Jackson Irvine paid a special tribute to former Australia star Mark Viduka as the first Socceroos arrived in Qatar ahead of the World Cup.
Irvine sported a Celtic shirt from the 1997 season, with ‘Viduka 36’ on the back, a nod to the former Socceroos captain and his two-year spell with the Glasgow giants.
On their Twitter account, the Socceroos released a short video of the players arriving at their training base in Doha.
Jackson Irvine paid a special tribute to former Australia star Mark Viduka as he arrived in Qatar
Irvine can be seen stepping out of a car, before the parading the shirt in front of the person filming his arrival.
Asked what he is wearing, the midfielder replies: ‘Classics mate, you know what I mean?’
Irvine was joined in camp by the Socceroos’ Scottish Premiership contingent were among the first to arrive, with Celtic’s Aaron Mooy and Dundee United’s Aziz Behich touching down at Hamad International Airport in Doha on Monday.
Stoke City star Harry Souttar also joined the party, along with fellow defenders Milos Degenek and Thomas Deng and Adelaide United captain Craig Goodwin.
The Socceroos midfielder donned a Celtic shirt with ‘Viduka 36’ on the back
Irvine was very impressed with the Socceroos camp in Doha, particularly a board containing messages from the fans
The Socceroos will now settle into their state-of-the-art training base at the Aspire Academy in the Doha Sports City.
Socceroos legend Tim Cahill arranged the accommodation which features state-of-the-art training pitches.
The facilities also include an indoor multi-purpose arena with climate-control and the training pitches will also be used by Qatar and Ghana also using the base for their preparations.
Cahill is the chief sports officer of Aspire Academy and he has credited the facility with the dramatic improvement displayed by the host nation in recent years.
And the early arrivals were clearly impressed with what they saw, from the pitches to the smaller details inside their base.
Adelaide United captain Craig Goodwin said the facilities in Doha were really good
Australia’s training base for the 2022 World Cup is the Aspire Academy in the Doha Sports City
Socceroos legend Tim Cahill arranged the accommodation which features state-of-the-art training pitches. PSV Eindhoven once visited the facilities for a mid-season tour in 2020
Those include players’ names and the club they began their careers at on their bedrooms doors and a board with messages from the fans, while artworks of the players adorn the walls.
‘It’s nice to see the touches, from the players’ names to the photos being up,’ Goodwin said.
‘The facilities look really good, the training fields look really good. I just can’t wait to get going.
Irvine echoed the feeling: ‘You see the pitches outside and you see Australia written on everything […] the hype starts to build up. […] When you come in [into the camp] and see your name written on every wall, it just doesn’t feel real.’
Aaron Mooy (left) and Aziz Behich (centre) were two of the first Socceroos to touch down in at Hamad International Airport in Doha, Qatar on Monday morning
Meanwhile, the remaining A-League players of the seven selected in Graham Arnold’s World Cup left Sydney International Airport for Qatar on Monday morning.
Socceroos squad for the 2022 World Cup
Mathew Leckie and Jamie Maclaren
GOALKEEPERS
Mat Ryan (C), Danny Vukovic, Andrew Redmayne
DEFENDERS
Nathaniel Atkinson, Aziz Behich, Fran Karacic, Joel King, Kye Rowles, Harry Souttar, Milos Degenek, Thomas Deng, Bailey Wright
MIDFIELDERS
Keanu Baccus, Cameron Devlin, Ajdin Hrustic, Jackson Irvine, Aaron Mooy, Riley McGree
FORWARDS
Craig Goodwin, Martin Boyle, Jamie Maclaren, Awer Mabil, Mat Leckie, Garang Kuol, Mitchell Duke, Jason Cummings
Arnold previously said he believes Australia’s experiences in the Middle East in qualifying, early arrival and softer workload heading into the World Cup would have them in good stead.
‘Some of the bigger nations….their players have been getting pounded,’ Arnold told Fox Sports.
‘They’re playing on the weekends with their clubs – but (also) Champions League matches and plenty of midweek games.
‘[In comparison] a lot of our boys are playing one a game a week in the A-League.’
He took it a step further and said he expected Asian nations to produce an upset, with the Socceroos to get first chance when they take on defending champions France.
‘I’m hearing that some of the European nations or lot of nations are having a camp first in Europe and then coming over only three days before their first game,’ Arnold said.
‘But my experience is Qatar is different. The weather is a lot different.
‘The stadiums, air-conditioned stadiums, are different and making sure you get that right is a big point.
‘…I think there will be quite a number of surprises at this World Cup and I can see the Asian nations doing well.
‘I think some of the bigger nations will find it very difficult and for us being an Asian nation, having the experiences of playing in many of the Middle East countries before we know what it’s like.’
Australia kick off their FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 campaign against defending champions France at Al Janoub Stadium on Tuesday, November 22 at 10pm local (Wednesday, November 23 6am AEDT).
They then face Tunisia at the same venue at 9pm AEDT on Saturday, November 26 and then play Denmark in their final group game at 2am AEDT on Thursday, December 1 also at Al Janoub Stadium.
The Socceroos will be hoping to end a dismal run of form at the World Cup, with their last win in the tournament coming a 12 years ago against Serbia in their final group game of the 2010 World Cup.
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