Former Rangers star Jason Cummings has surprisingly been left out of the Australia squad to face Jordan and the United Arab Emirates – as well as a possible World Cup playoff showdown with Peru.
Cummings is eligible for Australia through his mum and, despite having represented Scotland, can still switch to the Socceroos.
Australia start the international week with a friendly against Jordan on June 2 before facing the UAE in a World Cup playoff on June 8.
If Graham Arnold’s side win, they’ll then go on to face Peru on June 13/14 for a spot in Qatar this winter at the World Cup finals.
“Our qualification journey for this year’s World Cup has been challenging, however the bigger the challenge, the greater the reward,” Arnold said. “Just like in 2017 and 2005 I have full belief that our boys will emerge through the playoff system and seal Australia a place at the World Cup”
“We have selected a large squad for this window for a few reasons, but first and foremost because so many of our players have been in great form for their clubs over recent months. Additionally, with several players set to enter the UAE match on yellow cards, we needed to ensure that we have cover in every area to ensure we’re not caught short at any time.
“I heard Rale Rasic comment recently that the ‘Socceroos’ story is always a super story’, so in the 100th year of our national team there would be no better way for this group of players and staff to honour those that have come before them than by writing another proud chapter in the history books through FIFA World Cup qualification,
Former Rangers star Cummings a surprise omission from Socceroos World Cup playoff squad
The ex-Rangers star has been widely touted for a place in the Socceroos squad after impressing since his move to Central Coast Mariners at the start of the year.
Cummings scored ten times this season to help the Mariners to a fifth-place finish in the A-League before they lost out to Adelaide United in the playoffs.
If Australia do reach the World Cup, it seems unlikely now that Cummings can force his way into the reckoning for a place in the squad – although there will be plenty of opportunity for him after the World Cup to cement his place on the international scene.
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