Suspended forward Mitch Nichols and injured defender Sebastian Ryall are heading back to Australia after being removed from the Olyroos squad for the upcoming match against the UAE.
Nichols picked up his second yellow card of Australia’s Olympic qualifying campaign during the loss to Uzbekistan in freezing conditions last weekend, while Ryall injured his hamstring in the 2-0 defeat in Tashkent.
No replacement will be called up for Nichols while Gold Coast United’s Dylan McGowan has been called up by coach Aurelio Vidmar to replace Ryall.
Australia’s hopes of qualifying for this year’s Olympics became even slimmer with the overnight decision by FIFA to award the UAE a 3-0 win over Iraq after the Iraqis were deemed to have fielded an ineligible player in the November 27 fixture.
It means Australia must win their remaining two fixtures against the UAE and Iraq and hope Uzbekistan and the UAE accrue no more than one point from their final two matches, which would leave goal difference to determine the final placings.
The under-23s squad is in Dubai preparing for the UAE match, which will be played on February 22.