A return to the Socceroos becomes less likely with every passing squad announcement, but still coach Holger Osieck says there is hope for Harry Kewell.
Almost a year after quitting A-League side Melbourne Victory for family reasons, Kewell finally returned to competitive soccer with Qatar club Al-Gharafa in April.
The short stint, which is now over, wasn’t enough to sway Osieck.
“I had a chat with him and I told him why I didn’t select him and he accepted it. That’s a fact,” Osieck said of the former Liverpool star, who was absent from the 26-man squad named on Thursday for the Socceroos’ final three World Cup qualifiers.
“But the door is definitely not closed, that’s a fact as well.”
Kewell indicated to Fox Sports on Wednesday that he wasn’t entirely happy with the conversation.
“He told me that I was not going to be right for these World Cup games. But I am fit – 100 per cent fit – I’ve passed every fitness test and every medical. I have the records to show them, and I just played three games for Al-Gharafa,” the 34-year-old was quoted as saying.
Kewell suggested he was disappointed to be overlooked for Osieck’s recent training camp, which was made up of 11 A-League players and out-of-contract Socceroos captain Lucas Neill.
“He could have had a look at me first hand for two weeks,” Kewell said.
“If he did that then he could say, OK, Harry, you are not going to be right or, actually, you are going to be right and I have a job for you to do.
“I could still do a job for Australia. The only thing I am missing is some match fitness.”
Osieck was unwilling to respond to Kewell’s critique.
“It’s beyond my knowledge, I’m not aware of any comments that he said (publicly),” Osieck said.
“I can just refer to the talk I had to him. I made my position clear and he accepted it.”
ItsCalledFootball
Roar Guru
If he agreed to stay on at Victory or accepted an offer to play with the Wanderers, he would be match fit enough and one of the first players picked. His greed or bad advice from agents is restricting his Socceroos career. Or maybe his family made the decision for him.
my left foot
Guest
He is cirtainly a great servant for the socceroos and a great talent, but anyone not match fit with no club needs to sort that out as first priority before being selected for the national team.
Jaiden Florimo
Roar Rookie
Harry HAsbeen is full of hot air. Hasnt done a thng in football for at least 5 years, more likely 7.
Fred
Roar Rookie
if the door is not closed lets push extra hard to slam it shut and double bolt it all this speculation aobut blokes as old as me are a distraction from the main game rebuilding the socceroos
Franko
Guest
Good to see that Harry has (finally?) some passion to play for the national team. Hopefully he can swallow some pride, take a financial hit and make a run because even if he is just sharing the role with Oar, it makes our left side very dangerous. Good luck Harry.