Archie and Oar in the Squad

December 22nd, 2009 | by: Kieran |

Archie Thompson and Tommy Oar have both been included in the Socceroos squad to face Kuwait on January the 6th. The squad is made up of 15 A League players and 8 Euroos, but surprisingly none of our Asiaroos (the likes of Josh Kennedy, Mark Milligan or the Griffiths brothers) were in the squad.

As the game isn’t on a FIFA sanctioned date our big names (Tim Cahill et al) haven’t been called up, but Verbeek was able to call on the likes of Luke Wilkshire, Nick Carle, Nikita Rukavytsya and Dario Vidosic.

Full squad:
Alex Brosque (Sydney FC), Jacob Burns (Perth Glory), Nick Carle (Crystal Palace FC, England), Simon Colosimo (Sydney FC), Jason Culina (Gold Coast United) Bruce Djite (Genclerbirligi SK, Turkey), Eugene Galekovic (Adelaide United FC), Scott Jamieson (Adelaide United FC), Mile Jedinak (Antalyaspor Kulubu, Turkey), Matthew Kemp (Melbourne Victory FC), Shane Lowry (Aston Villa FC, England), Matthew McKay (Brisbane Roar), Craig Moore (Brisbane Roar), Tommy Oar (Brisbane Roar), Nikita Rukavytsya (FC Twente, Netherlands), Matthew Spiranovic (FC Nurnberg, Germany), Mile Sterjovski (Perth Glory), Archie Thompson (Melbourne Victory), Matthew Thompson (Newcastle Jets), Tando Velaphi (Perth Glory), Dario Vidosic (FC Nurnberg, Germany), Danny Vukovic (Central Coast Mariners), Luke Wilkshire (FK Dinamo Moscow, Russia).

In other Socceroo news, 442 claim that Pim has strongly hinted A League players will need loan spells overseas if they are to have any chance of a World Cup squad place. (Full article here)

And Merry Christmas everyone!

Tags: Group F

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Comments

By Tom | December 22nd, 2009 at 11:00 pm

The really interesting part of this squad is the selection of Matthew Kemp and Scott Jamieson. If there’s a space up for grabs in the Socceroos starting 11 its at left full-back, with Chipperfield injured for the next few months and Carney still only playing occasionally for Twente.

Kemp is 29 years old and has never played for Australia at any level but is having an excellent run of form in the A-league. Jamieson is younger and naturally left sided so would have the inside running, you’d think.

Posted from Australia

By Aidan | December 23rd, 2009 at 9:26 am

Big game for the Aussies this one. The group is quite close at the moment, but I fancy Australia to get something from this game and keep on track for the Finals.

Posted from United Kingdom

By martyb | December 23rd, 2009 at 3:50 pm

As for left back position, I’d like to see Lowry in that position. Kemp, Jamieson and Matty Thompson could all play that but I think Lowry is the best option in the squad at that spot.

This is a pretty decent squad really. Solid across the field.

Defense is pretty stong with Moore and Colosimo or Spiranovic. Wilkshire, Burns, Lowry or Jamieson should provide the wide defenders.

Midfield has good mix of workrate, skill, passing and attacking with Jedinak, Culina, Carle, Sterjovski, Brosque/Vidosic.

I hope Pim goes for Archie up front, as I think he deserves another crack, he’s been in very good form for the Victory. I would actually like to see Pim go 2 up front and give Djite a go with Archie, think that would provide plenty of speed and skill but Pim likes one striker. Change tactics Pim – need it for the WC.

I think bringing those extra 8 players from overseas makes this a good team, though I wish we had a little better depth here at gk.

Should be enough though for at min a point, if not all three.

Posted from United States

By kk | January 7th, 2010 at 4:23 am

I still can’t fathom which team has a very clear cut to go through the group stage. Fairly speaking all the teams can be interesting on their lucky day. My prediction however is that Ghana and Germany will go through. No hard feelings to serbia and Australia.

Posted from Canada