Graham Arnold excited about Asian Cup challenge for Socceroos

Socceroos coach Graham Arnold refuses to shy away from the mountainous challenge of defending the Asian Cup.

Socceroos coach Graham Arnold names his squad to play two friendlies in Australia this month. Picture: AAP

The odds might be stacked against him and the Socceroos, but national team coach Graham Arnold refuses to shy away from the mountainous challenge of defending the Asian Cup.

As the final leg of the preparations are looming for the tournament in the United Arab Emirates in January, Arnold put on his best, positive face, declaring his confidence and belief that Australia can emulate the feat of 2015 when they created history on home soil.

Speaking after announcing an extended 23-man squad plus four train-on players for friendlies against South Korea in Brisbane on November 17 and Lebanon at ANZ Stadium three days later, the Socceroos boss said he was excited by the challenge despite the weight of expectation from fans and the different circumstances he now faces.

Arnold’s selections are highlighted by the inclusion of four A-League players — Craig Goodwin (Adelaide United), Thomas Deng (Melbourne Victory), Rhyan Grant (Sydney FC) and Dimi Petratos (Newcastle United).

They won’t be involved in the game against the South Koreans, but will be included when Arnold rejigs his squad for the match against Lebanon when a number of overseas players will be ­released back to their clubs.

As expected, Scotsman Martin Boyle has been named after gaining his Australian passport and will get a start against the South Koreans, while there were recalls for Andrew Nabbout and Jamie Maclaren, who have been absent because of injury.

Having only taken the reins from Bert van Marwijk in July, Arnold has had just 15 days on the training paddock with the players and one friendly — a 4-0 demolition of Kuwait last month.

Arnold will get another six days with the squad leading up to the two friendlies and probably just three or four days ­before the opening game of the Asian Cup against Jordan on January 6. That means he will have had just three friendlies and 25 days to prepare the squad.

Throw in the fact that Mile Jedinak and Tim Cahill, who provided something like 70 per cent of the national team’s goals over the previous four years, are now retired from international football and that the Socceroos were the fifth, and last, Asian team to qualify for the World Cup in Russia in June, then it is understandable there might be some concerns.

But Arnold is having none of that.

“From the outside, maybe there are people who will look at the negatives, but not me,” ­Arnold said. “Yes, it might be 21, 22, 23 days of actual training time, but I have a great belief in this group of players.

“I have had a great connection with the players for a long, long time over many years in the A-League.

“I’ve coached a lot of them personally, I’ve coached against them (in the A-League) and I’ve worked with them as a group, so that’s an advantage.”

Asked if it would be considered a failure if Australia does not defend the cup, Arnold said he goes into every game with a winning mentality.

“It’s a big challenge, yes, but one I am excited about. I believe we can defend our championship,” he said.

Socceroos squad

Mustafa Amini, Aziz Behich, Martin Boyle, Milos Degenek, Alex Gersbach, Jackson Irvine, James Jeggo, Tomi Juric, Matthew Jurman, Robbie Kruse, Mitch Langerak (Gk), Mathew Leckie, Massimo Luongo, Awer Mabil, Jamie Maclaren, Mark Milligan, Aaron Mooy, Andrew Nabbout, Josh Risdon, Tom Rogic, Mathew Ryan (Gk), Trent Sainsbury, Danny Vukovic (Gk)

Train-on players

Thomas Deng, Craig Goodwin, Rhyan Grant, Dimitri Petratos