Archie's Dream Comes 'Roo

Qantas Socceroos Head Coach Pim Verbeek has selected a squad of  23 players for the crucial Asian Cup 2011 Qualifier in Kuwait City on January 6, 2010.

Selected in a Qantas Socceroos squad for the first time are Oar, Matthew Kemp (Melbourne Victory) and Tando Velaphi (Perth Glory) who are among 15 players from eight A-League clubs.

Sydney FC defender Simon Colosimo also makes a return to the Socceroos squad after last appearing in the green and gold in a friendly against China in Guangzhou on 24 March 2007. 

And although Central Coast Mariners goalkeeper Danny Vukovic has been selected in the Socceroos squad previously, he could make his senior debut if he takes the field against Kuwait.

Perth Glory Roos Mile Sterjovski and Jacob Burns have also been included, but there was no place for Gloryroo Chris Coyne.

AsiaRoos Josh Kennedy, Mark Milligan or the Griffiths brothers also missed out along with Middle East-based Danny Allsopp.

Players joining the Qantas Socceroos squad from overseas clubs include Luke Wilkshire (FK Dinamo Moscow, Russia), Nick Carle (Crystal Palace FC, England)  Bruce Djite (Genclerbirligi SK, Turkey), Mile Jedinak (Antalyaspor Kulubu, Turkey), Shane Lowry (Aston Villa FC, England), Nikita Rukavytsya (FC Twente, Netherlands), Matthew Spiranovic and Dario Vidosic (FC Nurnberg, Germany).

The match date is not a FIFA-approved international date which ruled out top name stars like Tim Cahill, Brett Emerton, Vince Grella and Mark Schwarzer.

Galatasaray's Harry Kewell has not been included either despite his Turkish league being on a winter break and club rivals Briuce Djite and Mile Jedinak making the trip to the pre-match seven day training camp over New Year's Eve in Dubai.

Kuwait defeated Australia 1-0 when the two teams clashed in Canberra on March 3 earlier this year and it's vital Australia get their revenge if they want to secure their qualification for the finals.

Kuwait and Australia currently sit on top of the Group B points table of the AFC Asian Cup 2011 Qualifying stage with their final game against Indonesia to be played in Brisbane on March 3, 2010.

Qantas Socceroos Squad - Tuesday 22 December 2009