Caltex Socceroos Head Coach Ange Postecoglou has today (Tuesday) named his preliminary 30-player squad for October’s crunch 2018 FIFA World Cup Asian Qualifiers against Syria.

Caltex Socceroos v Syria: get tickets here

The latest Caltex Socceroos squad features 22 of the 23 players originally named for the team’s most recent 2018 FIFA World Cup Asian Qualifiers against Japan and Thailand.



Also included in the Caltex Socceroos’ preliminary squad are European-based players Mile Jedinak, Aziz Behich, Mark Birighitti, Craig Goodwin, James Jeggo and Nikita Rukavytsya, as well as defenders Matthew Jurman from Suwon Samsung Bluewings in Korea Republic and Josh Risdon from Western Sydney Wanderers FC.



While there is still over a week of club football to be played before Postecoglou finalises his 23-player squad for the Caltex Socceroos’ critical play-off matches against Syria, Postecoglou is confident that the group ultimately picked will be ready for October’s play-off games.

Syria make it difficult for opponents: Iran boss



“There is a short turnaround from the last matches so we are fully focused on these upcoming fixtures against Syria,” said Postecoglou.



“The players that we have selected for these crucial matches all have the benefit of several club matches under their belts over the past few weeks, and I am confident whichever 23 players we settle on will be able to do the job next month.





“Now that the match venues have been confirmed, we will prepare for our fixtures against Syria just like every other international opposition we faced throughout this campaign,” concluded Postecoglou.

Football Federation Australia CEO David Gallop reissued his call for the Australian sporting public to get behind the Caltex Socceroos in October.



“Ange (Postecoglou) and his players and staff will put enormous effort and energy into October’s play-off matches against Syria in Malaysia and Sydney,” said Gallop.

“But the support of Australia’s football family and all sports fans will help the Caltex Socceroos in their bid to qualify for November’s inter-continental play-off against CONCACAF’s (Central and Northern America) fourth-placed team, so I encourage fans to get their tickets early and rally behind the team in Sydney.”

The Caltex Socceroos will begin to assemble in Malacca, Malaysia from Sunday 1 October 2017.

Caltex Socceroos: recent ANZ Stadium record



Postecoglou will confirm his final 23-player squad next week.

Name Club, Country A-International Caps (Goals) Mustafa AMINI Aarhus Gymnastikforening (AGF), DENMARK 2 (0) Aziz BEHICH Bursaspor, TURKEY 16 (2) Mark BIRIGHITTI (GK) NAC Breda, NETHERLANDS 1 (0) Tim CAHILL Melbourne City FC, AUSTRALIA 102 (48) Milos DEGENEK Yokohama F. Marinos, JAPAN 12 (0) Alex GERSBACH Rosenborg BK, NORWAY 4 (0) Craig GOODWIN Sparta Rotterdam, NETHERLANDS 3 (0) Jackson IRVINE Hull City AFC, ENGLAND 14 (1) Mile JEDINAK Aston Villa FC, ENGLAND 71 (15) James JEGGO SK Sturm Graz, AUSTRIA 0 (0) 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) Awer MABIL FC Paços de Ferreira, PORTUGAL 0 (0) Jamie MACLAREN SV Darmstadt 98, GERMANY 5 (0) Ryan MCGOWAN Al-Sharjah SCC, SAUDI ARABIA 20 (0) 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)

2018 FIFA World Cup Asian Qualifiers – Asian Play-off v Syria (Malacca, Malaysia – Thursday 5 October 2017 and Sydney, Australia – Tuesday 10 October 2017)Thursday 5 October 2017Hang Jebat Stadium, Malacca, MalaysiaKick-off: TBCTuesday 10 October 2017Stadium Australia, Sydney Olympic Park, NSW, AustraliaKick-off: 8pm (AEST) Both matches will be broadcast LIVE on FOX SPORTS and the Nine Network.Australia finished the Final Stage of Asian Football Confederation (AFC) FIFA World Cup Qualifying in third place of Group B behind Japan and Saudi Arabia. As the third-placed team in Group B, Australia will now play a two-legged (home and away play-off series against Group A’s third-placed side, Syria, for the opportunity to face the fourth-placed team from CONCACAF (Central and Northern America) in an Intercontinental Play-off (home and away) series for a place in the 2018 FIFA World Cup.

FIFA 18 will be released worldwide on Friday 29 September, while those who pre-order the Ronaldo or Icon editions through easports.com/FIFA18 can receive 3 Days Early Access.