Fourteen players were handed their inaugural Subway Socceroos caps in 2022, joining the exclusive club shared by just over 600 people since the first Australia ‘A’ match in 1922.
Indeed, eight of the 14 were included in the final 26-man squad for FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022™, with many seeing their profiles increase having impressed with the national team.
Here is a look at every player who made their debut this year in the prestigious Green and Gold.
Joel King – #615 vs Vietnam on January 27
Joel King played the full 90 minutes and showed composure and maturity beyond his years in a FIFA World Cup qualifier against Vietnam. The Sydney FC defender delivered an assured performance at left-back. A few days later he joined Danish Superliga outfit Odense Boldklub.
Marco Tilio – #616 vs Vietnam on January 27
After impressing with the Australia U23s and Melbourne City, Tilio won his first cap against Vietnam in Melbourne.
The then 20-year-old was introduced in the 81st minute for Martin Boyle.
Gianni Stensness – #617 vs Japan on March 24
The young midfielder made his senior debut against Japan in Sydney before being withdrawn in stoppage time. The 23-year-old has been plying his trade with Norway’s Viking FK after two strong years with Central Coast Mariners.
Bruno Fornaroli – #618 vs Japan on March 24
Following a change in FIFA eligibility rules in 2020, Uruguayan-born Bruno Fornaroli who is an Australian citizen, made his Socceroos debut at the age of 34 in March. When the striker was brought on in the 68th minute at Accor Stadium, he became the oldest player to make their first appearance for the Green and Gold.
Ben Folami – #619 vs Japan on March 24
A strong 2021/22 season with Melbourne Victory also saw Ben Folami called up for the FIFA World Cup Qualifiers in March. Folami made a brief stoppage-time appearance against Japan, replacing Gianni Stensness in the 90th minute.
Nathaniel Atkinson – #620 vs Saudi Arabia on March 29
Nathaniel Atkinson’s midseason move to Heart of Midlothian in January paid dividends as he continued his strong form with Melbourne City into Scotland. Atkinson played the entire 90 minutes at right-back in a 1-0 defeat to Saudi Arabia and would go onto to collect a further five caps in 2022.
Nick D’Agostino – #621 vs Saudi Arabia on March 29
Striker Nick D’Agostino was rewarded for his scoring exploits with Melbourne Victory. The 24-year-old made his debut as a half-time substitute against the Saudis in Jeddah.
Kye Rowles – #622 vs Jordan on June 1
Centre-back Kye Rowles capped off a tremendous campaign with Central Coast Mariners by making his debut against Jordan in an international friendly. So impressive was his debut he ended up starting the crucial do-or-die qualifiers against the United Arab Emirates and Peru.
Rowles would subsequently garner plaudits for a promising tournament at the FIFA World Cup in Qatar following a foot injury with Hearts in the months prior to the tournament.
Harrison Delbridge – #623 vs New Zealand on September 25
Six players would go on to complete their senior international debuts against New Zealand in Auckland. However, Harrison Delbridge was the only one who started proceedings from the outset. The 30-year-old Incheon United defender produced a confident display at centre-back helping keep a clean sheet in the 2-0 win.
Ryan Strain – #624 vs New Zealand on September 25
Ryan Strain’s Australia debut was a year in the making. The defender suffered a hamstring injury while in camp in August 2021, dashing any hope of making his debut at the time. However, fast forward a year later and the right-back, who plies his trade with St Mirren in Scotland got to represent his adopted country coming on in the 63rd minute.
Cameron Devlin – #625 vs New Zealand on September 25
Cameron Devlin had been in stirring form for Hearts in the Scottish top-flight and received a deserved call-up ahead of September’s friendlies against the Kiwis. The 24-year-old midfielder was also summoned at the 63rd minute and provided real energy in the middle of the park.
Jason Cummings – #626 vs New Zealand on September 25
Eligible to represent Australia due to his Australian mother, Jason Cummings marked his Subway Socceroos debut with a goal, confidently dispatching a penalty to double the advantage against New Zealand. Cummings was also part of the triple substitution alongside Ryan Strain and Cameron Devlin.
Born in Scotland, the 27-year-old signed with the Central Coast Mariners at the beginning of the year and has been one of the Isuzu UTE A-League’s most prolific scorers.
Garang Kuol – #627 vs New Zealand on September 25
Having only recently turned 18, Garang Kuol became the youngest player to represent Australia since Harry Kewell in 1996. Remarkably, Kuol had yet to start a professional match at the time, but his undeniable talent warranted a national team call up. The forward certainly did not look out of place when he entered the fray in the 73rd minute at Eden Park.
Kuol would later feature twice at the FIFA World Cup in Qatar and also became the second youngest to play in a knockout game at the tournament since Brazil legend Pele in 1958.
Keanu Baccus – #628 vs New Zealand on September 25
The last of the debutants for the Socceroos was midfielder Keanu Baccus. The 24-year-old midfielder was introduced to the action with seven minutes remaining.
His excellent displays with St Mirren later saw him included in the 26-player squad for the World Cup and was one of the revelations, featuring in all four matches and earning a starting debut against Argentina.
