Having kicked off the final phase of the World Cup qualifying campaign in impressive fashion, Socceroos boss Ange Postecoglou has retained the bulk of the squad ahead of the next two matches of the campaign in early October, when the Socceroos face two difficult opponents, Saudi Arabia and Japan.
Postecoglou has omitted fringe squad players Apostolos Giannou, Nathan Burns and Josh Risdon, bringing in defender Bailey Wright, versatile left-sided player Craig Goodwin and defensive midfielder Jimmy Jeggo.

So what can we make of coach Postecoglou’s changes to the Socceroos squad for these next two matches?

In announcing the squad, Postecoglou emphasised that the changes made were based on current fitness and form at club level which depends largely on game time.

Giannou is a case in point. Much was made of the striker’s sudden emergence as a possible back-up and successor to Tim Cahill, after he opted to play for the Socceroos rather than the country of his birth, Greece. However, Giannou has had little game time for his new club Guangzhou R&F in the Chinese Super League since August, a situation which Postecoglou says has affected the player’s confidence and fitness.

“Nathan (Burns) and Apou are still important players for us but they haven’t played for a while,” Postecoglou said. “We noticed that coming into the last camp when they hadn’t played for two or three weeks − and haven’t since. For us it’s a good opportunity to bring in a couple of new ones to look at.

Goodwin and Jeggo have both had strong starts, Jeggo in particular, and is doing well as part of a Sturm Graz side that’s top of the Austrian first division.

“The squad is consistently picked on merit − no one is guaranteed a place. I still rate Apou very highly but club football and playing regularly is the first point of call. By way of contrast, Tomi Juric is playing and scoring goals and that was reflected the last time he played for us.

“I’ve seen Apou’s confidence take a little bit of a hit because he’s not playing regularly, and that affects you when you come into camp. It’s not a message to him particularly, but any player knows he’s not guaranteed a place, and that coming into camp is a reward for what they do with their clubs.”

Postecoglou’s selection changes may also be a pointer for what he expects from these next two matches. The away match to Saudi Arabia will be a top-of-the-table clash against a team which, like the Socceroos, has begun its campaign impressively. It will be quickly followed by a home match against the formidable Blue Samurai, eager to make amends for a slow start to the campaign.

Postecoglou may reasonably be thinking that his side will come under more pressure defensively in these two matches than they did in the first two, and for that reason he’s chosen three players in form and fitness who give him more options in defence.

On Jimmy Jeggo’s selection he commented: “He’s started the season very well. He’s played every game for a club that’s sitting on top of the table (Austrian club Sturm Graz), so he’s earned his spot there”.

“I’ve watched every one of his games. He’s looked pretty strong, he’s fit, he’s playing as a 6, very deep, lying midfielder. It’s an area, as I said, we’ve got Mile and Millsy who can play there. But not a lot below that.”

Postecoglou has also surprised some by opting to include keeper Matthew Ryan, who was recently injured at his club Valencia, in the expectation he’ll be fit in time for the first match away to the Saudis on 6 October.

In contrast to his defence, Postecoglou probably believes he has adequate options in attack, where the Socceroos performed well in the first two matches of the campaign. Matthew Leckie proved he was versatile enough to play in either a wide or more central attacking role, while Juric impressed with his hard work and mobility, and Tim Cahill proved a threat coming off the bench.

The one question mark up front hangs over the form of the experienced World Cup campaigner Robbie Kruse, who of late has had as much game time for his Bundesliga club Bayer Leverkusen as coach Postecoglou prefers.

“It’s always concerning if they haven’t played for a while,” he said.

“To be fair to Robbie he hadn’t played much coming into the last camp and he did well. But similar to Burns and Giannou, if he goes a long period without playing, and in camp they don’t look in the condition we require, it obviously does affect things.

“Robbie’s in and around the first team at Leverkusen and they’ve had a couple of injuries, so I’m hoping he’ll get to play before we go into camp.”

Australia Squad

GK: Adam Federici, Mitchell Langerak, Mathew Ryan
Def: Milos Degenek, Alex Gersbach, Ryan McGowan, Trent Sainsbury, Brad Smith, Matthew Spiranovic, Bailey Wright
Mid: Craig Goodwin, Jackson Irvine, Mile Jedinak, James Jeggo, Massimo Luongo, Mark Milligan, Aaron Mooy, Tommy Rogic
Att: Tim Cahill, Chris Ikonomidis, Tomi Juric, Robbie Kruse, Mathew Leckie