Graham Arnold adds fresh faces to Socceroos squad for September matches
Socceroos’ Head Coach Graham Arnold has named a thirty-one (31) man squad ahead of the two upcoming international fixtures against New Zealand in Brisbane (22 September) and Auckland (25 September).
Amongst the fresh faces in camp are 17-year-old Garang Kuol, who made his Isuzu UTE A-League Men’s debut in April this year, scoring four goals in his first seven senior games. His Central Coast Mariners’ teammate, Jason Cummings, who was born in Scotland but eligible to play for Australia, also joins him after moving to Australia in January this year, scoring 10 goals in his debut A-League Men’s campaign.
Tokyo 2020 Olyroos’ squad members Keanu Baccus, Cameron Devlin, Ryan Strain and Tyrese Francois, will also join the Socceroos’ squad for the first time as will Korea Republic based defender Harrison Delbridge, who has been a regular starter for Incheon United with the K-League 1 side currently sitting fourth on the table. Thomas Deng, who also played at the Tokyo Olympics rejoins the squad for the first time since 2018.
Graham Arnold said: “This camp is the last opportunity we will have to work with the squad ahead of November’s FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022™ tournament, and all players are competing for a spot in the final squad which will be announced in early November.”
“With two games in four days, this camp provides us with a unique opportunity to bring in some new players who can push for selection ahead of the FIFA World Cup™.”
“I’m excited to see a number of young Australian’s gaining great experience across Europe and throughout Asia, and it is important we bring them into the national team environment to build on our depth and assess their capabilities at this level,” continued Graham Arnold.
“We have been closely monitoring our players since qualifying for the FIFA World Cup™ and are regularly speaking with them about this opportunity. I can’t wait to get back into camp to work with our experienced group of players and the next generation of emerging stars.”
“The incentive couldn’t be bigger, there’s a place at the FIFA World Cup™ at stake and if you’re working hard and playing well then there’s an opportunity for you to represent your country on the biggest stage,” he said.
Arnold also announced that goalkeeper, Mitch Langerak, would return to the squad after reconsidering his decision to retire from international football.
“After speaking with Mitch, I understood his decision at the time was made for family reasons and the unique circumstances where he is living in Japan, which had strict protocols in place during the COVID pandemic. We value him highly both as a person and a player, and he continues to perform at a high level in the J-League,” Arnold explained.
Capped eight times for the Socceroos, Langerak said he was looking forward to returning to the Socceroos family.
“I am humbled and honoured to be given the opportunity to represent the Socceroos again. It’s been a difficult few years for all of us. When I had made the decision to retire, we were in the middle of strict lockdowns in Japan and at the time, I was facing the prospect of spending months away from my wife and young children, so I had to make the hard call to step away from international football for my family. I am grateful for another opportunity, it was tough watching the team from afar and I was so happy for everyone when we qualified for the FIFA World Cup™ and I can’t wait to re-join my teammates in Brisbane,” he said.
The game in Brisbane will be the final opportunity for Socceroos’ supporters, sports fans, and the public to see the team on home soil before the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022™.
On the day of the fixture, Football Australia will announce the list of players selected in the Socceroos’ ‘Team of the Century’, while at the match, Socceroos and Australian Football history will be embedded into the match presentation as the sport’s governing body officially celebrates the Centenary of the Socceroos.
Just three days after the Socceroos meet the All Whites in Queensland, the nations will play again at Auckland’s Eden Park.
