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Overseas-based players dominate Australia World Cup qualifiers squad

Xinhua, August 17, 2016 Adjust font size:

Melbourne City's veteran Tim Cahill was the only domestic A-League player selected in Australia's squad for the opening games of the World Cup qualifiers next month. Players based in European and Chinese clubs dominated the squad.

Australia head coach Ange Postecoglou said he selected the team because he wanted his players to be in good shape. While European and Chinese leagues are ongoing, Australia's top-flight A-League starts in October.

"It's very important, when we look at our games last year in September, October, whilst the performances were OK... it was really evident to us that in that sort of window, players who had come in underdone really struggled," Postecoglou told reporters in Sydney.

Australia, the reigning Asian Cup champions, will face Iraq in Perth on Sept. 1 before challenging the UAE in Abu Dhabi on Sept. 6 in the final stage of 2018 Russia World Cup qualifiers. Endit