Socceroos squad for Dutch training camp named

Socceroos coach Guus Hiddink has named a 25-man squad for a training camp in the Netherlands ahead of the October 9th Powerade Series match against Jamaica in London.

The Australians will assemble in Mierlo just outside of Eindhoven after completing club matches this weekend and will spend the rest of the week together before flying to London to face the Reggae Boys at Fulham's Craven Cottage.

While Hiddink has named 25 players for the training camp this will be reduced to a match squad of 18-20 players for the team's final hit out before facing the fifth ranked South American nation in November for a spot in the 2006 FIFA World Cup.

"The training camp will give me another opportunity to work with the players and then reduce the squad down for the vital match against Jamaica," said Hiddink.

"This is our last chance to get together ahead of the World Cup qualifiers in November so the time together and the match will be crucial to us."

"Jamaica are going to be a good test for us and it is vital that we continue to improve as we build to November."

"We have several players that have been out injured and are in the process of their rehabilitation. We are bringing them in as well so we can check on their progress."

In addition to the 25-man squad NAC Breda defender Tony Vidmar who is recovering from a hamstring strain will also join up with the team in the Netherlands to receive treatment.

Australia (ranked 50th) and Jamaica (ranked 41st) met in London in September 2003 with goals to Marco Bresciano and Harry Kewell enough to secure Australia a 2-1 win.

The Socceroos 2006 FIFA World Cup destiny will be decided in Sydney on 16 November when they play a match against the fifth-ranked South American nation. The first leg of the home-and-away series will take place on 12 November in South America.

SOCCEROOS SQUAD

John Aloisi, Marco Bresciano, Tim Cahill, Scott Chipperfield, Simon Colosimo*, Ante Covic, Jason Culina, Ahmad Elrich, Brett Emerton, Vince Grella, Joel Griffiths, Zeljko Kalac, Harry Kewell, Stan Lazaridis, Jon McKain, Ljubo Milicevic, Craig Moore, Lucas Neill, Jade North*, Tony Popovic, Mark Schwarzer, Josip Skoko, Archie Thompson*, Mark Viduka, Luke Wilkshire.

Note: *A-League players.

Match Schedule

AUSTRALIA vs JAMAICA

Sunday 9th October 2005
Kick Off – 1:00pm (local/UK), 11:00pm (AEST)
Fulham Football Club (Craven Cottage)
Stevenage Road, Fulham London