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Perth Glory striker Bruno Fornaroli has been included in the Socceroos squad for the upcoming World Cup qualifiers.
Graham Arnold has named a 27-man squad that will take on Japan and Saudi Arabia.
Football Australia is waiting on former approval from FIFA after Fornaroli only recently became an Australian citizen.
The 34-year-old is was a great feeling.
“I’m going to enjoy the moment and do my best.”
Fornaroli kept selection secret as he started the citizenship process and kept his focus on Glory.
“That was my first thing, for my club,” he said.
“I didn’t say anything because I wanted to make sure I was in. I try also to don’t be excited until the coach called me and say ‘look you’ll be in the squad".
“A couple of seconds I couldn’t talk because it was an emotional moment for me. Now it is reality. I live in a dream.
“This is football, you never know what’s going to happen This is why I love this game."
Five uncapped players have been named in the squad and Aaron Mooy will miss out due to Covid protocols.
Socceroos squad: Nathaniel Atkinson (Hearts, Scotland), Aziz Behich (Giresunspor, Turkey), Martin Boyle (Al-Faisaly, Saudi Arabia), Nick D’Agostino (Melbourne Victory), Milos Degenek (Columbus Crew, USA), Mitchell Duke (Fagiano Okayama, Japan), Bruno Fornaroli (Perth Glory), Denis Genreau (Toulouse, France), Craig Goodwin (Adelaide United), Rhyan Grant (Sydney FC), Ajdin Hrustic (Eintracht Frankfurt, Germany), Jackson Irvine (St. Pauli, Germany), James Jeggo (KAS Eupen), Fran Karacic (Brescia, Italy), Joel King (Odense Boldklub, Denmark), Mathew Leckie (Melbourne City), Awer Mabil (Kasimpasa SK, Turkey), Jamie Maclaren (Melbourne City), Connor Metcalfe, Andrew Redmayne (Sydney FC), Tom Rogic (Celtic, Scotland), Kye Rowles (Central Coast Mariners), Mat Ryan (Real Sociedad, Spain), Trent Sainsbury (KV Kortrijk, Belgium), Gianni Stemsness (Viking FK, Denmark), Marco Tilio (Melbourne City), Danny Vukovic (NEC Nijmegen, Netherlands),
IMAGE: FILE