Ange Postecoglou names first squad for final phase of 2018 FIFA World Cup qualifiers

ANGE Postecoglou has named his squad for the FIFA World Cup qualifier against Iraq in Perth that will kick start Australia’s final path to the 2018 World Cup.

Ange Postecoglou barks instructions.

TIM Cahill is the only A-League player named for the Socceroos squad to take on Iraq and UAE to kick-off the final phase of World Cup qualifying for the 2018 tournament in Russia.

Australia takes on Iraq in Perth on 1 September and the United Arab Emirates in Abu Dhabi on 6 September, with the domestic season only kicking off on 7 October.

New Melbourne City marquee Cahill is joined by a healthy attacking artillery, which includes a recall for Tomi Juric after his bright start to life at FC Luzern in Switzerland, Guangzhou R&F striker Apostolos Giannou, FC Tokyo’s Nathan Burns as well as Bundesliga players and green and gold regulars Robbie Kruse and Mathew Leckie.

“This squad sets us up well for the huge challenge we have ahead over the next 12 months to qualify for the World Cup but importantly it is specific to the first task at hand, which is Iraq in Perth and then the UAE in Abu Dhabi,” Postecoglou said.

“Both Iraq and UAE present challenges for us and every player will need to be ready to hit the ground running. As has been the case right through, form and fitness are central to the squad we’ve selected and I believe we have the squad to get us off to a good start.

“Some of our players have made moves during the off season and I’m pleased that the vast majority will come into the camp with a good pre season and a few meaningful matches under their belt.”

Mile Jedinak at Villa Park. It's understood he had a medical during @AVFCOfficial's game against @htafcdotcom pic.twitter.com/0wGOpdjcTB

— FOX SPORTS Football (@FOXFOOTBALL) August 16, 2016

Postecoglou was able to recall defender Mathew Spiranovic for his first camp in over a year after a series of injuries, while goalkeeper Mitch Langerak returns from injury as well. Otherwise, in a sign of stability after a series of friendlies and camps designed to expose and test fringe personnel, it is a largely unsurprising and stable Socceroos squad. This squad, with an average 23 caps per head, features no debutants – something Postecoglou has only done once before in his time as Socceroos boss.

“The first 18 months was about putting together a team to do Australia proud at the 2014 World Cup and to win the Asian Cup,” Postecoglou said. “We then moved into a phase of building depth to grow the pool of players who could do the job at an international level, while negotiating the first stage of Qualifiers.

Magic @AaronMooy shines again in the English Football League https://t.co/TJTFvDNtYU pic.twitter.com/7KgbVY2BeJ

— FOX SPORTS Football (@FOXFOOTBALL) August 16, 2016

“We’ve now arrived at the final stage of World Cup Qualifying where we will face a stronger group of opponents in testing conditions and we are comfortable that we have a core group of players with a stronger base of international experience.

“In saying that, we have a much broader group of players that we know we can rely on and others from outside the group will make a strong contribution in the coming months, particularly from within the A-League, which is yet to get underway for this season.”

Australia is also joined in Asia’s Group B by Japan, Saudi Arabia and Thailand for the 10-game program, with the top two teams in the group going through to the FIFA World Cup in Russia.

Hear what @Tim_Cahill had to say about his Socceroos future, via @DanielGarb https://t.co/ceYdttXICk pic.twitter.com/J2ShBb7NnB

— FOX SPORTS Football (@FOXFOOTBALL) August 16, 2016

SOCCEROOS SQUAD

GOALKEEPERS

Adam Federici (Bournemouth), Mat Ryan (Valencia), Mitch Langerak (Stuttgart)

DEFENDERS

Milos Degenek (1860 Munich), Alex Gersbach (Rosenborg), Ryan McGowan (Henan Jianye), Trent Sainsbury (Jiangsu Suning), Brad Smith (Bournemouth), Matthew Spiranovic (Huangzhou Greentown), Bailey Wright (Preston North End)

MIDFIELDERS

Chris Ikonomidis (Lazio), Jackson Irvine (Burton Albion), Mile Jedinak (Crystal Palace), Massimo Luongo (Queens Park Rangers), Mark Milligan (Baniyas), Aaron Mooy (Huddersfield), Tommy Rogic (Celtic),

FORWARDS

Nathan Burns (FC Tokyo), Tim Cahill (Melbourne City), Apostolos Giannou (Guangzhou R & F), Tomi Juric (FC Luzern), Robbie Kruse (Bayer Leverkusen), Mathew Leckie (FC Ingolstadt).

FIXTURES

Socceroos v Iraq
1 September 2016

Perth Rectangular Stadium, Perth

6.30pm kick-off (8.30pm AEST)

UAE v Socceroos

6 September 2016

Mohammed Bin Zayed Stadium, Abu Dhabi, UAE

7:30pm kick-off (1:30am AEST 7 September 2016)

Both games will be live and in HD on Fox Sports.

BEST OF ANGE PRESSER

AP: Right now, this is the squad for two games. If I was looking any further, that's just madness on my part. #AUSvIRQ

— Caltex Socceroos (@Socceroos) August 17, 2016

AP: Some of the smarter overseas clubs are starting to wake up to the strength of the @ALeague #AUSvIRQ

— Caltex Socceroos (@Socceroos) August 17, 2016

AP: We need to start these two matches strongly and I believe with these players, we'll do just that. #AUSvIRQ

— Caltex Socceroos (@Socceroos) August 17, 2016

AP: If players do well in the @ALeague there's a pretty good chance they'll do well overseas #AUSvIRQ

— Caltex Socceroos (@Socceroos) August 17, 2016

AP: I'm much happier with this squad today than I was 12 months ago. I'm happy with all of our player's progress. #AUSvIRQ

— Caltex Socceroos (@Socceroos) August 17, 2016

AP: @MatyRyan has been starting well and Mitch Langerak has also been outstanding in his first two weeks #AUSvIRQ

— Caltex Socceroos (@Socceroos) August 17, 2016

AP: There were probably 30-35 players who were in serious consideration for this squad #AUSvIRQ

— Caltex Socceroos (@Socceroos) August 17, 2016

AP: The challenge for all of my players is to dominate where they are, and move up to the next level #AUSvIRQ

— Caltex Socceroos (@Socceroos) August 17, 2016

AP: It's always hard to come into a new environment but @AaronMooy has adapted very well at @htafcdotcom #AUSvIRQ

— Caltex Socceroos (@Socceroos) August 17, 2016

AP: There was no hesitation in picking @Tim_Cahill for these squads. He'll have a couple of weeks to settle with @MelbourneCity #AUSvIRQ

— Caltex Socceroos (@Socceroos) August 17, 2016

AP: With the players in the squad, and the players just outside this squad, I'm very comfortable #AUSvIRQ

— Caltex Socceroos (@Socceroos) August 17, 2016

AP: We'll always keep an open mind with new players but the end goal is qualifying, and qualifying well #AUSvIRQ

— Caltex Socceroos (@Socceroos) August 17, 2016

AP: I'm excited for the next twelve months with these players #AUSvIRQ

— Caltex Socceroos (@Socceroos) August 17, 2016

AP: The core of this squad have been playing together for the most part of 18 months #AUSvIRQ

— Caltex Socceroos (@Socceroos) August 17, 2016

Originally published as Ange Postecoglou names first squad for final phase of 2018 FIFA World Cup qualifiers