Meet the FIFA World Cup Squad: The Defenders
Graham Arnold announced his 26-man squad for the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022™ on Tuesday.
Over the next few days, we will take a closer look at the players selected by each position.
After meeting the goalkeepers, it is time to get to know the defenders.
READ MORE: Meet the FIFA World Cup Squad: The Goalkeepers
READ MORE: Meet the FIFA World Cup Squad: The Midfielders
READ MORE: Meet the FIFA World Cup Squad: The Forwards
Aziz Behich
Debut: 14/11/2012 v South Korea
Socceroos Cap Number: 547
Socceroos Caps: 53
Socceroos Goals: 2
Major Tournaments: AFC Asian Cup 2015, Confederations Cup 2017, FIFA World Cup 2018, AFC Asian Cup 2019
Current Club: Dundee United
Junior Club: Meadow Park SC (Victoria)
Aziz Behich will be appearing in his second FIFA World Cup, having showcased his immense leadership qualities within the Socceroos' backline. The Melbourne-born left back was in and out of the national team set-up after making his debut in 2012 but was finally called into the 2015 AFC Asian Cup squad, and has since become a regular in the Socceroos camp.
Behich’s form for club and country saw him secure a move to Dutch giants PSV Eindhoven in 2018. However, he only spent a season in the Netherlands before moving back to Turkey to join Istanbul Basaksehir, winning the Turkish Süper Lig for the first time in their history.
In 2020/21 he spent time on loan with Kayserispor, successfully helping keep them in the Turkish top flight, before replicating his heroics in the season after, guiding a Giresunspor side to safety, making 34 appearances during the 2021/22 season, at the heart of his side's defence. In July 2022, Behich embarked on a new challenge and signed with Scottish Premiership side Dundee United and since impressing with the Tangerines.
Milos Degenek
Debut: 27/05/2016 v England
Socceroos Cap Number: 585
Socceroos Caps: 38
Socceroos Goals: 1
Major Tournaments: FIFA Confederations Cup 2017, FIFA World Cup 2018, AFC Asian Cup 2019
Current Club: Columbus Crew
Junior Club: Blacktown City FC (NSW)
Croatian born Socceroos centre-back, Milos Degenek is in the running for his first FIFA World Cup match appearance, after featuring as an unused substitute in all three group matches four years ago.
Degenek broke into the Socceroos squad after several strong showings as a centre-back and defensive midfielder in 2. Bundesliga with 1860 Munich. He made his international debut against England in May 2016, providing the cross that led to Australia's only goal of the match.
The defender has since gone on to become a regular in the Socceroos set-up, while becoming a household name, thanks to tireless performances against some of the world’s best in the UEFA Champions League, having been involved in the competition while with Serbian giants Red Star Belgrade. The 28-year-old now calls Ohio home, having signed at the beginning of 2022, with Major League Soccer outfit Columbus Crew.
Bailey Wright
Debut: 08/09/2014 v Saudi Arabia
Socceroos Cap Number: 576
Socceroos Caps: 27
Socceroos Goals: 2
Major Tournaments: FIFA Confederations Cup 2017
Current Club: Sunderland AFC
Junior Club: Langwarrin SC (Victoria)
Bailey Wright scored on his Australia debut against Saudi Arabia in September 2014. Wright spent the first seven seasons with Preston North End in League One and the Championship before switching to Bristol City. In January 2020, Melbourne-born Wright joined Sunderland and would subsequently make the move permanent. After narrowly missing out on Championship promotion on a number of occasions, the centre-back finally got his fairytale moment with the Black Cats at the end of the 2021/22 season, with a dominant display in the play-off final, defeating Wycombe Wanderers 2-0 at Wembley Stadium.
His run in the League One play-offs was enough to ensure selection for the Socceroos crucial matches against Peru and the UAE, as the 30-year-old capped off a season-defining month, with FIFA World Cup qualification.
Harry Souttar
Debut: 10/10/2019 v Nepal
Socceroos Cap Number: 606
Socceroos Caps: 10
Socceroos Goals: 6
Current Club: Stoke City
Junior Club: Brechin City Boys Club (Scotland)
Another Scottish-born Socceroo, towering defender Harry Souttar immediately established himself as a cult hero in Green and Gold. At 1.98 metres, he is the tallest outfield player to have ever represented the Socceroos and used it all to his advantage, heading home six goals in his first five internationals.
The 24-year-old joined Stoke City from Dundee United in 2016 but following loan spells with Ross County and Fleetwood Town, it would not be until the 2020/21 season where Souttar would establish himself in the first team. He suffered an anterior cruciate ligament injury while on international duty against Saudi Arabia in November 2021 but fortunately managed to recover in time and be selected in the final 26-man squad.
Fran Karacic
Debut: 03/04/2021 v Kuwait
Socceroos Cap Number: 607
Socceroos Caps: 11
Socceroos Goals: 1
Current Club: Brescia (Italy)
Junior Club: NK Lokomotiva (Croatia)
Fran Karacic, a former-Croatia under-21 representative, declared his international allegiance for Australia and was added as part of the provisional Socceroos squad for the 2018 FIFA World Cup. His inclusion will be his first major tournament with Australia.
