The Aussies are officially in business for the 2022 World Cup. And like all other teams involved in the competition, the Socceroos have a pool of players whom they can choose from for this event. The exact selections have not been given yet, and we don’t expect this to be done until maybe a month before the 2022 World Cup begins. With that said, there is actually a pool of 55 players that each team is eligible to submit as a provision selection.
But the final players that will be shortlisted as the Australian national football team for the World Cup will only involve a maximum of 26 players. Obviously, that’s still far more than the 11 players that will start each match. However, it’s important that each team takes reserves to allow for injuries and substitutions. And with all of this in mind, we’d like to address the likely selections for each segment of the field.
It’s all discussed below, so let us get started.
Contents
Defensive lineup for the Australian National football team
The Aussies have historically had a bit of trouble in the defensive part of the field. But this year, it seems that things are a little different. Bear in mind that they didn’t concede a single goal in the final World Cup qualifying game against Peru. And this was the case following 120 minutes of competitive football prior to the penalties. So, starting with the goalkeeper, it’s fairly locked on that Mathew Ryan will be the selected goalkeeper. After all, he is the captain of the Australian national football team at the moment.
He is also one of the most experienced players in the squad. At 30 years of age and with 74 caps, this puts him ahead of even guys like Mathew Leckie. And in front of Ryan between the sticks, you’ve got some strong and experienced players. In fact, these are the guys who we feel will travel to Qatar:
- Trent Sainsbury
- Aziz Behich
- Bailey Wright
- Milos Degenek
- Kye Rowles
- Jason Davidson
- Fran Karacic
This would provide a nice mix of left, central, and right-wing defenders. However, the final selection is obviously down to the Australian manager.
Australian national football team – midfield
Now that we’ve taken care of the possible players in defence, let us move a little further up the field now.
Of course, it’s one thing having a great defence to prevent the opponents from scoring goals. But that’s just one important element of having a successful World Cup campaign. The other relates to the middle of the park, as these guys must maintain possession and create opportunities for the strikers. And based on the initial pool of players, we feel that these guys will get the call-up for Qatar:
- Aaron Mooy
- Jackson Irvine
- Craig Goodwin
- Riley McGree
- Ajdin Hrustic
- Tom Rogic
- James Jeggo
A few of these names are more experienced within the squad than others. Because of that, they have a better chance of being selected. Such names include Aaron Mooy, Tom Rogic, Jackson Irvine, and Ajdin Hrustic. All of these guys were influential in the qualifying campaign for the Socceroos, and they are all ready to rumble for the World Cup in terms of fitness.
Strikers for the Australian national football team
The final section of the field is arguably the most important of them all. Of course, to win games on the biggest stage in football, you have to be able to score goals. And this is an area where Australia has been pretty solid in the past. While some of their legends have hung up their boots since the previous World Cup, there is still a significant talent pool to choose from. We’ve taken a look at the existing squad and recent call-ups to determine who might be on the plane to Qatar as a striker. And we’ve come up with the following names:
- Mathew Leckie
- Jamie Maclaren
- Awer Mabil
- Martin Boyle
- Nicholas D’Agostino
- Bruno Fornaroli
- Mitchell Duke
- Adam Taggart
In terms of the more likely names to appear in the official list, both Leckie and Mabil are pretty much nailed on. And following those guys, it would be fair to assume that Maclaren, Boyle, Taggart, and D’Agostino will also be red-hot candidates. These players have all been involved in the FIFA World Cup qualifiers for the Socceroos. But perhaps more importantly, they have played together for the Australian national football team in the past.
This is hugely important in terms of leadership, team chemistry, and ultimate team performance once the Aussies kick off their campaign. But again, we’d like to remind you that the official selection has yet to be announced. So we will all have to wait and see which players the coach finally chooses as his official squad.
Australian national football team FAQs
Are your shortlisted players all going to play in Qatar?
No. The players that we have shortlisted for each region on the pitch are only possible selections. While some of them will definitely be picked, others might not make the cut.
Have any of the mentioned players been involved in previous World Cups?
Yes. Several of the players listed have been involved in previous World Cups. Key examples include Mathew Leckie and Mathew Ryan – the current captain.
Who are the best players in the current national team?
That’s difficult to say, but players like Ryan, Leckie, Mooy, and Irvine definitely rank right up there. Of course, there are other emerging talents for the Socceroos as well.
Who is the coach of the Australian national football team?
The current coach for the Socceroos is Graham Arnold. He has been in the job for 3 years now, so he has plenty of experience with players in the current squad.
What are Australia’s chances with this team at the FIFA World Cup 2022?
We would say that Australia has a reasonable chance of reaching the knockout stages. And if they were able to do so, this would be their best performance since the 2006 World Cup in Germany.
