry or just be happy for myself, but at the end of the day had a big smile on my face and just very thankful and grateful.

He added: “It still feels a bit surreal but have to stay in the moment, hopefully do my best and continue that form into the World Cup.”

Baccus had agreed to join the Paisley-based side in April following his impressive displays in the A-Leagues with Western Sydney Wanderers.

It is a move that has evidently paid massive dividends and the midfielder believes he made the right choice to ply his trade abroad at this stage of his career.

“It’s benefited me a lot coming over here improving and learning from the players around me, learning from the gaffer (Stephen Robinson), who was a great player,” he suggested.

“And just having European experience, playing every week and sometimes midweek now it’s a big change and a big step up from where I was and it’s helped me massively.

“… It’s only been a couple of months, but I’ve obviously done alright for St Mirren and the team’s been doing very well so a lot of eyes have been on us and it’s been good to get rewarded for all the hard work.”