Squad Announcement Talking Points: From Olyroos to Socceroos

Of the 24 Socceroos squad members set to assemble in Melbourne in the coming days, six of those pulled on the Green and Gold for the Olyroos at last year's Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games. 

The ever-growing connection between the Olyroos and Socceroos is demonstrated by the fact that one-quarter of Graham Arnold's roster for Australia's FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022™ qualifiers against Vietnam and Oman having progressed from U-23 to senior international level in a matter of months.

Australia's first squad of 2022 features six Olyroos, three potential debutantes and six familiar faces who are returning to the fold after not taking part in the Socceroos' most recent FIFA World Cup Qualifiers back in November 2021. 

With only four matches left to play and the stakes as high as ever, now is the time to get behind the Socceroos as they shoot for a place at a fifth-straight FIFA World Cup Finals.

Read on to check out are the key takeaways from the 25-player Socceroos squad who will be in action in Melbourne on January 27 and Muscat on February 2 (AEDT). 

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Olyroos Tokyo 2020 Squad Members 

A strong contigent of Olympians will form January-February's Socceroos squad.

Following his last-minute call-up and superb sealer against Argentina, Marco Tilio will be looking to continue his rapid rise by injecting his customary spark in the final third for the Socceroos.  

After starting all three matches on the left flank for Australia in Japan and embedding himself as a consistent starter with Sydney FC, Joel King is in to provide another option at fullback. 

Another consistent performer in the A-League Men's, Kye Rowles, has been called up to bolster Australia's central defensive stocks, following a couple of outstanding seasons with the Central Coast Mariners. 

Connor Metcalfe has enjoyed a recall to the senior international set-up, with his two caps to date coming prior to the Olympics back in June 2021's Kuwait hub. 

Another debutant from that camp who has now amassed seven senior international appearances is Riley McGree, who will enter this FIFA window as a Middlesbrough player, following his recent high-profile transfer. 

Last but not least, Mitch Duke was Australia's only overage player at the Games, and will be back looking to kick on in Green and Gold after scoring more international goals than any other Socceroo in 2021. 

READ MORE: Experienced and exciting Socceroos squad set for qualifiers in Melbourne & Muscat 

Marco Tilio
Who could forget how Marco Tilio stole the show with a goal seconds after coming on against Argentina

Returning Socceroos 

The latest Socceroos squad features a handful of players returning to the fold. 

Tom Rogic and Aaron Mooy were both absent from November's camp and will be back in the centre of the park looking to inspire Australia to victory. 

Brandon Borrello, Andrew Redmayne and the aforementioned Connor Metcalfe all return for the first time since June 2021, meaning they could be set to earn their first minutes in Round 3 of FIFA World Cup Qualifying. 

It has been a long journey back for Borrello in particular, who has returned to the pitch with new club Dynamo Dresden in recent months after recovering from a metatarsal fracture.

Craig Goodwin has lit up the A-League Men's in recent weeks with Adelaide United, subsequently earning his first call-up since late 2019 - prior to the Socceroos' lengthy 18-month hiatus. 

Craig Goodwin
Craig Goodwin could make his first Socceroos appearance since 2019

Potential debuts

The Socceroos family could extend by up to three in the coming weeks, with Tilio, King and Rowles all enjoying first-time call-ups to the senior national team. 

Full squad 

Socceroos Squad | 24 January – 1 February 2022 | FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022™ – AFC Asian Qualifiers – Road to Qatar (Final Round)

Name

Club, Country

‘A’ Caps (Goals)

Junior Club
(Member Federation/Country)

Aziz BEHICH

Giresunspor, Turkey

47 (2)

Meadow Park SC (Football Victoria)

Brandon BORRELLO

SG Dynamo Dresden, Germany

4 (0)

Modbury Jets SC (Football South Australia)

Martin BOYLE

Hibernian FC, Scotland

12 (5)

Lewis United FC/Montrose FC (Scotland)

Milos DEGENEK

Uncontracted

33 (1)

Blacktown City FC (Football NSW)

Mitchell DUKE

Fagiano Okayama, Japan

15 (7)

Liverpool Rangers SC (Football NSW)

Craig GOODWIN

Adelaide United FC, Australia

5 (0)

Munno Para City SC (Football South Australia)

Rhyan GRANT

Sydney FC, Australia

20 (1)

Canowindra Juniors/Bathurst 75 (Football NSW)

Ajdin HRUSTIC*

Eintracht Frankfurt, Germany

13 (2)

Heatherton United SC (Football Victoria)

Jackson IRVINE

FC St. Pauli, Germany

43 (6)

Ringwood City SC (Football Victoria)

James JEGGO

Aris Thessaloniki, Greece

11 (0)

Green Gully SC (Football Victoria)

Fran KARACIC

Brescia Calcio, Italy

6 (1)

NK Lokomotiva (Croatia)

Joel KING

Sydney FC, Australia

0 (0)

Shellharbour Junior FC (Football NSW)

Mathew LECKIE

Melbourne City FC, Australia

67 (13)

Brimbank Stallions FC (Football Victoria)

Jamie MACLAREN

Melbourne City FC, Australia

19 (6)

Green Gully SC (Football Victoria))

Ryan MCGOWAN

Kuwait SC, Kuwait

21 (0)

Para Hills Knights SC (Football South Australia)

Riley MCGREE

Middlesbrough FC, England

7 (0)

Gawler Eagles FC (Football South Australia)

Connor METCALFE

Melbourne City FC, Australia

2 (0)

South Cardiff FC (Northern NSW Football)

Aaron MOOY

Shanghai Port FC, China PR

47 (6)

Carlingford Redbacks FC (Football NSW)

Andrew REDMAYNE (Gk)

Sydney FC, Australia

2 (0)

Gosford City Dragons FC (Football NSW)

Mathew RYAN (Gk)

Real Sociedad, Spain

67 (0)

Blacktown City FC (Football NSW)

Tom ROGIC

Celtic FC, Scotland

51 (9)

Tuggeranong United FC (Capital Football)

Kye ROWLES

Central Coast Mariners FC, Australia

0 (0)

Palm Beach SC (Football Queensland)

Trent SAINSBURY

KV Kortrijk, Belgium

56 (4)

Armadale SC (Football West)

Marco TILIO

Melbourne City FC, Australia

0 (0)

APIA Leichhardt FC/Sydney Olympic FC (Football NSW)

Danny VUKOVIC (Gk)

NEC Nijmegen, Netherlands

4 (0)

St Clair United SC (Football NSW)


*Suspended for matchday seven

FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022™ – AFC Asian Qualifiers – Road to Qatar (Final Round)

Matchday 7: Australia v Vietnam
Date: Thursday, 27 January 2022
Venue: Melbourne Rectangular Stadium, Melbourne, Australia 
Kick-off: 8:10pm AEDT
Tickets: Limited tickets remaining via Ticketek  
Broadcast: Live and free in Australia on 10 Bold and simulcast on 10 Play

Matchday 8: Oman v Australia
Date: Tuesday, 1 February 2022
Venue: Sultan Qaboos Sports Complex, Muscat, Oman
Kick-off: 8pm (local); 3am AEDT – Wednesday, 2 February 2022
Broadcast: Live and free in Australia on Network 10 and simulcast on 10 Play