Trent Sainsbury. Photo: Getty Images
Camera IconTrent Sainsbury. Photo: Getty Images Credit: Supplied/Robert Cianflone

FIFA World Cup: 5 West Aussies picked in preliminary 32-man Socceroos squad

Staff WriterComment News

FIVE West Australian players have been named in Socceroos coach Bert van Marwijk’s preliminary 32-man squad for the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia next month.

Goalkeeper Brad Jones (Armadale), defenders Josh Risdon (Bunbury), Trent Sainsbury (Thornlie) and Aleksandar Susnjar (Perth) and forward Nikita Rukavytsya were named alongside stars Aaron Mooy, Tom Rogic, Mat Ryan and Tim Cahill.

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The squad will be whittled down to 26 players next week before assembling in Turkey on May 19 for a 20-day pre-tournament camp, with the final 23-man squad for the World Cup to be named on June 3.

Van Marwijk labelled the training camp in Turkey as “the most important time” he has to get across his vision for the national team.

“The 10 days in March when we played Norway and Colombia, maybe we had only two sessions here we could train two times normally,” he said.

“That’s very short. But from the time in Turkey I can work with them every day and most of the time it will be two times (per day).

“In those three or four weeks it must be very clear for the players what we want, I already spoke with them about a lot of things, in the first half against Colombia I think you could already see what we want.

“I’m looking forward, for me it’s a big, big challenge to work with them there under 100 per cent good circumstances.”

Josh Risdon.
Camera IconJosh Risdon. Credit: Supplied/Getty Images

The Socceroos play pre-World Cup friendlies against Czech Republic (June 2) and Hungary (June 9) before arriving in Kazan for a six-day training block before the opening game against France on June 16, which is to be played in Kazan.

Socceroos 32-man preliminary squad

Goalkeepers: Brad Jones, Mitch Langerak, Mat Ryan, Danny Vukovic Defenders: Aziz Behic, Milos Degenek, Alex Gersbach, Matthew Jurman, Fran Karacic, James Meredith, Josh Risdon, Trent Sainsbury, Aleksander Susnjar, Bailey Wright Midfield: Josh Brillante, Jackson Irvine, Mile Jedinak, Robbie Kruse, Massimo Luongo, Mark Milligan, Aaron Mooy, Tom Rogic, James Troisi Forwards: Daniel Arzani, Tim Cahill, Apostolos Giannou, Tomi Juric, Mathew Leckie, Jamie Maclaren, Andrew Nabbout, Dimi Petratos, Nikita Rykavystya

Socceroos v Czech Republic Date: Friday, 1 June 2018 Venue: NV Arena, St. Polten, Austria Kick-off: TBC Broadcast: Live in Australia on Fox Sports and Network Ten

Hungary v Socceroos Date: Saturday, 9 June 2018 Venue: Groupama Arena, Budapest, Hungary Kick-off: 11.30pm WA Broadcast: Live in Australia on Fox Sports and Network Ten

Socceroos 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia Group C Matches:

France v Caltex Socceroos Date: Saturday, 16 June 2018 Venue: Kazan Arena, Kazan, Russia Kick-off: 6pm WA Broadcast: Live in Australia on SBS and Optus Sport

Denmark v Socceroos Date: Thursday, 21 June 2018 Venue: Samara Arena, Samara, Russia Kick-off: 8pm WA Broadcast: Live in Australia on SBS and Optus Sport

Socceroos v Peru Date: Tuesday, 26 June 2018 Venue: Fisht Stadium, Sochi, Russia Kick-off: 10pm WA Broadcast: Live in Australia on SBS and Optus Sport

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