Fulham keeper Mark Schwarzer will lead the Socceroos in this month’s must-win World Cup qualifier against Oman, but there’s no place for Brett Emerton, who captained Australia just three months ago.
Veteran goalkeeper Schwarzer, who has captained the Socceroos on nine previous occasions, will lead the side onto Stadium Australia in the absence of suspended regular skipper Lucas Neill.
Overseas-based players Tim Cahill, Mile Jedinak, Tommy Oar and Tom Rogic return to the 23-man squad named on Wednesday after missing last month’s friendly against Romania.
Australia head into the game in second spot in the World Cup Asian qualifying tournament’s Group B, eight points behind runaway leader Japan, who have played one game more.
The Socceroos are level on points with Iraq and Oman and just one point ahead of Jordan.
