Socceroos boss Graham Arnold has made three changes to the team that beat India as Australia look to seal a spot in the knockout stages with a win over Syria.
Jordan Bos, Aiden O’Neill and Cameron Burgess have been named to start as Craig Goodiwn, Keanu Baccus and Kye Rowles drop to the bench.
Follow all the action from the Socceroos’ Asian Cup clash against Syria in our LIVE BLOG below!
Bos earned plenty of plaudits for his impact off the bench against India as the left winger scored with his first touch of the game and provided plenty of attacking endeavour.
Burgess’ physicality will be welcomed, especially on set pieces, while O’Neill is tasked with breaking up Syrian attacks at the base of midfield while keeping the Socceroos ticking over with precise passing.
Syria go into the contest off the back of a gutsy 0-0 draw against Uzbekistan in which the latter had 66 per cent of the ball and fired off 14 shots but could not find a way through.
‘THAT CAN’T CONTINUE’: SOCCEROOS STAR’S SOBERING ADMISSION
Towering defender Harry Souttar fears for his Socceroos future due to his lack of football at club level.
Despite his name being one of the first on national coach Graham Arnold’s team sheet, Souttar admits that will end if he continues to sit on the bench for English Championship leaders Leicester City.
The 200cm centre-back has made just four appearances, only two of them as a starter, in all competitions for Leicester this season as he remains out of favour with manager Enzo Maresca.
Souttar has been linked with moves to Scotland and Saudi Arabia, as well as English Premier League cellar dwellers, but is adamant a move has “not even crossed” his mind as he concentrates on the Socceroos’ current Asian Cup campaign in Qatar.
“My full concentration is on Australia and I think it would be disrespectful to the country, my teammates, and the staff here if my head was anywhere else and thinking about these other things when we’ve got a massive tournament here,” he said.
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However, the 25-year-old Scotland-born Socceroo knows he can’t afford to remain inactive at club level if he wants to continue being selected for Australia.
“It’s not been great that I’ve not got match minutes at my club, and obviously I know that can’t continue if I want to be a part of the national team,” Souttar said.
“Any player just wants to play football so I’m looking at it as a positive that I’m here (in Qatar) and I’m getting minutes and playing football, doing what I love again.
“You always want to pull that (Socceroos) shirt on. It just gives you an added something.
“You’re running on adrenaline and you’re playing football for a different reason as well, which always helps.
“There’s always that little bit more of that something special in the air.”
TEAM NEWS
Australia: Ryan; Behich, Souttar, Burgess, Jones; O’Neill, Irvine, Metcalfe; Bos, Duke, Boyle
Syria: Madanieh; Ousou, Alajaan, Krouma, Oues; Ham, Ramadan, Elias, Hesar; Sabbag, Alaswad
Follow all the action from the Socceroos’ Asian Cup clash against Syria in our LIVE BLOG below!
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