19-year-old Daniel Arzani will be the youngest ever player to go with the Aussie team to the World Cup, following the official announcement of the Socceroos squad earlier today.
Coach Bert van Marwijk revealed the 23 chosen players this morning, bringing veteran Tim Cahill back for his fourth World Cup, and Mile Jedinak back for his third.
Iranian-born Daniel Azrani moved to Australia with his family at the age of seven, and has played for Sydney FC and Melbourne FC‘s youth teams.
In the 2016-17 season, he scored a goal for Melbourne City Youth in their A-League National Youth League Grand Final-winning winning game.
He scored his first A-League goal earlier this year against Newcastle Jets FC, and was the winner of the 2018 award for A-League Young Footballer Of The Year.
Poland has yet to announce its World Cup squad, but if 19-year-old Sebastian Szymanski is not included, Danial Arzani will be the youngest player in the tournament.
Announcing his decision to media earlier today, van Marwijk said:
“Every step of the selection process has been difficult because the players have all given everything to make the final selection. However considering many factors, we have now settled on our final squad for Russia. I believe this group of players can do Australia proud at the world’s biggest football tournament if we continue to work collectively and intensively over the next two weeks and into the competition.”
The Socceroos’ 2018 world Cup Squad sees Brad Jones, Mat Ryan and Danny Vukovic as goalkeepers, and Aziz Behich, Milos Degenek, Matt Jurman, Mark Milligan, James Meredith, Josh Risdon and Trent Sainsbury as defenders.
Midfielders will be Jackson Irvine, Mile Jedinak, Massimo Luongo, Aaron Mooy and Tom Rogic while the forwards are Daniel Arzani, Tim Cahill, Tomi Juric, Robbie Kruse, Mat Leckie, Jamie Maclaren, Andrew Nabbout and Dimitri Petratos.
The 2018 FIFA World Cup will be held in Russia from June 14 to July 15.
