3 minute read

Tony Popovic won't court the services of Massimo Luongo and Mitch Langerak, saying the retired Socceroos duo can only be considered if they come to him.

Tony Popovic is open to considering Massimo Luongo and Mitch Langerak for Socceroos selection, but the new Australia boss won't plead with the pair to come out of international retirement.

Midfielder Luongo, 31, called time on his Socceroos career late last year to focus on a promotion tilt with English club side Ipswich Town.

The decision paid off with the Tractor Boys now in the Premier League and Luongo netting himself a contract extension until the end of 2025.

Langerak, meanwhile, enjoyed an on-off relationship with Graham Arnold's set-up and was always stuck behind captain Mat Ryan in the pecking order.

The 36-year-old Langerak retired in 2021 due to COVID-19 travel constraints, made himself available for selection for the 2022 World Cup and was then dumped for the final squad for Qatar. 

But Popovic is approaching his first squad selection for October's World Cup qualifiers with China and Japan with an open mind.

His sole caveat is that he won't actively lobby for the pair to come out of the woodwork to pull on the green and gold.

"It's up to the players," Popovic said.

"If they've officially retired, then they're out of the Socceroos, aren't they?

"If they want to come back in, they have to make it clear that they want to play for the Socceroos.

"If they make themselves available, then we can look into that."

The cause of Langerak, who is plying his trade in the Japanese top flight with Nagoya Grampus, could be helped by the scarcity of Australian goalkeepers playing regular club football overseas.

Aston Villa's Joe Gauci and Middlesbrough's Tom Glover are stuck in back-up roles, as is Ryan.

The Socceroos captain inked a deal with Italian club Roma in the European summer transfer market and is unlikely to see gametime before the October window.

While Popovic wouldn't guarantee he would remain as captain, he said Ryan would be part of his set-up for the China and Japan games.

"I haven't spoken to any players because this has happened so quickly," Popovic said.

"He has had an amazing career, done wonderful things for the Socceroos and I look forward to seeing him when he comes into camp."