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) |
fadida
Guest
Pace up front will be key, so Oar rather than Bozanic, and hence Halloran
Squizz
Guest
Milligan is noted as a defender on the FFA site and Herd as a midfielder and Ange says he will play 4-3-3 variation so:- ------------------------Ryan------------------ Franjic-----Milligan----Spira----Davidson --------------Herd---------Jedi(C)--------- --------------------Rogic------------------ Leckie-----------Cahill---------Bozanic When Rogic tires move Bozanic to #10 and bring on Oar. This puts a bit of experience with Milligan in front of whichever young keeper Ange goes with.
Griffo
Roar Guru
The way Adelaide are developing at the moment, maybe a good place to go to to fine tune development.
bobbym
Guest
Juric needs to score a lot more goals early days yet- still inconsistent as is Troisi. Same with Ruka - he may be fast but is one footed. Da Silva is our best future players BUT needs to leave the cow paddock punchers called Perth Glory to really develop and improve his game. Time to build for the Asian Cup and Russia.
jamesb
Guest
It's not a bad experimental squad There's 7 players who are capable of playing DM. Jedinak, Holland, Milligan, Herd, Luongo, Sarota and Mckay. I do think one or two of them need to switch to CB. I've always said that Jedinak should be the one to make the switch. Not surprised that Mrcela and Wright weren't picked, but I am surprised that Good is selected. Bit of a crying shame that Williams, Kruse, Sainsbury and Bresciano are not involved due to injury or suspension. If those four players were around, it would have been a pretty fair squad.
Adam
Guest
It would be well beyond the teams wildest. Dreams to be able to dominate possession and press high in defence. It's the sensible decision for the squad
Ben of Phnom Penh
Roar Guru
Leckie's been banging them in for fun over in Frankfurt
Punter
Guest
He won't be taking Troisi, he is not selected, so won't rip the MV midfield completely.
Ben
Guest
I would have liked to see Lowry, troisi and wright on that list but otherwise no complaints -- Comment from The Roar's iPhone app.
James Anderson
Roar Guru
This squad easily allows for Ange's old system at MV ---------------------------Ryan Franjic/Herd----Spiranovic---McGowan---Davidosn --------------Milligan/Sarota---- Jedinak --------------Rogic--------Cahill Leckie---------------------------------Oar/Halloran Cahill plays as a central midielder for his club, and plays extremely well. Dropping him to a fake number 10 along with Rogic could be worth attemtping.
realfootball
Guest
Looking forward to the game. My punt is Cahill on the bench. He's not a striker, not a midfielder. In fact that only things I can be sure about with Cahill is firstly, he's wildly overrated, and secondly, he's 34. Cahill is best used as Hiddink used him -an impact player off the bench. Personally I would rather see him out of the squad. I don't see what he adds to anything in the modern game. Whenever he comes up against quality defenders he becomes invisible.
whiskeymac
Guest
Good selections, and as has been mooted by others (as well as big ange) there's room for others. And at last more than tokenism with respect to rejuvenation... Will be interesting to gauge reactions after the performance and result, whatever that maybe
Franko
Guest
-------Ryan Hird Spira Good Sarota ---Milligan Jedinak -------Rogic Leckie ------- Oar ------Cahill We have a major problem at CB, so need two shielding DMs, that can distribute to either Rogic or the two wingers, depending on how we are going, Sarota and Hird can provide a little overlap.
Los Oso
Guest
I'm hoping we line up as such: --------------------Ryan----------------------- Franjic------Good----Spiranovic----Davidson ----------------Luongo---Jedinak------------- ----Troisi------------Rogic-------------Oar---- ----------------------Cahill------------------------- Then, at HT, cap Herd (for Franjic) and cap Halloran (for Oar/Troisi) As an MV fan I kinda hope that Milliagan gets spared this trip. Our entire midfield being ripped out of the squad for prob two matches!! Thanks Angie :) Ange knows very well what he can do already I think, not required in London.
Franko
Guest
I rekon Ruka is about as fast as they come and he hasn't been selected, so we will wait and see.
fadida
Guest
you're right about speed Swampy
fadida
Guest
Agree, that's why Juric would fit the bill. He looks like our next number 9. Still, I don't suppose we'll get many chances at the WC!
fadida
Guest
agree
fadida
Guest
Because he's not playing now? He should be fit in another 3 weeks
Kyle Stewart
Roar Pro
Sainsbury won't be picked according to Ange