Caltex Socceroos Head Coach Ange Postecoglou has promoted five fresh faces to his final 23-player squad for next month’s crunch 2018 FIFA World Cup Asian Qualifiers against Syria.



Former Hyundai A-League players Aziz Behich, Craig Goodwin, Nikita Rukavytsya, and Matthew Jurman, have each been promoted to Postecoglou’s latest 23-player squad, as has current Western Sydney Wanderers FC defender Josh Risdon.



18 of the players originally named in Postecoglou’s 23-player squad for the team’s recent FIFA World Cup Asian Qualification matches against Japan and Thailand have retained their spot in the latest Caltex Socceroos squad.

The Caltex Socceroos will aim to take a step towards the 2018 FIFA World Cup, which will be hosted by Russia, by securing a two-legged play-off victory over Syria following games in Melaka, Malaysia on October 5, and Sydney, Australia on October 10.



“I am confident that we have a group of players capable of achieving our goal of progressing to the next stage of qualification,” Postecoglou said.



“As I have mentioned on many occasions, it is important for us to have a large and vocal home crowd for the second match of this series, and I’m sure the boys will appreciate all the support from the local fans.”



To purchase tickets to the home leg in Sydney (Tuesday 10 October 2017) please visit www.socceroos.com.au/tickets.



The Caltex Socceroos will begin to assemble in Melaka, Malaysia from Sunday 1 October 2017. Following the away leg on neutral territory, the group will arrive home in Australia on Friday 6 October 2017.

Caltex Socceroos 23-player squad for the following matches:



2018 FIFA World Cup Asian Qualifiers – Asian Play-off v Syria (Melaka, Malaysia – Thursday 5 October 2017 and Sydney, Australia – Tuesday 10 October 2017)

Name Club, Country A-International Caps (Goals) Mustafa AMINI Aarhus Gymnastikforening (AGF), DENMARK 2 (0) Aziz BEHICH Bursaspor, TURKEY 16 (2) Tim CAHILL Melbourne City FC, AUSTRALIA 102 (48) Milos DEGENEK Yokohama F. Marinos, JAPAN 12 (0) Craig GOODWIN Sparta Rotterdam, NETHERLANDS 3 (0) Jackson IRVINE Hull City AFC, ENGLAND 14 (1) Tomi JURIC FC Luzern, SWITZERLAND 28 (8) Matthew JURMAN Suwon Samsung Bluewings, KOREA REPUBLIC 0 (0) Robbie KRUSE VfL Bochum, GERMANY 57 (4) Mitchell LANGERAK (GK) Levante UD, SPAIN 8 (0) Mathew LECKIE Hertha BSC, GERMANY 46 (6) Massimo LUONGO Queens Park Rangers FC, ENGLAND 30 (5) Mark MILLIGAN Melbourne Victory FC, AUSTRALIA 61 (6) Aaron MOOY Huddersfield Town AFC, ENGLAND 27 (5) Josh RISDON Western Sydney Wanderers FC, AUSTRALIA 3 (0) Tom ROGIC Celtic FC, SCOTLAND 29 (7) Nikita RUKAVYTSYA Maccabi Haifa FC, ISRAEL 13 (1) Mathew RYAN (GK) Brighton & Hove Albion FC, ENGLAND 37 (0) Trent SAINSBURY Jiangsu Suning FC, CHINA 29 (3) Brad SMITH AFC Bournemouth, ENGLAND 18 (0) James TROISI Melbourne Victory FC, AUSTRALIA 34 (5) Daniel VUKOVIC (GK) KRC Genk, BELGIUM 0 (0) Bailey WRIGHT Bristol City FC, ENGLAND 19 (1)

Match Details:

2018 FIFA World Cup Asian Qualifiers – Asian Play-offs – 1st leg

Syria v Caltex Socceroos

Thursday 5 October 2017

Hang Jebat Stadium, Melaka, Malaysia

Kick-off: 8.30pm (local) / 11.30pm (AEDT)

2018 FIFA World Cup Asian Qualifiers – Asian Play-offs – 2nd leg

Caltex Socceroos v Syria

Tuesday 10 October 2017

Stadium Australia, Sydney Olympic Park, NSW, Australia

Kick-off: 8pm (AEDT)