Socceroos v South Korea friendly: Graham Arnold reveals new-look squad as senior players get break
With the likes of Mat Ryan and Mat Leckie taking a break, Socceroos coach Graham Arnold is blooding a host of new faces, including several A-League stars, for the friendly against South Korea.
The senior Socceroos need a rest.
That’s the message from head coach Graham Arnold, concerned at the toll taken on the players who appeared for Australia at the last World Cup.
The likes of Mat Ryan, Mat Leckie and Trent Sainsbury have all been stood down for next month’s friendly with Korea, to have in many cases the first off-season without international football in years.
Half of Bert van Marwijk’s 23-man squad that was picked for the World Cup last June has spent some time injured on the sidelines since last year’s tournament, and in many cases they were the core individuals that van Marwijk relied upon in the three games in Russia.
Many also have played significant internationals in their off-season in every year since the previous World Cup, as well as two Asian Cups in the midst of their domestic campaigns.
In their place, Arnold has picked a squad short on experience but weighted towards potential, including current fringe players such as Craig Goodwin and several new faces – among them goalkeeper Andrew Redmayne and Brandon O’Neill from Sydney FC, Melbourne Victory’s Lawrence Thomas, 20-year-old defender Harry Souttar from Championship side Stoke City, winger Ryan Williams and German-based striker Brandon Borrello.
A host of the established figures accepted the chance of a break from coach Graham Arnold, with some still playing club football despite carrying ongoing injuries.
Some were serious enough to force players out of the Asian Cup, such as Aaron Mooy and Daniel Arzani, while others such as Robbie Kruse have scarcely featured for their clubs since the tournament in January.
Defenders Trent Sainsbury and Milos Degenek have both carried groin injuries for months, while striker Andrew Nabbout – who went through intensive rehab to be fit for the Asian Cup - has suffered a knee ligament injury at Urawa Red Diamonds and will be out for at least a month.
Celtic playmaker Tom Rogic missed two months after the Asian Cup in a season that began with a UEFA Champions League qualifier just 29 days after Australia’s final game at the World Cup last year.
Rogic will be in the same position this year as Celtic play Hearts in the Scottish Cup final on Saturday night before returning to face Austrian side Pinkafeld in the Champions League on June 27.
“The last couple of years has been tough on many of our senior players with little rest in between seasons. I know what those guys are capable of and I believe it is important they start their new campaigns with fresh bodies and minds. They will all be considered again for our first round of qualifiers in September,” Arnold said.
With so many senior figures rested, Arnold will try to blood a host of new faces, in what will be his last chance to experiment before the qualifying campaign for the 2022 World Cup begins in September.
“We have 11 players in this squad who have all had excellent seasons in the domestic competition and my message to those playing in the A-League is that if you are playing regularly and consistently for your club, you will come into consideration for the next phase of World Cup qualifiers,” Arnold said.
“This international window also gives me the chance to spend an extended time with some of our more experienced players who have recently been missing from international football, but have been playing well for their respective clubs like Matthew Spiranovic, Rhys Williams, Adam Taggart, Bailey Wright, Josh Brillante and Brad Smith.
The Socceroos will learn their opponents in the first phase of qualifying once the draw is made in July.
The game against South Korea – who themselves are thought likely to field a weakened squad – takes place in the city of Busan on Friday, June 7, kicking off at 9pm (EST).
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