Carle named in Socceroos squad

A chance to clinch a spot in Australia's 2007 AFC Asian Cup squad is up for grabs with a 20-man Socceroos team named for the international against China to be played in Guangzhou on 24 March. The squad features three players from the Hyundai A-League, including Johnny Warren Medal winner Nick Carle.

A chance to clinch a spot in Australia's 2007 AFC Asian Cup squad is up for grabs with a 20-man Socceroos team named for the international against China to be played in Guangzhou on 24 March.

"This is the last game before the squad assembles in Sydney ahead of the matches against Uruguay and Argentina so there is a big opportunity for players to show they deserve a place in the Asian Cup squad," said National Coach Graham Arnold.

"We need to continue to build depth, not just for the Asian Cup but also as we look ahead to the 2010 World Cup qualifying campaign."

Arnold said that as always some players are unavailable due to injury.

"We missed a lot of regular players against Denmark in February but it gave me the chance to continue to expose a new group of players to international football."

"Matches like the upcoming international against China will give me another opportunity to test these players and to see where we currently stand against a fellow Asian Cup finalist."

The squad consists of 17-European based players with Johnny Warren Medal winner Nick Carle along with his Newcastle Jets team-mate Jade North and five-goal Grand Final hero Archie Thompson making up the three Australian-based Hyundai A-League players in the team.

The match will be shown live and exclusive on FOX SPORTS 2 with the coverage starting from 6.30pm AEDT.

The Socceroos next matches will be the blockbuster home internationals against Uruguay and Argentina in June.

Socceroos SQUAD TO PLAY CHINA

Michael Beauchamp (FC Nuremberg, Germany), Mark Bresciano (Palermo, Italy), Jacob Burns (Wisla Krakow, Poland), Nick Carle (Newcastle Jets, Australia), Jason Culina (PSV Eindhoven, Holland), Vince Grella (Parma, Italy), Ryan Griffiths (Rapid Bucuresti, Romania), Brett Holman (NEC Nijmegen, Holland), Brad Jones (Middlesbrough, England), Patrick Kisnorbo (Leicester City, England), Scott McDonald (Motherwell, Scotland), Lucas Neill (West Ham, England), Jade North (Newcastle Jets, Australia), Mark Schwarzer (Middlesbrough, England), Shane Stefanutto (Lillestrom, Norway), Mile Sterjovski (Basel, Switzerland), Archie Thompson (Melbourne Victory, Australia), Michael Thwaite (Wisla Krakow, Poland), Mark Viduka (Middlesbrough, England), Luke Wilkshire (Twente, Holland)