Ange Postecoglou names preliminary 30-player squad for Honduras hurdle

Sydney, Australia
Wednesday 25 October 2017

Caltex Socceroos Head Coach Ange Postecoglou has today named a preliminary 30-player squad for next month’s 2018 FIFA World Cup Intercontinental Play-off (CONCACAF-Asian Zone) against Honduras.

22 of the 23 players originally selected for the Caltex Socceroos’ recent success over Syria have been picked in Postecoglou’s provisional squad for the forthcoming tie against the Central American nation.

During the Syria series England-based defender Bailey Wright and Belgium-based goalkeeper Danny Vukovic were forced to withdraw from the Caltex Socceroos’ squad due to minor injuries, however both have since returned to action for their clubs and could now be part of Australia’s final two fixtures on the road to Russia.

Mile Jedinak, Alex Gersbach, Ajdin Hrustic, James Jeggo, Awer Mabil, and Jamie Maclaren are also among Postecoglou’s extended list of options for the Caltex Socceroos crunch clashes with Honduras in San Pedro Sula (November 10) and Sydney (November 15).

While there is still a week of club football to be played before he finalises his 23-player squad for the play-off matches against Honduras, Postecoglou is confident that the group ultimately selected will be prepared to propel Australia to its fourth consecutive FIFA World Cup appearance. 

“There are a couple of weeks before the group gets together so we will be monitoring the health and fitness of every player to make sure that the final twenty-three are available for what is going to be a challenging couple of games,” said Postecoglou. 

“We feel that we are right on schedule with regards to our arrangements, logistics and intelligence for Honduras, and are comfortable that the work completed and decisions made so far will help us in our quest to qualify for Russia.

“A large, vocal home crowd in Sydney for the second leg is something that everyone involved with the squad is looking forward to,” concluded Postecoglou. 

To purchase tickets to the home leg at Stadium Australia in Sydney please visit www.socceroos.com.au/tickets.

Postecoglou will confirm his final 23-player squad for the Caltex Socceroos’ play-off matches against Honduras next week.

The Caltex Socceroos will begin to assemble in San Pedro Sula, Honduras from Sunday 5 November 2017.

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Caltex Socceroos 30-player preliminary squad for the following matches:

2018 FIFA World Cup Intercontinental Play-off (CONCACAF-Asian Zone) v Honduras (San Pedro Sula, Honduras – Friday 10 November 2017 and Sydney, Australia – Wednesday 15 November 2017)

Match Details:

2018 FIFA World Cup Intercontinental Play-off (CONCACAF-Asian Zone) 1^st leg
Honduras v Caltex Socceroos
Friday 10 November 2017
Estadio Olímpico Metropolitano, San Pedro Sula, Honduras
Kick-off: 4pm (local); 9am (AEDT – Saturday 11 November 2017)

2018 FIFA World Cup Intercontinental Play-off (CONCACAF-Asian Zone) 2^nd leg
Caltex Socceroos v Honduras
Wednesday 15 November 2017
Stadium Australia, Sydney, Australia
Kick-off: 8pm (AEDT)

Both matches will be broadcast LIVE on FOX SPORTS and the Nine Network.

Ticket Details
For more information regarding ticketing please visit www.socceroos.com.au/tickets  

Road to Russia – Caltex Socceroos Qualifying Path
Australia finished the Final Stage of Asian Football Confederation (AFC) FIFA World Cup Qualifying in third place in Group B behind Japan and Saudi Arabia. As the third-placed team in Group B, Australia had to play a two-legged (home and away) Play-off series against Group A’s third-placed side, Syria, for the opportunity to face the fourth-placed team from CONCACAF (Central and Northern America) in an Intercontinental Play-off (home and away) for a place in the 2018 FIFA World Cup. Having successfully defeated Syria 3-2 on aggregate, Australia will now go head-to-head with Honduras over two legs – the final hurdle on the rigorous road to Russia. 

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