’Keeper, Jets pair win Cup chance
Coach picks new faces
The Socceroos entrance door has been left ajar for A-League players by Bert van Marwijk, despite the new boss rewarding the operation Honduras heroes.
Newcastle Jets’ star performers Dimi Petratos and Andrew Nabboutwon their first call-ups while Sydney FC midfielder Josh Brillante was recalled to the Australian team for the March friendlies against Norway and Colombia.
The bolter was Czech-based defender Alex Susnjar, though those who watched January’s AFC Under 23 Championships aren’t shocked by his selection after three stellar performances.
Susnjar, 22, could get his chance with regular defender Trent Sainsbury yet to play for his new club Grasshopper Zurich post groin surgery, though he was picked.
Goalkeeper Brad Jones was called up after a breakthrough 18 months with van Marwijk’s former club Feyenoord under the tutelage of the coach’s 2010 World Cup captain Giovanni van Bronckhorst.
Displacing No.1 Mat Ryan in his breakthrough season at Premier League club Brighton would be a massive call but the inclusion of Jones is just reward, after the ’keeper had to pull out of the 2010 World Cup to be with his gravely ill son.
There has been an outcry from those with short memories regarding Tim Cahill’s inclusion due to minimal minutes at Milwall, but the veteran will continue to defy logic.
The lack of Australian goalscorers leaves little competition in any case beyond Swiss-based Tomi Juric, although Jamie Maclaren was named having recently netted his debut goal with Hibernian after joining on loan from German club Darmstadt.
Russia 2018 qualifying stars Mile Jedinak, Aaron Mooy, Mathew Leckie, Cahill, Ryan, Mark Milligan, Sainsbury and Tom Rogic, who’s just returned from injury, are all included in the extended 29-man squad.
Millwall left-back James Meredith was also recalled, with van Marwijk set to trim the squad to as little as 23 before the Norway and Colombia friendlies in Oslo and London respectively on March 24 and 28.
“(We) have monitored over 100 Australian players in the ALeague and across Europe and Asia,” van Marwijk said.
“The Norway and Colombia games provide a great chance for the players selected to press their claims for Russia, however, the door remains ajar for all players not picked for the March window.”
This will be the players’ only chance to impress van Marwijk in a Socceroos camp before the extended World Cup squad is picked. Melbourne City’s Daniel Arzani and Melbourne Victory’s Rhys Williams are among the locals pushing for inclusion, while German-based winger Brandon Borrello can consider himself unlucky having starred in recent weeks.