Postecoglou resolute on regeneration

Coach Ange Postecoglou knows his final cuts have hurt, but says the casualties are needed on his bold road to regenerating the Socceroos.

Postecoglou’s axing of four players including veteran defender Luke Wilkshire copped criticism from the likes of ex-stalwart Mark Schwarzer.

Goalkeeper Mark Birighitti, striker Josh Kennedy and midfielder Tom Rogic were also overlooked for the final 23-man squad for the World Cup in Brazil – the latter two because of injury.

Wilkshire’s omission surprised Schwarzer, who says Postecoglou will face judgment on the decision.

“I personally wouldn’t have left him out,” Schwarzer told reporters in Sydney on Wednesday.

“When you look at it from afar, and knowing what the squad is like and knowing what it’s like to play a World Cup and how difficult it can be, I am surprised that he’s opted to go with so little experience.

“But obviously he has got his own reasons for doing so. He has got ideas of how he wants to play and what type of players he wants to use.

“Eventually he’ll be judged on those decisions and the performance of the team.”

Celtic midfielder Rogic, who failed to shake a lingering groin injury, described his axing as one of the toughest days of his life.

“I have missed out on a childhood dream, something I have worked so hard for,” Rogic posted on social networking website Instagram.

“My body hasn’t allowed me to take the opportunity I had been given.

“After giving my all, trying to play through the pain, it all became too much.”

Wilkshire’s international career appears over after 80 caps.

“Was he unlucky? Yes, but so were others. Someone has to miss out,” Postecoglou told reporters in Vitoria, Brazil.

Kennedy’s chances of a third World Cup were cruelled by a back injury which prevented him playing in Australia’s practice match against a second-division Brazilian side on Monday.

Rogic played in that game but lasted only a half before giving in to his groin ailment.

“I wanted to give Tommy every chance,” Postecoglou said.

“Yesterday’s match was a bit of a test to see if we could build him up and I think he knew in the first minute that it just wasn’t right.

“Josh was a question of timing.

“It could have been one week or two. With too much uncertainty, we had to make a decision.”

Birighitti missed inclusion with Postecoglou favouring goalkeepers Mat Ryan, Mitch Langerak and Eugene Galekovic.

With an average age of 25.7, the Socceroos squad is among the five youngest at the 32-team tournament. And other than Algeria, it’s the least experienced with an average of 17 caps per player.

“I made decisions early on in terms of the experience question and part of that was regenerating the squad,” Postecoglou said.

“We’ve started on that course and we won’t change.

“The price you pay is experience, but this experience will be invaluable for some of the younger guys.”

Postecoglou admitted gambling on veteran Mark Bresciano, whose back injury has restricted him to light duties since arriving in Brazil.

With Rogic gone, Postecoglou was counting on Bresciano to provide creative flare and be “the point of difference”.

“Will he play 90 minutes in all three games? Unlikely,” Postecoglou said.

“But if he’s ready for the second game or even the third, it’s a handy asset to have. It’s a punt worth taking.”