Arnie has swell Roo options to ponder

SOCCEROOS coach Graham Arnold will name a super-sized squad of 34 players for the May-June World Cup qualifying hub to counter a limited preparation and the possibility of a COVID-19 outbreak.

The Socceroos will conclude their latest round of 2022 World Cup qualifiers by playing four Group B matches in the May 31-June 15 hub.

The hub location is yet to be confirmed, although Qatar is reportedly favoured to host the matches. Arnold confirmed the dates for the Socceroos four matches. Australia, which leads Group B with 12 points from four matches, will play Kuwait on June 4, Chinese Taipei on June 8, Nepal on June 12 and Jordan on June 15.

The amount of matches in a short space of time, as well as hardly any preparation time because of players being on club duties until the FIFA international window starts on May 31, will lead to Arnold (above) selecting an extra large squad.

“I haven’t seen them for 19 months and we’ll have three training sessions together (before the first game),” he said.

“I’ll bring 34 players because we’ll have four matches in 12 days. Putting the injuries to one side as well, if we get four or five players who get COVID, we have to make sure we have enough players in the hub wherever it is.”

With such a big squad to be named, Arnold won’t have any hesitation including a strong contingent of A-League players if their form warrants selection despite the competition being no certainty to go into recess during the international window.

“We have the right to be able to call the players in because it’s a FIFA window,” Arnold said. “We need players for these games and I’m sure if you’d ask any A-League players if they wanted to play for their country in a FIFA window, those players would say 100 per cent yes.”

Meanwhile, the Olyroos are set play in a multi-nation tournament starting in late May in Toulon, France.