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Socceroos veteran Lucas Neill’s signing with English Championship side Watford appears to have done him no favours in the eyes of Socceroos coach Ange Postecoglou, who has omitted the defender from the national side’s friendly again Ecuador on 5 March.
Postecoglou has opted for a side that is a balance of A-League and international-based players, with Curtis Good, Chris Herd, Massimo Luongo and Ben Halloran all handed the opportunity to impress the coach.
Matthew Spiranovic, Melbourne Victory captain Mark Milligan, Tom Rogic, Matt McKay and Ivan Franjic are the local players who will be given an opportunity to press for a spot on the plane to Brazil.
Aside from veteran defender and former captain Neill, other notable absentees include midfielder Brett Holman, striker Josh Kennedy and Mark Bresciano.
Postecoglou says he believes the squad he has selected represents the potential for next “golden generation” for Australian football, and says he selected based on who was performing strongly at club level.
“The Ecuador match gives this group of players an opportunity to stake a claim for the World Cup.
“They have been rewarded for playing consistent and strong football and shows that age and limited international experience are not barriers to opportunity.”
Despite some surprising omissions, Postecoglou said the squad to go to Brazil was not yet set in stone, and players not selected had the chance to push for a place.
“There were quite a few players, particularly those in Asia whose leagues are just beginning, who are still very much on the radar.
“There are also a few players who are very much a part of my thinking and plans for the World Cup who are not playing.”
More to follow…
Socceroos squad to face Ecuador in London:
| NAME | SURNAME | CLUB | COUNTRY |
Caps (Goals) |
| Oliver | BOZANIC | FC Luzern | SWITZERLAND |
1 (0) |
| Tim | CAHILL | New York Red Bulls | USA |
66 (29) |
| Jason | DAVIDSON | SC Heracles Almelo | NETHERLANDS |
4 (0) |
| Ivan | FRANJIC | Brisbane Roar FC | AUSTRALIA |
6 (0) |
| Curtis | GOOD | Dundee United FC | SCOTLAND |
– |
| Ben | HALLORAN | Fortuna Dusseldorf | GERMANY |
– |
| Chris | HERD | Aston Villa FC | ENGLAND |
– |
| James | HOLLAND | FK Austria Vienna | AUSTRIA |
12 (0) |
| Mile | JEDINAK | Crystal Palace FC | ENGLAND |
42 (3) |
| Brad | JONES | Liverpool FC | ENGLAND |
3 (0) |
| Mitchell | LANGERAK | B.V. Borussia 09 Dortmund | GERMANY |
2 (0) |
| Matthew | LECKIE | FSV Frankfurt 1899 | GERMANY |
5 (1) |
| Massimo | LUONGO | Swindon Town FC | ENGLAND |
– |
| Ryan | MCGOWAN | Shandong Luneng Taishan FC | CHINA PR |
8 (0) |
| Mathew | McKAY | Brisbane Roar FC | AUSTRALIA |
45 (1) |
| Mark | MILLIGAN | Melbourne Victory FC | AUSTRALIA |
26 (2) |
| Tommy | OAR | FC Utrecht | NETHERLANDS |
12 (1) |
| Tommy | ROGIC | Melbourne Victory FC | AUSTRALIA |
8 (0) |
| Matt | RYAN | Club Brugge KV | BELGIUM |
4 (0) |
| Adam | SAROTA | FC Utrecht | NETHERLANDS |
3 (0) |
| Matthew | SPIRANOVIC | Western Sydney Wanderers FC | AUSTRALIA |
16 (0) |
| Dario | VIDOSIC | FC Sion | SWITZERLAND |
19 (1) |
| Luke | WILKSHIRE | FK Dinamo Moscow | RUSSIA |
79 (8) |
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