Central Coast Mariners attacker Mitchell Duke has today been named in Holger Osieck’s 22-player squad to face the Brazilian men’s national team, “The Seleção”, in an international friendly match at the Estadio Nacional Mané Garrincha Stadium, in Brasilia, Brazil on Saturday 7 September 2013 (kick-off 4:15pm local, 5:15am AEST).
Central Coast Mariners attacker Mitchell Duke has today been named in Holger Osieck-s 22-player squad to face the Brazilian men-s national team, “The Seleção”, in an international friendly match at the Estadio Nacional Mané Garrincha Stadium in Brasilia, Brazil on Saturday 7 September 2013 (kick-off 4:15pm local, 5:15am AEST).
Duke impressed in his first few games in Australia-s senior men-s national team at the recent EAFF East Asian Cup held in Korea Republic.
Indeed, Duke scored two goals in three appearances for Osieck-s largely Hyundai A-League-based squad throughout the tournament.
With the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil now less than 12 months away, Duke will get a first-hand taste of the flavour to be expected when the five-time World Champions host the tournament next year.
“I found out last night,” Duke said on Wednesday afternoon. “I am obviously really excited to just be involved. I am prepared to play and I am ready for the experience.”
Former Central Coast Mariners goalkeeper Mathew Ryan (now with Club Brugge in Belgium), as well as attacking midfielder Tomas Rogic (now with Glasgow Celtic) have also been included in the squad.
“It-s going to be really exciting to see those faces and be reunited with those players,” Duke said of his former Mariners teammates Ryan and Rogic.
“I really just want to soak up the experience, see what Brazil is like and make the most of any opportunity I get.”
With regular Socceroos midfielder Mile Jedinak (Crystal Palace, England) also featuring in the 22-man squad, the total of current and former Central Coast Mariners players set to take on Luiz Felipe Scolari-s men in the historic friendly stands at four.
Socceroos Squad for Brazil International Friendly – Saturday 7 September 2013
Mark BRESCIANO Al Gharafa, QATAR
Tim CAHILL New York Red Bulls, USA
Robert CORNTHWAITE Chunnam Dragons, KOREA REPUBLIC
Mitchell DUKE Central Coast Mariners FC, AUSTRALIA
James HOLLAND FK Austria Vienna, AUSTRIA
Brett HOLMAN Al Nasr Sports Club, UAE
Mile JEDINAK Crystal Palace FC, ENGLAND
Josh KENNEDY Nagoya Grampus, JAPAN
Robbie KRUSE TSV Bayer 04 Leverkusen, GERMANY
Mitchell LANGERAK (gk) B.V. Borussia 09 Dortmund, GERMANY
Ryan McGOWAN Shandong Luneng Taishan FC, CHINA PR
Matthew McKAY Brisbane Roar FC, AUSTRALIA
Mark MILLIGAN Melbourne Victory FC, AUSTRALIA
Lucas NEILL Omiya Ardija, JAPAN
Tommy OAR FC Utrecht, NETHERLANDS
Sasa OGNENOVSKI Umm Salal SC, QATAR
Tom ROGIC Celtic FC, SCOTLAND
Mat RYAN (gk) Club Brugge KV, BELGIUM
Mark SCHWARZER (gk) Chelsea FC, ENGLAND
Archie THOMPSON Melbourne Victory FC, AUSTRALIA
Luke WILKSHIRE FK Dinamo Moscow, RUSSIA
Rhys WILLIAMS Middlesbrough FC, ENGLAND
Upcoming Match Details
Brazil v Socceroos
Saturday 7 September 2013
Estadio Nacional Mané Garrincha Stadium, Brasilia, Brazil
Kick-off: 4.15pm local (5:15am AEST)
Time Zone
BRT: Brasilia Time (UTC – 3)
AEST: Australian Eastern Standard Time (UTC + 10)
Current FIFA World Rankings (as at 8 August 2013)
Brazil – 9th
Australia – 46th
