Graham Arnold has pulled a series of shocks in naming the Socceroos’ squad for next month’s Asian Cup, including a 36-year old and three potential debutants – and another player poached from a rival nation.
Arnold announced his 26-man squad on Friday morning (expanded from 23 for the first time ever), but a series of injuries to senior players and the looming U23 Asian Cup forced plenty of difficult calls.
“I had to make a lot of tough calls,” Arnold said Friday, but declared: “I truly believe that I’ve selected a strong squad, a fantastic squad … in my view it’s a very strong squad.”
Arnold added: “I’ve got one eye on the Asian Cup but I’ve got two eyes on the World Cup (2026) and qualifying directly.”
That sees a balance of young talents and veteran faces – including a recall for Melbourne Victory’s 36-year-old striker Bruno Fornaroli on the back of a remarkable start to the A-League Men’s season, with 12 goals in eight games.
‘I’m really happy with the mix … the older ones, the 25 year olds and down to the 21-23 year-olds … I think it’s a top squad.”
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Arnold said: “The most important thing for the Socceroos is form. Bruno’s done a fantastic job, he’s had a fantastic start to the season. It’s very very hard to ignore. The way he looks – his body looks in fantastic shape … that’s the type of form you want from all the players.”
But he added that the striker’s role is “a concern that position on the pitch, long-term.”
Part of the long-term planning at that number nine role sees John Iredale called up, a 24-year-old who plies his trade in Germany’s second tier.
“John Iredale is someone I’ve had in camp at the start of my reign in Turkey (in 2018),” Arnold said, adding that Iredale can play as a number nine, but also as a playmaker (10) or winger (7).
Iredale last week scored against FC St Pauli, where Socceroos veteran Jackson Irvine is captain and plays alongside international teammate Connor Metcalfe.
21-year-old midfielder Patrick Yazbek (currently playing in Norway) has been in recent Socceroos camps but has not yet debuted, while there is a third potential debutant in the squad – right-back Gethin Jones of Bolton Wanderers in England’s third tier.
28-year-old Jones was born in Perth but has played for Wales in junior internationals. But Arnold – as has become a habit under his reign – again managed to poach a player from a rival nation. It’s a process Arnold revealed has been years in the making.
“Gethin Jones is not a young talent. He’s a 27-28 year old,” Arnold said.
“He’s one we’ve had our eye on for the last couple of years. He wasn’t hard to convince but it takes time to get through the FIFA regulations to change his registration.
“I went and watched him when I was in the UK. Very impressive. Obviously with the Ryan Strain injury it gave us our opportunity.”
He added: “He’s always wanted to play for Australia, he has played for Wales at a junior level.”
Strain was one of many players to be ruled out with injuries – a list that also includes Awer Mabil, Gianni Stensness, Nicholas d’Agostino, Mohamed Toure, Denis Genreau and Brandon Borrello.
Perhaps the biggest absence due to injury was veteran forward Mathew Leckie.
Arnold said: “Speaking with Melbourne City, speaking with Lecks … Lecks was keen to come but I just feel the last six months Lecks has had with injuries – coming back and then getting injured again – I just feel it’s better he stays with his club.”
“The most important thing for me is he gets his body right … and then getting ready for Lebanon (World Cup qualifier) in March,” he said.
Also omitted was Leckie’s club teammate and fellow veteran attacker Jamie Maclaren, who said Thursday he was reconsidering his international future after being left out.
Arnold said: “It’s one of the phone calls that I hate making. But Jamie’s the first one to admit that perhaps Bruno has been in better form than him …
“He’s got a great future for us, he’s been fantastic for me for the last four years.”
But there was one major boost in terms of injuries, with captain and first-choice goalkeeper Maty Ryan set to be fit for the tournament opener after recently suffering a fractured cheekbone in training.
“The information I’m getting from the medical team – and Maty’s bought a beautiful mask – I do believe he’ll be fine.”
“This time next week he’ll be back in the gym and working.”
“He probably won’t be ready for the friendly against Bahrain but he should be ready for the India game,” Arnold said.
Other notable absentees are Alex Robertson and Alessandro Circati, two young talents that are more likely to feature in the Under-23 Asian Cup in April-May, which doubles as qualification for the Paris Olympics.
Ajdin Hrustic and Fran Karacic missed out after struggling for match minutes at club level, while Massimo Luongo on Wednesday announced his retirement from international football to focus on his club’s bid for Premier League promotion.
FULL SQUAD
Nathaniel Atkinson
Keanu Baccus
Aziz Behich
Jordy Bos
Martin Boyle
Cameron Burgess
Thomas Deng
Mitchell Duke
Bruno Fornaroli
Joe Gauci (Gk)
Craig Goodwin
John Iredale
Jackson Irvine
Gethin Jones
Riley McGree
Connor Metcalfe
Lewis Miller
Aiden O’Neill
Kye Rowles
Mathew Ryan (Gk) (Cpt)
Sam Silvera
Harry Souttar
Lawrence Thomas (Gk)
Marco Tilio
Patrick Yazbek
Kusini Yengi
