World Cup qualifiers: Socceroos coach Ange Postecoglou plays experience hand for Japan, Thailand

FOR a hard battle, you need the battle-hardened, and Ange Postecoglou will deploy the tried and tested in two decisive World Cup qualifiers to get Australia to Russia 2018.

Tom Rogic will have a vital role to play in both games.

FOR a hard battle, you need the battle-hardened, and Ange Postecoglou will deploy the tried and tested to get Australia over the line.

SOCCEROOS SQUAD: Jedinak out of Japan, Thailand clashes

The most interesting part of the Socceroos squad confirmed on Wednesday morning to take on Japan and Thailand for a place at the World Cup comes in the “Caps” column. All those games previously where Postecoglou spoke of getting minutes into players, bulking out their international experience, has led to this day.

Scroll down the likely starters against Japan on Thursday week — a game in which Australia simply has to get at least a point — and the number of appearances really starts to add up.

Tom Rogic will have a vital role to play in both games.

Matt Ryan 35, Matt Spiranovic 34, Trent Sainsbury 27. Matthew Leckie has 44, Tom Rogic and Aaron Mooy 27 and 26 respectively.

Even if you take the centurion Tim Cahill out of the equation, Robbie Kruse has 55 caps, Tomi Juric 26.

Against a side also fighting to secure an automatic place at the World Cup, in what will be a fervent atmosphere in Saitama, and without the huge experience of the captain, Mile Jedinak, this is a nucleus of players Postecoglou assumes won’t wilt.

Jedinak’s loss provokes an ambivalent feeling. His presence and calmness is hugely valued by the Socceroos leadership, but hampered by injury and now 33, Jedinak’s mobility is not what it was. Into the breach will come Mark Milligan, to offer direction and bite in midfield.

The question marks remain over the defence, with Trent Sainsbury carrying a groin injury and Matt Spiranovic having played all year in the Chinese second division. It’s impossible to tell until he gets into camp whether the diminution in standard has dulled Spiranovic’s edge; his innate quality and experience are the counterbalance.

Mile Jedinak has missed out because of injury.

By now, though, everyone knows the score. Four points from two games means Australia can book tickets for Russia. Anything less and the play-offs beckon.

Experienced players will welcome the crystallising of their mission.

Socceroos squad

Goalkeepers

Mitchell Langerak (VfB Stuttgart, Germany) 8 caps, Mathew Ryan (Brighton & Hove Albion, England) 35 caps,) Daniel Vukovic (KRC Genk, Belgium) 0 caps

Defenders

Milos Degenek (Yokohama F. Marinos, Japan) 11 caps, ) Alex Gersbach (Rosenborg BK, Norway) 3 caps, Ryan McGowan (Guizhou Zhicheng, China) 20 caps, Trent Sainsbury (Jiangsu Suning, China) 27 caps, Brad Smith (Bournemouth, England) 15 caps, Matthew Spiranovic (Hangzhou Greentown, China) 34 caps, Bailey Wright (Bristol City, England) 18 caps

Midfielders

Mustafa Amini (Aarhus Gymnastikforening, Denmark) 1 cap, Jackson Irvine (Burton Albion, England) 13 caps, Massimo Luongo (Queens Park Rangers, England) 29 caps, Mark Milligan (Melbourne Victory, Australia) 59 caps, Aaron Mooy (Huddersfield Town, England) 26 caps, Tom Rogic (Celtic, Scotland) 27 caps, James Troisi (Melbourne Victory, Australia) 32 caps

Attackers

Tim Cahill (Melbourne City, Australia) 100 caps, Tomi Juric (FC Luzern, Switzerland) 26 caps, Robbie Kruse (VFL Bochum, Germany) 55 caps, Mathew Leckie (Hertha Berlin, Germany) 44 caps, Awer Mabil (Paços de Ferreira, Portugal) 0 caps, Jamie Maclaren (SV Darmstadt 98, Germany) 4 caps

Originally published as World Cup qualifiers: Socceroos coach Ange Postecoglou plays experience hand for Japan, Thailand