Australian 22 for France game, World Cup playoff

Australian soccer officials named a strong 22-man squad on Tuesday for the friendly against world champions France and the subsequent two-legged World Cup playoff against an as yet unknown South American team.

Australia play France at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on November 11 in a match that several European club managers, particularly Arsenal's Arsene Wenger, have tried to have called off.

Wenger, who has several players in the French squad, considers it unnecessary for France, who played in Chile last month, to travel such a long distance for a friendly which he says will leave them drained for their club games days later.

Australia, however, are delighted to have such a testing friendly before they take on the fifth-placed finisher in the South American qualifying group -- probably Uruguay or Colombia but possibly even Brazil.

The squad features several players from the English premier league, including Mark Viduka and Harry Kewell who are in great form for leaders Leeds United.

"I personally believe this is the strongest Australian squad that has ever been assembled in terms of quality and experience. It's very pleasing," Australia coach Frank Farina said.

"We all hope that everyone stays fit and returns home safely for what will be the most important games in Australian soccer's history.

"To have the France game as lead-up to these two games is ideal. You couldn't ask for a better game," said Farina.

"They are the world champions and the European champions and I don't think they'd like to lose to Australia again in the space of a few months."

Australia, 48th in the FIFA world rankings, beat France and Brazil on the way to finishing third in the Confederations Cup in South Korea in June.

Australia have not qualified for the World Cup since 1974. Last time they missed out on the away goals rule after a 2-2 draw against Iran in Melbourne in November 1997.

Bosnich Out

Farina said it had been tempting to include in-form goalkeeper Mark Bosnich, who has struggled to gain a first team place at Manchester United and Chelsea in the past couple of seasons.

"Mark's never been out of the equation," Farina said.

"Unfortunately he's gone through a very difficult period in not only his life but I think his career.

"It's very pleasing that he's back and he's playing."

In his second game for Chelsea on Sunday, Bosnich kept a clean sheet against Leeds United stars and fellow Australians Kewell and Viduka.

Farina opted for Dutch-based Zeljko Kalac as his second-choice goalkeeper behind Middlesbrough's Mark Schwarzer.

Middlesbrough midfielder Paul Okon is Australia's captain.

Australia want the two World Cup playoff ties to be played on November 18 at home and November 25 away, although officials fear a South American push may cause the matches to be shifted to November 21 and 28.

"We've actually stood firm and said we want the games on the 18th and the 25th and we want them to finish their qualifying period by the 11th," Soccer Australia (SA) chairman Ian Knop said.

"At this stage the games are on the 18th and the 25th. We cross our fingers that FIFA will stand by their ruling."

Squad:

Goalkeepers: Zeljko Kalac (Roda JC, Netherlands), Mark Schwarzer (Middlesbrough, England).

Defenders: Steve Horvat (Melbourne Knights, Australia), Craig Moore (Glasgow Rangers, Scotland), Shaun Murphy (Sheffield United, England), Kevin Muscat (Wolverhampton Wanderers, England), Tony Popovic (Crystal Palace, England), Tony Vidmar (Glasgow Rangers, Scotland).

Midfielders: Marco Bresciano (Empoli, Italy), Steve Corica (Sanfrecce Hiroshima, Japan), Brett Emerton (Feyenoord, Netherlands), Stan Lazaridis (Birmingham City, England), Lucas Neill (Blackburn Rovers, England), Paul Okon (Middlesbrough, England), Josip Skoko (Racing Genk, Belgium), Mile Sterjovski (Lille, France), Danny Tiatto (Manchester City, England), Harry Kewell (Leeds United, England).

Forwards: Paul Agostino (1860 Munich, Germany), John Aloisi (Athletico Osasuna, Spain), Mark Viduka (Leeds United, England), David Zdrilic (SP VGG Unterhaching, Germany).