Three former Green Gully players and a former Brimbank Stallions star have been named in Australia’s World Cup squad.
Socceroos coach Graham Arnold last week announced a 26-man squad for the event that starts on November 22 in Qatar.
Goalkeeper Mathew Ryan, who has been selected for his third World Cup, will lead the squad after being named captain.
Melbourne City striker Jamie Maclaren will again pull on the green and gold. Maclaren grew up in Sunbury and started his career there, before playing with Green Gully. It’s his second World Cup.
He has been dangerous up forward for City this season, scoring seven goals in the first five games of the A-League season.
Aziz Behich is also playing in his second World Cup, having played 53 games for the Socceroos.
He started his career at Meadow Park in Gladstone Park, before moving to Green Gully, while also playing a season at Hume City.
He is currently playing for Dundee United in Scotland.
Thomas Deng will make his World Cup debut.
Deng, who spent time at the Western Eagles and Green Gully, has played two games for Australia since his debut in 2018. He is currently playing with Albirex Niigata.
Mathew Leckie, who grew up in Melton and played his junior soccer with the Brimbank Stallions, has also been named in his third World Cup team.
He has played 73 games for the Socceroos since making his debut in 2012. He currently plays with Melbourne City.
Arnold said the Socceroos go to Qatar full of pride and belief after a challenging four years.
“It’s been a unique and difficult qualification campaign and we now arrive in Qatar with an exciting squad which will do everything to make Australia proud on the world stage,” he said.
Australia’s World Cup starts on November 23 against France.