Karacic joined Italian Serie B side Brescia from Croatian side Dinamo Zagreb, where he spent the majority of his stint on loan at fellow Croatian First Football League club NK Lokomotiva Zagreb.
Karacic has since become a regular starter at full-back for Brescia as they continue to push for first division football, having accrued over 30 appearances for the club in 2 seasons. The 26-year-old was originally introduced into Arnold's squad, as an avenue to add strength and depth in the right-back position. However, the defender has exceeded all expectations in the Green and Gold.
Nathaniel Atkinson
Debut: 29/03/2022 v Saudi Arabia
Socceroos Cap Number: 620
Socceroos Caps: 5
Socceroos Goals: 0
Current Club: Heart of Midlothian FC
Junior Club: Riverside Olympic FC (Tasmania)
The Tasmanian-born full-back is among several the Socceroo's brightest young stars, heading into the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022™, having translated his impressive form with Graham Arnold's Olyroos side during the Tokyo Olympics, into a successful qualification campaign, with the 23-year-old involved in both of Australia's crucial play-off victories in Doha. Atkinson’s impressive form with Melbourne City – where he opened the scoring in the 2021 A-League Men’s Grand Final – culminated in a transfer to Scottish Premiership side Heart of Midlothian in January 2022 and has taken his game to another level, becoming a regular at right-back.
Joel King
Debut: 27/01/2022 v Vietnam
Socceroos Cap Number: 615
Socceroos Caps: 4
Socceroos Goals: 0
Current Club: Odense BK
Junior Club: Shellharbour Junior FC (NSW)
One of Australia’s most promising defenders, Joel King, excelled at Sydney FC before sealing a move to Danish Superliga outfit Odense BK. The 22-year-old's first opportunity for the national side came during the 2021 Tokyo Olympics, as Graham Arnold rewarded the domestic form of the defender, starting King in all three of the Olyroos’ group matches during the tournament.
The transition from Olyroo to Socceroo has been seamless for King, who was involved in two crucial FIFA World Cup qualifiers earlier in the year, making his debut against Vietnam, before a 90 minute effort in his home state against Japan.
Kye Rowles
Debut: 01/06/2022
Socceroos Cap Number: 622
Socceroos Caps: 3
Socceroos Goals: 0
Current Club: Heart of Midlothian FC
Junior Club: Palm Beach SC (Queensland)
The last of the debutants during the 2022 FIFA World Cup qualification campaign, Graham Arnold's selection of young centre-back Kye Rowles prior to the inter-continental play-offs proved a masterstroke, with the defender producing two man-of-the-match performances through the heat of Doha, against difficult opponents in the United Arab Emirates and Peru.
Rowles’ career in the A-League Men’s competition began at Brisbane Roar before joining Central Coast Mariners in June 2017, initially signing a one-year deal with the team. Rowles outlasted that deal by a matter of six seasons, becoming instrumental to the Mariners’ revival during his 104 appearances.
Arnold selected Rowles in his squad for the 2021 Tokyo Olympic Games with the tournament being a rehearsal for the role that the 24-year-old would play within the Socceroos set-up, just one year later, in Qatar. Prior to helping guide Australia to the World Cup Finals, Rowles signed with Hearts, joining compatriots and fellow Olyroo graduates Nathaniel Atkinson and Cameron Devlin.
Thomas Deng
Debut: 16/10/2018
Socceroos Cap Number: 598
Socceroos Caps: 2
Socceroos Goals: 0
Current Club: Albirex Niigata
Junior Club: Adelaide Blue Eagles (South Australia)
In October 2018, Deng made his Socceroos debut in Kuwait City alongside fellow Sudanese refugee and school-friend Awer Mabil. This was a big moment for the two Aussies and their success was seen as an homage to the broader refugee community.
Deng’s professional career began with Melbourne Victory during the 2015/16 season, and following a season-long loan at Jong PSV, would remain at the club until 2020. He moved to the J1 League in 2020 signing with Urawa Red Diamonds. He also made his debut at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games in 2021 and the following year with Albirex Niigata, helping the club secure promotion to the Japanese top-flight. Deng earned his second senior international cap against New Zealand in Auckland, almost four years from his maiden appearance.
FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022™ - Australia's Group D Matches
France v Australia
Date: Wednesday, 23 November 2022
Venue: Al Janoub Stadium, Al Wakrah
Kick-off: 6:00am (AEDT)
Watch: Live and Free on SBS and SBS On Demand
Tunisia v Australia
Date: Saturday, 26 November 2022
Venue: Al Janoub Stadium, Al Wakrah
Kick-off: 9:00pm (AEDT)
Watch: Live and Free on SBS and SBS On Demand
Australia v Denmark
Date: Thursday, 1 December 2022
Venue: Al Janoub Stadium, Al Wakrah
Kick-off: 2:00am (AEDT)
Watch: Live and Free on SBS and SBS On Demand
