Socceroos stick with experience for Kyrgyzstan test

Australia coach Ange Postecoglou named a full-strength squad - which includes the returning Tim Cahill - to face Kyrgyzstan in the opening 2018 FIFA World Cup qualifier in Bishkek on 17 June (AEST).

Roos

Socceroos players that won the Asian Cup get first chance to impress in the World Cup qualifying campaign (Getty) Source: Gettt

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There are no uncapped players in the  selection with 19 members of the AFC Asian Cup 2015-winning squad.

Postecoglou declared this group of players as the 'core of the squad that will take us through to the next World Cup'.

The 23-man squad will assemble for a one-week camp in Dubai before travelling to Bishkek to take on the 153rd-ranked Kyrgyzstan in the opening match of the first stage of qualification.

Cahill, Matthew Spiranovic and Eugene Galekovic return to the squad after missing the recent matches against Germany and FYR Macedonia with Aaron Mooy, Adam Federici and Luke Devere missing out.
"This is the start of the next chapter in our journey and we are all excited about what lies ahead over the next two years," Postecoglou said.
"We've been open in our desire to make an impact at the 2018 World Cup but first we need to qualify and that task is immediately in front of us.

"We've selected a relatively settled squad made up of the core of players that brought success at the Asian Cup but also the core of players that will take us through to the next World Cup.
"Before we travel to Bishkek for the match against Kyrgyzstan we have a week-long camp in Dubai and it is a good opportunity to work hard with the core group of players who have been exposed to international football and the style of football we want to play.

"We'll work on building a strong base and then over the next two years we can expose more players to the squad as form and fitness warrants selection but those players will come into a settled unit when they get an opportunity."

Socceroos squad

Roos squad


While Australia will go into the qualifiers as Asian champion, Postecoglou knows that means little as the path to Russia is full of new challenges.

"It maybe puts a little bit of a full stop to the great after-glow of the Asia Cup, we can start looking forward now," Postecoglou told reporters in Sydney.

"This process is about qualifying, which is always a tricky affair and will be challenging for us even in this first phase ... not just qualifying but building a really strong team over the next two or three-year cycle.

"This squad is pretty reflective of our journey over the past 18 months, the World Cup and the Asia Cup squads.

"And we are beginning to form a little bit of a foundation of the team we want to be and the players we're selecting."

While not shying away from the long-term goals, Postecoglou was acutely aware of the challenges facing the Socceroos as they enter unchartered territory for Australian football.

"No Australian football team has ever been to Kyrgyzstan so we have done a lot of research, including a reconnaissance trip to Bishkek, to make sure we are well prepared for what will not be an easy task," Postecoglou said.

"We go to Bishkek with the utmost respect for Kyrgyzstan and we know that we will have to be at our best to get off to a winning start."

The Socceroos will meet Kyrgyzstan, Jordan, Tajikistan and Bangladesh in home and away fixtures to decide the initial qualifying phase for the 2018 World Cup finals in Russia.


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4 min read
Published 25 May 2015 10:50am
Updated 25 May 2015 11:20am
Source: SBS

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