2018 FIFA WC: Australia becomes the first nation to announce their squad

Australia annouces their team for the upcomming FIFA World Cup
Australia annouces their team for the upcomming FIFA World Cup

XtraTime Web Desk: Australia becomes the first team to announce their 32 men preliminary squad for the FIFA World Cup 2018 in Russia.

Socceroos boss Bert van Marwijk, who was only appointed in January and will leave after the tournament in Russia, has called on two Premier League stars, Aaron Mooy (Huddersfield) and Mathew Ryan (Brighton) to be in his group.

Meanwhile, the Dutchman, who coached the Netherlands at the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa, also naming six Championship stars in the group, including veteran Tim Cahill, currently at Millwall.

Van Marwijk’s 32-man squad also show the vast Australian diaspora with stars playing in leagues across the globe, including Saudi Arabia, South Korea, Turkey, Czechia, Cyprus, and Israel.

Australia squad

Goalkeepers: Mat Ryan (Brighton/England), Danny Vukovic (Genk/Belgium), Brad Jones (Feyenoord/Netherlands), Mitch Langerak (Nagoya Grampus/Japan)

Defenders: Aziz Behich (Bursaspor/Turkey), Milos Degenek (Yokohama F. Marinos/Japan), Matthew Jurman (Suwon Bluewings/Korea Republic), James Meredith (Millwall/England), Josh Risdon (Western Sydney Wanderers), Trent Sainsbury (Grasshoppers Zurich/Switzerland), Aleksandar Susnjar (Mlada Boleslav/Czech Republic), Bailey Wright (Bristol City/England), Alex Gersbach (Lens/France), Fran Karacic (Lokomotiva Zagreb/Croatia)

Midfielders: Josh Brillante (Sydney FC), Mile Jedinak (Aston Villa/England), Mark Milligan (Al Ahli/Saudi Arabia), Robbie Kruse (Bochum/Germany), Jackson Irvine (Hull City/England), Massimo Luongo (Queens Park Rangers/England), Aaron Mooy (Huddersfield/England), Tom Rogic (Celtic/Scotland), James Troisi (Melbourne Victory).

Forwards: Tim Cahill (Millwall/England), Tomi Juric (FC Luzern/Switzerland), Matthew Leckie (Hertha Berlin/Germany), Andrew Nabbout (Urawa Red Diamonds/Japan), Nikita Rukavytsya (Maccabi Haifa/Israel), Dimitri Petratos (Newcastle Jets), Jamie Maclaren (Hibernian/Scotland), Daniel Arzani (Melbourne City), Apostolos Giannou (AEK Larnaca/Cyprus).