Mathew Leckie, born in 1991, was appointed captain of the Australian team last June, when the team played 4 qualifying matches for the 2022 World Cup in the second phase. With 65 caps and scoring 13 goals, the striker is one of the Socceroos' most experienced players.
He is on the list of players that coach Graham Arnold is preparing to call up to the Australian national team, preparing for the two matches against China on September 2 and Vietnam on September 7. However, on the morning of August 27, the Australian captain asked to withdraw indefinitely, because playing and long-term isolation would seriously affect the family's life.
According to Australian government regulations, anyone entering Australia will be quarantined for at least 14 days at a hotel after 10 days of training and competition. In September, October and November 2021, Australia will have 6 qualifying matches for the 2022 World Cup.
For a player playing domestically like Leckie, it could take him at least 24 days/month for 3 consecutive months to go abroad to compete in the World Cup qualifiers and be quarantined at a hotel on his return home.
For Mathew Leckie, that was unbearable, because he had 2 young children. The striker has played in Germany for 10 years, married a German and has just moved to Melbourne City this year. At this time, his wife and children were not used to living in Australia, so he could not be away from his family for a long time because the Australian government did not have a "specialty" for the national team.
"Our family has just returned from Germany. We are trying to stabilize our lives, there is a lot of work to do and I cannot leave my family alone. I was almost desperate. I told Graham Arnold when playing for Australia that I love the team more than anything, that is always an important goal for me.
I told him about my situation when I had to be away from home for too long. It's not easy but he understands my situation. He always sympathizes when talking about family, but Arnold clearly has some vision. Some players in the same situation as me will also be absent in the upcoming matches," Leckie told the Sydney Morning Herald.
Due to government regulations on COVID-19 quarantine, Australia cannot play at home. They will rent a stadium in Doha, Qatar as their home stadium to play against China on September 2. After 5 days, the team will visit the Vietnam national team.
The Socceroos' home matches in October and November 2021 are still uncertain to be held in Sydney or Melboure. Players can still be quarantined for at least 14 days when returning home. Due to these difficulties, coach Arnold is considering the option of calling up all players playing abroad to play the opening two matches against China and Vietnam.
Mathew Leckie shared that his withdrawal from the Australian national team is only temporary. In case the Australian government has special features, organizing home matches according to the " partying" rule, he will be very ready to serve and contribute to the team.
