MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) - Australia captain Lucas Neill has been overlooked for a friendly next week against Ecuador as coach Ange Postecoglou looks to audition new faces ahead of the World Cup.
Neill and fellow veteran Mark Bresciano were left out of the Australia squad for the March 5 friendly in London, with New York Red Bulls midfielder Tim Cahill expected to assume the captaincy.
Among the inclusions in the 23-man squad were Curtis Good of Dundee United, Aston Villa’s Chris Herd, Massimo Luongo of Swindon Town and Ben Halloran of Fortuna Dusseldorf.
“Selection in the final squad for the World Cup is still very much an open door,” Postecoglou said. “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,” he added.
Neill agreed to a short-term deal Tuesday with England Championship club Watford to gain playing time ahead of the naming of a preliminary World Cup squad in May.
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Squad:
Oliver Bozanic, Tim Cahill, Jason Davidson, Ivan Franjic, Curtis Good, Ben Halloran, Chris Herd, James Holland, Mile Jedinak, Brad Jones, Mitchell Langerak, Matthew Leckie, Massimo Luongo, Ryan McGowan, Matthew McKay, Mark Milligan, Tommy Oar, Tommy Rogic, Matt Ryan, Adam Sarota, Matthew Spiranovic, Dario Vidosic, Luke Wilkshire.
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