Socceroos 2022 World Cup squad: Graham Arnold axes stars in brutal selections
Socceroos coach Graham Arnold has dropped several bombshells in announcing a 26-player squad for the upcoming World Cup.
One-time Socceroos mainstays Tom Rogic and Trent Sainsbury have both been left out of the list announced on Tuesday afternoon.
Veteran goalkeeper Mitch Langerak and experienced striker Adam Taggart are the other hard luck stories missing from a squad that includes exciting bolters Garang Kuol, Jason Cummings, and Keanu Baccus.
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Kuol, 18, caps a remarkable year in which he scored a contract with Premier League giants Newcastle and broke into Arnold's national team.
Socceroos coach Graham Arnold. AAP
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Cummings, 27, was born in Scotland but qualifies for Australia through his mother, and is already a cult hero in the A-League.
There's injury clouds hanging over three squad members - Kye Rowles, Harry Souttar, and Martin Boyle - but Arnold is confident of all three being fit to play a role in the World Cup.
"It's been a unique and difficult qualification campaign and we now arrive in Qatar with an exciting squad which will do everything to make Australia proud on the world stage," Arnold said.
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Trent Sainsbury has been left out of the Socceroos squad. Getty
"Over the past four years, 32 players have made their debut for the national team. I want to thank every player who has helped the team over this journey.
"We have called upon 68 players during the qualifying campaign and every one of them has played a part in getting us here.
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"The make-up of our team reflects Australia's multicultural landscape. Our boys come from all over the world, they all have different journeys, but we are united by one jersey."
The Socceroos begin their Cup campaign against France on Wednesday, November 23 (AEDT).
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SOCCEROOS 2022 WORLD CUP SQUAD
Goalkeepers: Mat Ryan, Danny Vukovic, Andrew Redmayne
Defenders: Harry Souttar, Kye Rowles, Milos Degenek, Aziz Behich, Fran Karacic, Nathaniel Atkinson, Thomas Deng, Bailey Wright, Joel King, Keanu Bacchus
Midfielders: Jackson Irvine, Aaron Mooy, Ajdin Hrustic, Riley McGree, Cameron Devlin
Attackers: Jamie Maclaren, Martin Boyle, Awer Mabil, Garang Kuol, Craig Goodwin, Mitchell Duke, Jason Cummings, Mat Leckie
