Australia will open the next phase of World Cup qualification against Iraq at nib Stadium on Thursday night.
The Socceroos go into the match as firm favourites boasting a near full-strength squad, with “four or five” possible starting combinations in the works, according to coach Ange Postecoglou.
“The beauty of the work we’ve done over the last 18 months or so is that I’ve literally got four or five starting XIs I could put out tomorrow, and I’d feel confident about all of them getting the job done,” he said on Wednesday.
But what does the Green and Gold’s best team look like?
Goalkeeper – Mat Ryan: Ryan has started both matches in Valencia’s poor opening to the La Liga season. Still, the league’s calibre is a notch up from the 2.Bundesliga, where Mitch Langerak is based.
Right-back – Milos Degenek: Has been a mainstay at centre-back for 1860 Munich, but the presence of Trent Sainsbury and Matt Spiranovic will force him out to right-back. Not an unfamiliar position for him.
Centre-back – Trent Sainsbury: Probably the first name on the team sheet.
Centre-back – Matt Spiranovic: Another walk-up starter.
Left-back – Brad Smith: The best left-back on the books, still looking to tie down a starting berth with AFC Bournemouth.
Defensive-midfield – Mile Jedinak: The captain has found new life at Aston Villa and will start while Mark Milligan’s Bani Yas are out of season.
Defensive-midfield – Aaron Mooy: Is an explanation really necessary?
Attacking-midfield – Tom Rogic: The former Central Coast Mariner is in career-best form under Brendan Rodgers and should be rewarded with a start in the West.
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Right-wing – Robbie Kruse: Just and outcast it now seems at Leverkusen, Kruse remains Australia’s best option in this position.
Left-wing – Mat Leckie: Leckie is often maligned at international level but has entrenched himself in the starting XI at Ingolstadt and will remain a Socceroos regular.
Striker – Tomi Juric: Moving away from the Netherlands looks to have paid off for Juric, who has found his feet at Luzern, second in the Swiss Super League. Could provide a glimpse of the future with Tim Cahill still rebuilding match fitness.
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