Adelaide United Defender Tarek Elrich has been named in Ange Postecoglou’s 23-man squad to face World Champions Germany and FYR Macedonia in Europe later this month as the Socceroos take the first steps along the path to the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia.
Elrich who has never represented his country, was extremely excited about this opportunity to finally wear the green and gold.
“It’s a massive honour. For any player playing for your country is what you strive for – it is one of the biggest achievements you can reach in football,” said Elrich.
“It’s not something I thought was going to come around anytime soon. Obviously I’ve been involved in the national team around when I was about 21/22 but never really went on with it. So I’m very privileged to show that when you focus on playing your best and giving your all that these things can happen. “
Postecoglou who named his 23-man squad today, has rewarded the heroes who won the 2015 AFC Asian Cup, with 18 members of the squad named alongside five players who have been given an opportunity to impress the Socceroos coaching staff.
Mark Bresciano, who recently retired from international football, injured duo Chris Herd and Robbie Kruse, Adelaide United goalkeeper Eugene Galekovic and Terry Antonis, who will be included in the Olyroos squad next week, are the only players not selected from the Asian Cup.
Coming into the squad are uncapped players Luke DeVere, Chris Ikonomidis and Tarek Elrich, Melbourne City midfielder Aaron Mooy and in-form Reading goalkeeper Adam Federici.
“This squad rewards the players who did a marvellous job in claiming the Asian Cup,” Postecoglou said. “Winning the Asian Cup was a great reward for the hard work the players put in but we have been pretty consistent in our approach that the Asian Cup win is the start of a journey, not the end.
“The games in Europe offer an opportunity for the likes of DeVere, Elrich, Mooy, Federici and young Chris Ikonomidis. We continue to have one eye on the four-year World Cup cycle and these players have an opportunity to show us how they’ll handle the step up to international level.”
The matches against Germany and FYR Macedonia are the final two friendly games before the Socceroos commence the 2018 FIFA World Cup Qualifiers in June.
“We need to continue our development as we move forward from the Asian Cup victory and look towards the 2018 World Cup,” Postecoglou said. “These two matches will offer us another test and will be a good indication of what is required to take the next step.”
Australia has faced Germany three times in full internationals since the reunification of Germany. Germany defeated the Socceroos 4-3 at the 2005 FIFA Confederations Cup and 4-0 at the 2010 FIFA World Cup before the Socceroos beat Germany 2-1 in a friendly in 2011.
The Socceroos have played FYR Macedonia in one match, claiming a 1-0 victory in 1997 thanks to a late Aurelio Vidmar goal.
Both international matches will be broadcast LIVE and exclusive on FOX SPORTS.
Socceroos squad for international friendly matches against Germany and FYR Macedonia
Name |
Club, Country |
A International Caps (Goals) |
Aziz Behich |
Bursaspor, Turkey |
9 (2) |
Nathan Burns |
Wellington Phoenix, New Zealand |
10 (0) |
Tim Cahill |
Shanghai Greenland Shenhua F.C., China |
82 (39) |
Jason Davidson |
West Bromwich Albion F.C., England |
17 (1) |
Luke DeVere |
Brisbane Roar, Australia |
– |
Tarek Elrich |
Adelaide United, Australia |
– |
Adam Federici (gk) |
Reading FC, England |
9 (0) |
Ivan Franjic |
FK Torpedo Moskva, Russia |
18 (0) |
Chris Ikonomidis |
S. S. Lazio, Italy |
– |
Mile Jedinak |
Crystal Palace FC, England |
56 (7) |
Tomi Juric |
Western Sydney Wanderers FC, Australia |
10 (2) |
Mitchell Langerak (gk) |
B.V. Borussia 09 Dortmund, Germany |
5 (0) |
Mathew Leckie |
FC Ingolstadt 04, Germany |
22 (1) |
Massimo Luongo |
Swindon Town FC, England |
11 (2) |
Matt McKay |
Brisbane Roar, Australia |
54 (2) |
Mark Milligan |
Melbourne Victory FC, Australia |
38 (3) |
Aaron Mooy |
Melbourne City, Australia |
4 (3) |
Tommy Oar |
FC Utrecht, Netherlands |
21 (1) |
Mat Ryan (gk) |
Club Brugge KV, Belgium |
19 (0) |
Trent Sainsbury |
P.E.C. Zwolle, Netherlands |
10 (1) |
Matthew Spiranovic |
Western Sydney Wanderers FC, Australia |
26 (0) |
James Troisi |
S.V. Zulte Waregem, Belgium |
21 (3) |
Alex Wilkinson |
Jeonbuk Hyundai FC, Korea Republic |
12 (0) |
Socceroo Match Details
Germany v Australia
Fritz-Walter-Stadion, Kaiserslautern
Wednesday 25 March 2015
Kick-Off: 8:30pm (CET) (6:30am (AEDT), Thursday 26 March)
Tickets for the Germany v Socceroos match in Kaiserslautern are on sale now from www.dfb.de or https://tickets.dfb.de/online/index.php3?shopid=107&gotoperformance=1849
FYR Macedonia v Australia
National Arena Philip II of Macedonia Stadium, Skopje, FYR Macedonia
Monday 30 March 2015
Kick-Off: 9.00pm (CEST) (6:00am (AEDT), Tuesday 31 March
Tickets for the FYR Macedonia v Australia match in Skopje will be on sale now from http://ffm.mk/en/tickets