Star midfielder Tom Rogic was the glaring omission in the Socceroos squad after Graham Arnold named seven debutants to take on New Zealand.
Rogic, 29, has recently joined West Bromwich Albion in the Championship in England.
Not being selected in the 31-man squad will only fuel speculation Rogic won’t play in the World Cup in Qatar come November.
Goalkeeper Mitch Langerak has backflipped on international retirement and will join the squad ahead of the first match in Brisbane on September 22.
Langerak, 34, was named in a squad which features seven newcomers, including Central Coast Mariners teenager Garang Kuol.
Australia will also play NZ on September 25 in Auckland.
Star midfielder Tom Rogic was the glaring omission in the Socceroos squad after Graham Arnold named seven debutants to take on New Zealand
Rogic, 29, has recently joined West Bromwich Albion in the Championship in England
The friendlies are Australia’s last games ahead of naming a 26-man squad for the World Cup in Qatar.
Japan-based Langerak, capped eight times and a member of Australia’s 2014 World Cup squad, quit international football last May during the COVID-19 pandemic.
‘When I had made the decision to retire we were in the middle of strict lockdowns in Japan,’ Langerak said on Wednesday.
‘At the time, I was facing the prospect of spending months away from my wife and young children, so I had to make the hard call to step away from international football.
‘I am grateful for another opportunity. It was tough watching the team from afar.’
The Mariners’ 17-year-old sensation Kuol is among the squad newcomers, along with his A-League Men’s teammate Jason Cummings, who was born in Scotland but is eligible to play for Australia.
Tokyo 2020 Olympics squad members Keanu Baccus, Cameron Devlin, Ryan Strain and Tyrese Francois, as well as Korean-based defender Harrison Delbridge also join a Socceroos squad for the first time.
Tokyo Olympian Thomas Deng rejoins the Socceroos squad for the first time since 2018.
Adelaide United captain Craig Goodwin, Scottish-based defender Kye Rowles and Nick D’Agostino were also overlooked.
Coach Graham Arnold said he was casting his net wide ahead of settling a 26-man squad for the World Cup to be named by November 13.
‘This camp provides us with a unique opportunity to bring in some new players who can push for selection ahead of the World Cup,’ Arnold said.
‘The incentive couldn’t be bigger.’
The Socceroos play France (November 23), Tunisia (November 26) and Denmark (December 1) at the World Cup.
Australia’s squad: Mathew Ryan (capt), Nathaniel Atkinson, Keanu Baccus, Aziz Behich, Martin Boyle, Jason Cummings, Harrison Delbridge, Milos Degenek, Thomas Deng, Cameron Devlin, Mitch Duke, Tyrese Francois, Denis Genreau, Ajdin Hrustic, Jackson Irivine, Fran Karacic, Joel King, Garang Kuol, Mitch Langerak, Mathew Leckie, Awer Mabil, Jamie Maclaren, Riley McGree, Connor Metcalfe, Aaron Mooy, Andrew Redmayne, Trent Sainsbury, Ryan Strain, Adam Taggart, Marco Tilio, Bailey Wright.
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