Ageing playmaker Mark Bresciano has been summoned into the Socceroos squad in the clearest signal yet he wants to extend his career into next year’s Asian Cup.
The 34-year-old will replace injured Sydney FC midfielder Terry Antonis in Australia’s squad for next month’s friendlies against Belgium and Saudi Arabia.
Antonis strained a hamstring in an A-League pre-season match against Newcastle on Wednesday night.
Socceroos coach Ange Postecoglou wanted to use the looming internationals as opportunities for younger players to press their claims for Australia’s next tournament – the Asian Cup on home soil next January.
But Antonis’ injury prompted Postecoglou to again turn to evergreen Bresciano, who has so far remained non-committal about playing the Asian Cup.
“It is a shame for Terry because we were looking forward to getting him into the Socceroos camp and giving him an opportunity,” Postecoglou said in a statement on Friday.
“Mark Bresciano will come into the squad, which certainly adds quality and experience for what will be two tough matches.”
Bresciano, a veteran of 77 internationals, will be Australia’s most-capped player in the 20-man squad for friendlies against world No.5 Belgium in Liege on September 4 and Saudi Arabia in London four days later.
Fellow 34-year-old Tim Cahill (71 caps) is also in the squad – one of only four players with more than 30 internationals, along with Bresciano, Carl Valeri (50 caps) and captain Mile Jedinak (47 caps).
Bresciano battled back and hip injuries in the World Cup in June – his third consecutive appearance at editions of soccer’s showpiece event.
But Bresciano still produced classy cameos which convinced Postecoglou the creative midfielder would be a welcome weapon in the Socceroos’ Asian Cup campaign.
“If he makes himself available and his form is good, then he is definitely one that we’ll select,” Postecoglou said a day after the end of Australia’s World Cup in Brazil.
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