European clubs pressuring Socceroos to skip international duty, Graham Arnold says

Socceroos coach Graham Arnold says European sides are pressuring young players to prioritise their club over representing their country, as he announced his squad for the crunch World Cup qualifiers against Lebanon.

Parma defender Alessandro Circati was a notable absentee from the squad for Australia’s two games against Lebanon in Parramatta on 21 March and Canberra on 26 March, where two wins would secure their passage to the final round of qualification, and the 20-year-old is looking increasingly likely to also miss important Olympic qualifiers.

Parma are chasing promotion to Serie A and Arnold had hoped by not calling up Circati for January’s Asian Cup, his club side would be more likely to release him for next month’s U23 Asian Cup, but that does not appear to be the case.

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“I think a lot of people need to understand the pressure the players get put under from their clubs overseas,” Arnold said on Thursday.

“To play for Australia is a lot, Alessandro and even Cristian Volpato it’s exactly the same, they have to focus on their club careers.”

He said he was “doubtful” Parma would release Circati for the Olyroos’ tournament.

“[Olyroos coach] Tony Vidmar is getting quite a number of overseas-based clubs refusing to release players in April so it’ll be predominantly players from the A-League.”

Adam Taggart’s stunning form for Perth Glory has thrust the striker back into Socceroos contention as Graham Arnold recalled the striker and creative midfielder Ajdin Hrustic for crunch World Cup qualifiers against Lebanon.

Taggart has scored 14 goals in 18 A-League Men games this campaign and is in line to win his first cap since September 2022.

After struggling to break down defences at the Asian Cup, Hrustic’s return will also be a welcome boost for Arnold. The Melbourne-born midfielder has not featured for the national team since June last year but a loan move from Verona in Italy’s Serie A to Dutch side Heracles has led to him securing regular game time.

As well as Taggart and Hrustic, Western Sydney Wanderers striker Brandon Borrello is back in the mix after missing the Asian Cup with a foot injury. Borrello and Taggart give Arnold options in an already stacked forward line that includes Mitchell Duke, Kusini Yengi, Bruno Fornaroli and uncapped striker John Iredale.

“As a group we took a lot away from our time in Qatar and I’ve got no doubt that we’ll be better for the experience as we work towards World Cup qualification,” Arnold said. “We selected a number of younger, inexperienced players for the Asian Cup with the view of giving them more opportunities at international level as well as exposing them to tournament conditions.

“It’s part of our continued regeneration of the senior national team squad, ensuring that in two years’ time we have the depth and experience required to succeed on international football’s biggest stage.”

Injuries have prevented Aziz Behich, Martin Boyle, Aiden O’Neill and Marco Tilio from receiving call-ups while Jamie Maclaren’s lack of form has meant he has not secured a spot in Arnold’s 25-man squad. Dual-eligible defender Alessandro Circati, who was not included in the latest Olyroos squad and is yet to be cap-tied by Australia, is not selected.

Australia squad

Goalkeepers: Mat Ryan (captain), Joe Gauci, Tom Glover

Defenders: Nathaniel Atkinson, Jordy Bos, Cameron Burgess, Thomas Deng, Gethin Jones, Lewis Miller, Kye Rowles, Harry Souttar

Midfielders: Keanu Baccus, Ajdin Hrustic, Jackson Irvine, Riley McGree, Connor Metcalfe, Patrick Yazbek

Forwards: Brandon Borrello, Mitchell Duke, Bruno Fornaroli, Craig Goodwin, John Iredale, Sam Silvera, Adam Taggart, Kusini Yengi.