PIM Verbeek has added several fresh faces to his squad for the Ghana friendly with a clear message that places are up for grabs in June's packed program of World Cup qualifiers.
Matthew Spiranovic, Adam Federici and experienced Qantas Socceroos Mile Sterjovski and Michael Petkovic will take their places in their first camp since Verbeek took control while Nick Carle will do the same if his side Bristol City does not qualify for the final of the Premier League promotion playoffs in England.
With 'Super June' to feature four World Cup qualification matches, Verbeek has named some uncapped players in the team and some experienced names for the vital preparation match against the African powerhouse at the Sydney Football on May 23..
The Australian coach has made it clear an impressive performance will see the players given the chance to push for selection in the next qualifier against Iraq.
Speaking at today's press conference at the SFS, he said: "We have always said that during the campaign to qualify for the World Cup we would need a large list of players.
"This match will continue to build our depth and give us a chance to test some players out at the top level.
"Ghana are a very strong team and will provide us with the ideal match ahead of the game against Iraq the following week in Brisbane."
Verbeek also noted that four members of the Qantas under 23s who will be playing in the Intercontinental Cup in Malaysia would return to Australia and join the Qantas Socceroos squad after the first two matches of that tournament.
The match will be part of the double-header featuring the Australia women's team - The Matildas - up against Canada.
Socceroos squad to play Ghana: Daniel Allsopp (Melbourne Victory), Michael Beauchamp (Nuremburg, Germany), Mark Bridge (Sydney FC), Leigh Broxham (Melbourne Victory), Jacob Burns (Unirea Valahorum, Romania), Nick Carle (Bristol City, England), David Carney (Sheffield United, England), Ante Covic (Newcastle Jets), Jason Culina (PSV Eindhoven, Netherlands), Adam Federici (Reading, England), Adam Griffiths (Newcastle Jets), Joel Griffiths (Avispa Fukuoka, Japan), James Holland (Newcastle Jets), Mile Jedinak (Central Coast Mariners), Harry Kewell (Liverpool, England), Jade North (Newcastle Jets), Michael Petkovic (Sivasspor, Turkey), Mark Schwarzer (Middlesbrough, England), Matthew Spiranovic (Nuremburg, Germany), Mile Sterjovski (Derby County, England), Nikolai Topor-Stanley (Perth Glory), James Troisi (Newcastle United, England), Carl Valeri (Grosseto, Italy), Rodrigo Vargas (Melbourne Victory)
With 'Super June' to feature four World Cup qualification matches, Verbeek has named some uncapped players in the team and some experienced names for the vital preparation match against the African powerhouse at the Sydney Football on May 23..
The Australian coach has made it clear an impressive performance will see the players given the chance to push for selection in the next qualifier against Iraq.
Speaking at today's press conference at the SFS, he said: "We have always said that during the campaign to qualify for the World Cup we would need a large list of players.
"This match will continue to build our depth and give us a chance to test some players out at the top level.
"Ghana are a very strong team and will provide us with the ideal match ahead of the game against Iraq the following week in Brisbane."
Verbeek also noted that four members of the Qantas under 23s who will be playing in the Intercontinental Cup in Malaysia would return to Australia and join the Qantas Socceroos squad after the first two matches of that tournament.
The match will be part of the double-header featuring the Australia women's team - The Matildas - up against Canada.
Socceroos squad to play Ghana: Daniel Allsopp (Melbourne Victory), Michael Beauchamp (Nuremburg, Germany), Mark Bridge (Sydney FC), Leigh Broxham (Melbourne Victory), Jacob Burns (Unirea Valahorum, Romania), Nick Carle (Bristol City, England), David Carney (Sheffield United, England), Ante Covic (Newcastle Jets), Jason Culina (PSV Eindhoven, Netherlands), Adam Federici (Reading, England), Adam Griffiths (Newcastle Jets), Joel Griffiths (Avispa Fukuoka, Japan), James Holland (Newcastle Jets), Mile Jedinak (Central Coast Mariners), Harry Kewell (Liverpool, England), Jade North (Newcastle Jets), Michael Petkovic (Sivasspor, Turkey), Mark Schwarzer (Middlesbrough, England), Matthew Spiranovic (Nuremburg, Germany), Mile Sterjovski (Derby County, England), Nikolai Topor-Stanley (Perth Glory), James Troisi (Newcastle United, England), Carl Valeri (Grosseto, Italy), Rodrigo Vargas (Melbourne Victory)
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