SOCCEROOS head coach Holger Osieck today named a 23-player squad to take on Oman in a crucial 2014 FIFA World Cup Asian Qualifier at Stadium Australia in Sydney on March 26.
Tim Cahill, Mile Jedinak, Tommy Oar and Tom Rogic return to the national team after missing last month’s friendly against Romania, while Dino Djulbic receives his second call-up to the Green and Gold after making his senior international debut at the EAFF East Asian Cup qualifiers in Hong Kong last December.
Osieck included six A-League players: Eugene Galekovic (Adelaide United), Mark Milligan (Melbourne Victory), Jade North ((Brisbane Roar), Mat Ryan (Central Coast Mariners), Archie Thompson (Melbourne Victory) and Michael Thwaite (Perth Glory).
Nikolai Topor-Stanley, widely tipped to earn a return to the Socceroos after a stand-out season with A-League new boys Western Sydney Wanderers, was absent from the lineup.
The Socceroos will be without the services of skipper Lucas Neill and Carl Valeri, who are serving one match suspensions.
This will be the seventh meeting between the Qantas Socceroos and Oman at senior men’s international level.
The most recent meeting between the Qantas Socceroos and Oman was in Muscat in June last year where they played out a 0-0 draw in extreme heat.
The Qantas Socceroos are currently ranked 37th in the FIFA World Rankings whilst Oman are 105th (as of February 2013).
The Qantas Socceroos are currently in second position of Group B of the final round of the 2014 qualifiers with a win against Iraq (2-1), draws against Oman (0-0) and Japan (1-1) and a loss against Jordan (1-2) in matches.
Oman are in fourth place of Group B after a win over Jordan (2-1), draws with Australia (0-0) and Iraq (1-1) and two losses to Japan (0-3 and 1-2).
The match between the Socceroos and Oman will be broadcast live on FOX SPORTS HD 1 from 6.30pm and from 8pm on free to air broadcaster SBS TV. Kick-off is at 7.30pm. All times are AEDT.
Qantas Socceroos Squad
Mark Bresciano (Al Gharafa, Qatar) Alex Brosque (Al-Ain Club, UAE) Tim Cahill (New York Red Bulls), Robert Cornthwaite (Chunnam Dragons, Korea Republic), Dino Djulbic (Al Wahda Club, UAE) Eugene Galekovic (gk - Adelaide United), James Holland (FK Austria Vienna, Austria), Brett Holman (Aston Villa FC, England), Mile Jedinak (Crystal Palace FC) Robbie Kruse (Fortuna Dusseldorf) Ryan McGowan (Shandong Luneng Taishan FC, China PR), Matt McKay (Changchun Yatai FC, China), Mark Milligan (Melbourne Victory FC), Jade North (Brisbane Roar FC), Tommy Oar (FC Utrecht, Netherlands), Tom Rogic (Celtic FC, Scotland), Mathew Ryan (gk - Central Coast Mariners) Mark Schwarzer (gk - Fulham FC, England) Archie Thompson (Melbourne Victory FC) Michael Thwaite (Perth Glory FC, Australia) Luke Wilkshire (FK Dinamo Moscow, Russia), Rhys Williams (Middlesbrough FC, England) and Michael Zullo (FC Utrecht, Netherlands).
Related Articles

Socceroos midfielder embraces move to England

Cardiff City snap up sought-after Socceroos starlet
