The Socceroos will kick off a massive month of football with a must win World Cup Qualifier game against Saudi Arabia on Thursday, the 8th of June.
Coach Ange Postecoglou has named a 23 man squad for the third round match against Saudi Arabia as well as the upcoming friendly against Brazil and the Confederations Cup, all to be held in the next month.
Postecoglou has opted for experience in the line-up with Tim Cahill (96 appearances), Mile Jedinak (70), Mark Milligan (55) and Robbie Kruse (50) headlining a squad that totals 568 Australian caps between them. Milligan will miss the Saudi Arabia game, however, through suspension.
Currently trailing both Japan and Saudi Arabia by three points with just three games to play in Group B, the Aussies can’t afford to drop another game if they aim to earn automatic qualification into the 2018 World Cup in Russia.
Luckily for the Aussies, the game will be played on home soil in Adelaide. The Socceroos have a great record of qualifier games at home, and regardless of their 3rd place in Group B, remain the only undefeated team in the pool.
Australia have two wins and one draw at home in the group stage and earned a 2-2 draw with the Saudis away from home back in October.
Three uncapped players have been named in the squad in Dylan McGowan, Ajdin Hrustic and Danny Vukovic but all are likely to miss out on starting in the qualifying game to more experienced players. Star midfielder Aaron Mooy will return to Australia just a week out from winning the English Championship playoff game to help send his Huddersfield Town teammates into the Premier League for next season.
Saudi Arabia forward Mohammad Al-Sahlawi will be the player that the Aussies have to contain if they have any chance of victory here. His 15 goals in the WCQ campaign so far are tied for the most while Aussie Tim Cahill sits six behind on 9 goals.
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The visiting team will be without important midfielders Nawaf Al Abid and Fahad Al Muwallad for the game, which should give the advantage to the Socceroos midfield consisting of the likes of Mooy, Kruse, Tom Rogic and James Troisi.
We expect the Aussies to get it done here based on their glowing home record. A 2-0 win over UAE broke the four game streak of draws for the Aussies and we expect that turn of form to continue here with another game on Australian soil.
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