Socceroos Squad | September FIFA International Window 2022 | Australia v New Zealand
Name |
Current Club, Country |
‘A’ Caps (Goals) |
Junior Club |
Nathaniel ATKINSON |
Heart of Midlothian, Scotland |
3 (0) |
Riverside Olympic FC (Football Tasmania) |
Keanu BACCUS |
St Mirren FC, Scotland |
0 (0) |
Parklea FC (Football NSW) |
Aziz BEHICH |
Dundee United, Scotland |
52 (2) |
Meadow Park SC (Football Victoria) |
Martin BOYLE |
Hibernian FC, Scotland |
18 (5) |
Lewis United FC/Montrose FC (Scotland) |
Jason CUMMINGS |
Central Coast Mariners, Australia |
0 (0) |
Lothian Thistle Hutchison Vale FC (Scotland) |
Harrison DELBRIDGE |
Incheon United, Korea Republic |
0 (0) |
Capital Area Soccer League Elite (United States) |
Milos DEGENEK |
Columbus Crew, USA |
36 (1) |
Blacktown City FC (Football NSW) |
Thomas DENG |
Albirex Niigata, Japan |
1 (0) |
Adelaide Blue Eagles (Football South Australia) |
Cameron DEVLIN |
Heart of Midlothian, Scotland |
0 (0) |
Sutherland Sharks (Football NSW) |
Mitchell DUKE |
Fagiano Okayama, Japan |
20 (7) |
Liverpool Rangers SC (Football NSW) |
Tyrese FRANCOIS |
HNK Gorica, Croatia |
0 (0) |
Camden Tigers (Football NSW) |
Denis GENREAU |
Toulouse FC, France |
3 (0) |
Brighton SC (Football Victoria) |
Ajdin HRUSTIC |
Hellas Verona FC, Italy |
19 (3) |
Heatherton United SC (Football Victoria) |
Jackson IRVINE |
FC St. Pauli, Germany |
48 (7) |
Ringwood City SC (Football Victoria) |
Fran KARACIC |
Brescia Calcio, Italy |
9 (1) |
NK Lokomotiva (Croatia) |
Joel KING |
Odense Boldklub, Denmark |
2 (0) |
Shellharbour Junior FC (Football NSW) |
Garang KUOL |
Central Coast Mariners, Australia |
0 (0) |
Goulburn Valley Suns (Football Victoria) |
Mitch LANGERAK (Gk) |
Nagoya Grampus, Japan |
8 (0) |
ATW FC (Football Queensland) |
Mathew LECKIE |
Melbourne City FC, Australia |
71 (13) |
Brimbank Stallions FC (Football Victoria) |
Awer MABIL |
Cadiz CF, Spain |
28 (7) |
Saint Augustines FC (Football South Australia) |
Jamie MACLAREN |
Melbourne City FC, Australia |
25 (8) |
Green Gully SC (Football Victoria) |
Riley MCGREE |
Middlesbrough FC, England |
9 (1) |
Gawler Eagles FC (Football South Australia) |
Connor METCALFE |
FC St. Pauli, Germany |
3 (0) |
South Cardiff FC (Northern NSW Football) |
Aaron MOOY |
Celtic FC, Scotland |
52 (7) |
Carlingford Redbacks FC (Football NSW) |
Andrew REDMAYNE (Gk) |
Sydney FC, Australia |
3 (0) |
Gosford City Dragons FC (Football NSW) |
Mathew RYAN (Gk) (Cpt) |
FC Copenhagen, Denmark |
74 (0) |
Blacktown City FC (Football NSW) |
Trent SAINSBURY |
Al-Wakrah, Qatar |
60 (4) |
Armadale SC (Football West) |
Ryan STRAIN |
St Mirren FC, Scotland |
0 (0) |
Aston Villa FC (UK) |
Adam TAGGART |
Cerezo Osaka, Japan |
16 (6) |
ECU Joondalup SC (Football West) |
Marco TILIO |
Melbourne City FC, Australia |
3 (0) |
APIA Leichhardt FC/Sydney Olympic FC (Football NSW) |
Bailey WRIGHT |
Sunderland AFC, England |
27 (2) |
Langwarrin SC (Football Victoria) |
Socceroos vs New Zealand
Date: Thursday, 22 September 2022
Venue: Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane, Queensland
Kick-off: 8.00pm AEST
Tickets: On sale now from www.ticketek.com.au
New Zealand vs Socceroos
Date: Sunday, 25 September 2022
Venue: Eden Park, Auckland, New Zealand
Kick-off: 4.00pm (local time), 1.00pm (AEST)
Tickets: On sale now from www.ticketek.co.nz
Both of the Socceroos’ matches in September will be shown live and free in Australia via Network 10 and simulcast on 10 Play, as well as streamed live on Paramount+.