The Socceroos will play fellow 2015 AFC Asian Cup nation Saudi Arabia at Craven Cottage in London on Monday 8 September as part of the build up to the Asian Cup.
Confirmed Socceroo matches leading into the 2015 AFC Asian Cup:
Thu 4 Sep Belgium v Australia
Stade Maurice Dufrasne, Leige
Mon 8 Sep Saudi Arabia v Australia
Craven Cottage, London
Fri 10 Oct UAE v Australia
Mohamed Bin Zayed Stadium, Abu Dhabi
Tue 14 Oct Qatar v Australia
Venue TBC, Doha
All four matches will be broadcast LIVE and exclusive on FOX SPORTS.
What has Antonis done to continually get opportunities at international level?
"I've missed more than 9000 shots in my career. I've lost almost 300 games. 26 times I've been trusted to take the game winning shot and missed. I've failed over and over and over again in my life. That's why I succeed." -Michael Jordan
Con M wrote:Jeez, McGowan is the surprise one to be omitted after filling in for Franjic at right back at the World Cup.
Possible starting line-up against competent middle-order Euro side Belgium:
Ryan (GK);
Back four - Davidson, Wilkinson, Herd, Wright;
Midfield - Oar, Jedinak, Milligan, Kruse;
Forwards - Cahill, Leckie.
Some interesting selections there Con.
a 4-4-2, wright & Davidson playing out of position.
You really do want him to experiment!
"I've missed more than 9000 shots in my career. I've lost almost 300 games. 26 times I've been trusted to take the game winning shot and missed. I've failed over and over and over again in my life. That's why I succeed." -Michael Jordan
With some of the omissions it may be down to Ange wanting to try other players and allowing some players to stay with their clubs early in the season so they don't fall down the pecking order being away.
Not bad not bad, considering players like Bresciano and Franjic havent been called up for obvious reasons, would have liked to see Amini and even maybe Da Silva/Oikonomidas called up and throw them some minutes.
I don't get why everyone wants to see Amini in. Is playing 3rd div in Germany really that impressive?
Oikonomidas I'm guessing you're talking about Ikonomidis who certainly deserves a call up but as I mentioned with some of the omissions, maybe he's better served staying at Lazio to continue to push for a first Xi spot.
Although their only friendlies, Having seen him with Dortmund first team against some pretty big teams, he doesn't look out of place and plays accurate and sometimes defence splitting passes. He's also beefed up and is stronger on the ball which seems to helped him a bit. Only criticism is that at a defensive midfielder he doesn't do enough defensive actions to be able to hold a spot.
Eli Babalj has 5 goals in the last 2 games for the reserves at his dutch club.
If he can break into the first team he will give the socceroos a very different option than what we have.
He is still only 22 so has a lot of football ahead of him.
"I've missed more than 9000 shots in my career. I've lost almost 300 games. 26 times I've been trusted to take the game winning shot and missed. I've failed over and over and over again in my life. That's why I succeed." -Michael Jordan
Down to the 3. Liga, and Mustafa Amini was an unused substitute for Borussia Dortmund II as they played out a 0-0 draw with Hallescher FC. He was also an unused substitute earlier in the week when they lost 3-1 to FSV Mainz II
Yeah baffles me especially considering the big part he had in the first team pre season. Only explanation is that dortmund are keeping him fresh for their games but i dunno.
COYR98 wrote:Yeah baffles me especially considering the big part he had in the first team pre season. Only explanation is that dortmund are keeping him fresh for their games but i dunno.
No that wasn't a question. That's me saying this IS why he's not getting a call up.
4 games in almost a month! 
He might want to see if he can get a game for the U23s first. He hasn't played NT football in years.