Arnold under fire for 'staggering' Cup call

2 years ago 92

The expected omission of goalkeeper Mitch Langerak from Australia's 26-man World Cup squad has been met with astonishment and derision from erstwhile players.

The Sydney Morning Herald has revealed that Langerak has missed enactment successful Graham Arnold's squad, to beryllium officially unveiled astatine 4pm (AEDT) connected Tuesday afternoon.

Langerak was precocious named arsenic the subordinate of the play for his Japanese nine Nagoya Grampus, and astir observers expected him to gain enactment successful the No.2 goalkeeping spot down Mat Ryan.

Instead, Danny Vukovic and Andrew Redmayne are tipped to beryllium announced arsenic portion of the squad.

Socceroos' goalkeeping manager John Crawley has had a long-standing relation with each three.

The 34-year-old Langerak precocious came retired of planetary retirement, with Arnold saying astatine the clip helium wanted to "build depth" successful the goalkeeping position.

But his omission successful favour of Vukovic and Redmayne hasn't gone down well.

"If Mitch has said helium wants to spell past this is staggering," erstwhile Socceroo Rob Cornthwaite wrote connected Twitter.

"Matt Ryan No.1 and past 2 No.3 keepers?

"Maybe Arnie is trying to springiness Ryan assurance by saying you're nether nary unit for your place? So don't stress? Just doesn't adhd up for me."

Another erstwhile Socceroo, Tommy Oar, besides tweeted his dissatisfaction.

"It's an implicit upwind up," helium said.

"Takes jobs for the boys to a full caller level. He's been 1 of our champion performing players consistently for the past 5 years and is 1 of the champion blokes you'll meet, respected by everyone."

Gun teen rejects Socceroos

It appears apt 18-year-old Cristian Volpato volition perpetrate his planetary aboriginal to Italy, aft reportedly snubbing a last-minute plea from Graham Arnold.

Volpato has been astatine the centre of a tug-of-war for his services. Born and raised successful Sydney, helium plays for Roma aft being rejected by some the Sydney FC and Western Sydney Wanderers academies.

He is eligible for some Australia and Italy, and earlier this twelvemonth played for the Italian under-23 team.

"The 1 happening is you don't privation to beryllium playing each state disconnected with each other," Socceroos fable Harry Kewell told the Sydney Morning Herald.

"Just prime it, and fto it be."

Volpato is present being managed by Francesco Totti, considered Roma's top ever player, and Kewell said that's apt to play a large portion successful Volpato's decision.

"If Totti's his agent, then, wow – I thought we'd person a 50-50 [chance] but that should astir apt sound it up to similar 90 per cent Italy.

"Totti ... has god-like stature astatine AS Roma."

Premier League-bound rising prima gets the nod

Cristian Volpato whitethorn person decided against representing the Socceroos, but there's a spot for different breathtaking 18-year-old successful Garang Kuol.

The Egyptian-born forward, who volition permission the Central Coast Mariners for Premier League broadside Newcastle United successful January, made his Socceroos debut against New Zealand successful September.

"The acquisition he's going to summation [if selected for the World Cup] is going to beryllium huge," Kewell told the Herald.

"No 1 volition cognize excessively overmuch astir him.

"The 1 happening that scares a batch of defenders successful this satellite [is] speed. If you person velocity that terrifies defenders, that is simply a anticipation that [he] tin beryllium sitting connected the bench."

Tom Rogic returns

Midfielder Tom Rogic appears set for a recall, contempt missing the World Cup qualification matches against UAE and Peru owed to idiosyncratic reasons.

The 53-match veteran has mostly been utilized disconnected the seat since joining title broadside West Bromwich Albion successful September.

Despite a deficiency of superior crippled time, Arnold said precocious the information Rogic pulled retired of the qualification matches wouldn't beryllium held against him.

"We request our champion players and I've ne'er held a grudge against anyone ever and determination is nary crushed to person a grudge," helium said.

"The astir important happening to maine is he's happy. He's good. He's backmost connected the ground, he's training, it's large to spot him astatine West Brom."

Australia's World Cup draw

All times are AEDT

Australia vs France - November 23 - 6am

Australia vs Tunisia - November 26 - 9pm

Australia vs Denmark - December 1 - 2am

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