Socceroos coach Ange Postecoglou has revealed his provisional 30-man squad for the upcoming World Cup finals in Brazil, with defender Bailey Wright and midfielder Josh Brillante among the shock inclusions.
Postecoglou has lived up to his promise of giving the younger generation of Socceroos a chance in the squad, naming the likes of Ben Halloran, Oliver Bozanic, Adam Taggart and Massimo Luongo alongside Wright and Brillante for his initial World Cup squad.
Less surprising selections include potential captain Mile Jedinak, World Cup veteran Tim Cahill and flying winger Tommy Oar, as well as qualifying hero Josh Kennedy.
Postecoglou emphasised a changing of the guard in Australian football as he looks ahead to not only this World Cup, but next year's Asian Cup in Australia as well.
"I think from the moment I took over, we have been pretty consistent in saying that we needed to change the direction of our national team and this wasn't going to be an adjustment." Postecoglou said at the squad announcement event in Sydney.
"It was a meaningful change and we needed to regenerate the team
"At the same time, understand this is a World Cup.
"If people had the form and the fitness, regardless of experience or age, they would be in the squad."
Postecoglou's teams are renowned for their attacking flair, and he said his Socceroos team has an obligation to continue this trend.
"I want fans to be excited to watch this team, it's our responsibility to excite them," he said.
"Hopefully (the players) have a similar fire in the belly to myself."
The 30-man squad will convene for a week-long training camp in Gosford on Thursday, before Postecoglou trims it down to a final 23-man squad on June 2.
Australia's farewell game before the tournament is against South Africa in Sydney on May 26, before the first World Cup fixture against Chile in Cuiaba on June 13.
Australia's 30-man World Cup squad Goalkeepers:* Mark Birighitti (Newcastle Jets), Eugene Galekovic (Adelaide United), Mitch Langerak (Borussia Dortmund), Mat Ryan (Club Brugge)Defenders:* Josh Brillante (Newcastle Jets), Jason Davison (Heracles Almelo), Ivan Franjic (Brisbane Roar), Curtis Good (Dundee United), Ryan McGowan (Shandong), Matthew Spiranovic (Western Sydney Wanderers), Alex Wilkinson (Jeonbuk), Luke Wilkshire (Dynamo Moscow), Bailey Wright (Preston North End)
Midfielders:* Oliver Bozanic (Luzern), Mark Bresciano (Al Gharafa), Ben Halloran (Fortuna Dusseldorf), James Holland (Austria Vienna), Mile Jedinak (Crystal Palace), Massimo Luongo (Swindon Town), Matt McKay (Brisbane Roar), Mark Milligan (Melbourne Victory), Tommy Oar (Utrecht) , Tom Rogic (Melbourne Victory), Adam Sarota (Utrecht), Dario Vidosic (FC Sion)
Forwards:* Tim Cahill (New York Red Bulls), Josh Kennedy (Nagoya Grampus), Mathew Leckie (FSV Frankfurt), Adam Taggart (Newcastle Jets), James Troisi (Melbourne Victory)
_Want to learn more about the Socceroos squad for Brazil? Check out profiles on all 30 players._*Injury problems addressed
Serious injuries to Robbie Kruse and Rhys Williams - two players that would have been automatic selections - has caused Postecoglou to rethink key areas of the squad.
In Kruse's right midfield position, he has trialled the likes of Mathew Leckie and Dario Vidosic in this position, while the introduction of an in-form ben Halloran presents another alternative.
Williams' absence from the centre of defence has created an opportunity for someone like Curtis Good, Bailey Wright or Matthew Spiranovic, as the Socceroos prepare to field perhaps the most inexperienced centre-half pairing at the tournament.
Despite these crucial absentees, and a number of other injury concerns, Postecoglou believes he has assembled as squad capable of matching it with three of the world's best teams.
"We got a couple of big blows with Robbie Kruse and Rhys Williams, we knew they were going to miss the squad," he said.
"Trent Sainsbury couldn't get up, he would have been in the frame. Curtis Good comes into it under an injury cloud.
"We have challenges there but overall I am really happy with the balance of the squad."
A groin strain is keeping Mile Jedinak out of this week's training camp, but Postecoglou is certain the crucial midfielder will be fit for Brazil.
"Jedinak had a set-back in the game, but it's no more than a couple of weeks," he said.
"We were going to give him time off anyway."
http://au.news.yahoo.com/a/-/latest/23500336/socceroos-world-cup-squad-revealed-by-ange-postecoglou-ahead-of-adventure-in-brazil/
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