Lucas Neill has reportedly been told he has not been selected in the Socceroos’ 30 man World Cup squad, bound for Brazil.
Neill, who has been playing for the relegated Doncaster Rovers, had been hoping to give his World Cup chances a boost after he was dropped from the squad that took on Ecuador in London, in March.
However, coach Ange Postecoglou has informed Neill, who has been capped 96 times, that he won’t be selected.
Postecoglou told Football Federation Australia: “There just wasn’t enough evidence there for me to say he’d be able to hold up in a World Cup.”
“In the end I just had to make a decision not so much about the recent history but the last six months in terms of form and fitness,” he said of Neill, who made his international debut as an 18-year-old.
“It was both a combination of the lack of regular football and the little niggles he got that made the decision for me.
Neill broke the Socceroo record when he pulled on the captain’s armband for the 61st time in his last international against Costa Rica.
“I had a conversation with Lucas regarding the World Cup squad and obviously before I announced the 30-man squad next week I thought it was important for me to speak to him directly,” said Postecoglou.
“I informed him that he hasn’t made the 30, from my perspective paying due respect to the fact that he’s been the captain for six years and the captain of the World Cup campaign so far.
“It was difficult, he’s worked damn hard to get himself ready and available; he’s shown an enormous determination to go to this World Cup.
“You can see why he’s played for his country as many times as he has and why he was a leader, he’s gone down fighting.”
Postecoglou indicated that his decision was purely based on the World Cup.
“My discussions with him were purely about the World Cup and he has every intention of continuing to play on and play next year, probably in Europe,” he said.
More to come.
Reginald Bomber
Roar Guru
I just grabbed a couple of Chinese packs and they threw in a large fried rice. :)
Reginald Bomber
Roar Guru
Our stocks of international grade players are at an all time low. Its entirely Verbeek and Osieck's fault. They did nothing to blood the good young players and absolutely nothing to develop the home grown players in the A-League. Wasn't that what they were hired for? Instead they played tired old ageing Socceroos to make their Qualification Bonus safe. Verbeek in particular, wouldn't even watch an A-League game and encouraged our youngsters to go and play reserve grade in the lower divisions of Euro leagues, before they had fully developed. It will take a decade to get things right after the damage they caused to the growth of Australia football.
Reginald Bomber
Roar Guru
Yes as an "Asian Cup ambassador" he doesn't actually play for the team, he just attends the cocktail parties and fund raising events and gets his photo taken with Lowy and Gallop. Del Piero is also an Asian Cup ambassador and no way he will play for the Socceroos either.
Reginald Bomber
Roar Guru
Yes, out of respect, a manager will talk to players individually before he announces the squad publicly, so they know beforehand and don't have to find it out in the papers. But he doesn't usually announce an individual player's omission at a press conference a week before he announces the full squad.
Reginald Bomber
Roar Guru
Yes, our stocks of international standard players are at a very low point in this transition phase, maybe their lowest point ever, without the likes of Harry, Dukes, Neill etc at their peak. The team of '74 would beat the current Socceroos with 9 men. I thank the FFA's lucky stars that we can qualify through Asia now, otherwise it might have been another 32 years before we made it back to a WC finals tournament. :) I heard Ange say that he wants players who will be around for the next WC in 2018 - does that mean he's not going to pick Tim Cahill? It does show he is a realist and gives us little chance of progressing in the Brazil tournament, so he's concentrating and building for the 2015 Asian Cup and Russia 2018.
Melange
Guest
stevo, my friend, you have heard but you did not listen. you are 33.3% right, I am funny. I echo what Ben echos.
Nachos supreme
Guest
I think given the the way the Dutch have chucked their toys out the pram when playing us the past few times, if we can be fitter and stay organised and they lose the plot we could nick 3 points.....should the stars align of course
Nachos supreme
Guest
Makes sense and you can't blame him for it,But I've often wondered what that environment could've done for his game.No disrespect for the history or standing in the game of West Ham, but you'd have to think that training with and being a part of that playing squad and working within that club framework they have at Barca could've taken him to another level I remember at one point Roma were looking to do a deal to pick up Harry and Viduka as package . It is a job and not everyone likes to work outside of their comfort zone I get that and have no problem with it,Although I'd have loved to see Dukes and Harry play Serie A in the 90's early 2000's what a league it was. anyway I digress , for me Lucas Neill should be remembered as a very talented player that led and played for his country with distinction and probably didn't play to his full potential in his club career.
CmonJets
Guest
Just grabbed 10 Newcastle packs. It'll be a great follow up to the Brazil trip.
Fussball ist unser leben
Roar Guru
@Nachos supreme From what I've read, the Barcelona offer was far less money than the West Ham offer. How many of us, when we look back at our careers would actively choose a lower paid employer? Remember, this is a job to these lads. It's not like it is for us as fans. Additionally, having worked in a foreign country myself, it's far less stressful going to work in a country where you are fluent in the local language. And, it's not just Lucas who chose big dollars over prestigious clubs. I've read Mark Viduka did the same. He was courted by Roma, Real Madrid and AC Milan, as well as Inter .. but chose Leeds & Middlesbrough because of the cash.
Nachos supreme
Guest
On the surface of it Not going to Barca is still something I'll never understand.i mean where would you rather live and play?Sunny East London with a middle of the road side or Barcelona ?
Brick Tamland of the pants party
Guest
To be fair I think he could have fought his guts out and still not played,unfortunatley was put in the nightmare situation where the Manager who brought him in was sacked before he even got to the club.Lambert went out and bought some midfielders and obviously told Holman he should move on and hey who can judge Lamberts eye for talent,Villa have only barely avoided relegation his whole tenure. His move to the Middle East was completely insane though,im sure many top clubs back in Holland would have snapped him up or maybe some mid table clubs in Germany.
Towser
Guest
Having watched all 3 Internationals Fuss live ,your equalising points were well and truly in play. Whilst both East Germany and Chile were quality,West Germany was top notch,just have a look at their team on the park that day against the Socceroos:- Sepp Maier, Berti Vogts, Georg Schwarzenbeck, Franz Beckenbauer, Paul Breitner, Uli Hoeness, Cullmann (Wimmer 67), Overath, Grabowski, Gerd Mueller, Jupp Heynckes (Hoelzenbein 46) . Whilst I dont remember all the names I do remember some. Franz Beckenbauer(One of the best footballers ever) Gerd Muller(one of the most prolific scorers ever) Sepp Maier,Bertie Vogts, Uli Hoeness and Overath all in a different class to any Socceroo. I would argue that the task for these part-time lads was more difficult than what the current lot face in their group.
fadida
Guest
nice summary Mid :)
fadida
Guest
Aloisi 179 game , 45 goals (La Liga). So not exactly scoring "every week", but I see your point.
fadida
Guest
agree with all of the above Fuss
fadida
Guest
No, I'll remember him as a brilliant player for the NT, always available, always proud to lead the team. I'll remember his contribution to that WC campaign, not one error. Aurelio Vidmar on the other hand, I'll never forgive him for his 10 missed chances at home v Iran :( (joking) (a bit) (maybe not) (Curse you Vidmar!)
Bondy
Guest
fadida
Guest
Agree Melange and Chris
fadida
Guest
It's not "brushed over". He had a superb World Cup which ended with a mistimed tackle. Will Liverpool disregard Steve Gerrard's entire career and remember him for THAT (hilarious) slip? In your opinion should we hang Neill, or just put him in the stocks?