Craig Goodwin among four SA players in Socceroos squad for crucial World Cup qualifiers
CRAIG Goodwin’s impressive form in the Dutch top flight has been rewarded with a recall to the Socceroos squad for next month’s crucial World Cup qualifiers.
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CRAIG Goodwin’s impressive form in the Dutch top flight has been rewarded with a recall to the Socceroos squad for next month’s crucial World Cup qualifiers.
The former Adelaide United winger was one of four SA players named on an extended 30-man list ahead of the two-leg Asian playoff against Syria on October 5 and 10.
Goodwin has featured in all five of Sparta Rotterdam’s Eredivisie matches this season, scoring the winner against FC Twente a fortnight ago.
The most recent of his three senior international caps came in last year’s 2-1 friendly defeat to England.
Goodwin was joined in the Socceroos squad by SA-born playmaker James Troisi (Melbourne Victory) and defender Ryan McGowan (Al-Sharjah, Saudi Arabia).
Ex-Reds youngster Awer Mabil, now of Portuguese club Pacos de Ferreira, retained his place despite remaining uncapped.
The squad included 22 of the 23 players selected for the World Cup qualifying loss to Japan and victory over Thailand which left Australia third in its group and facing the do-or-die playoff.
Former Adelaide United players Mark Birighitti and James Jeggo, along with Socceroos skipper Mile Jedinak, have returned to the group.
European-based duo Aziz Behich and Nikita Rukavytsya, as well as Matthew Jurman (Suwon Bluewings, South Korea) and Josh Risdon (Western Sydney Wanderers) have also been called up.
Socceroos coach Ange Postecoglou will trim the squad to 23 players following this weekend’s club action.
He remained confident his charges had the quality and belief to revive their quest for a fourth-straight World Cup appearance.
“There is a short turnaround from the last matches so we are fully focused on these upcoming fixtures against Syria,” Postecoglou said.
“The players that we have selected for these crucial matches all have the benefit of several club matches under their belts over the past few weeks and I am confident whichever 23 players we settle on will be able to do the job next month.
“We will prepare for our fixtures against Syria just like every other international opposition we faced throughout this campaign.”
Australia plays Syria on neutral territory in Malacca, Malaysia, in the first leg, before hosting the Qasioun Eagles in the return match at Sydney’s Stadium Australia.
Should they advance, the Socceroos will face the fourth-ranked CONCACAF nation in another two-leg clash for a place at next year’s Russia World Cup.
The US presently occupies the playoff berth in the north and central American zone. The Australian squad will assemble in Malaysia from Sunday, October 1.
Originally published as Craig Goodwin among four SA players in Socceroos squad for crucial World Cup qualifiers
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