SYDNEY (AP) - FC Utrecht midfielder Adam Sarota, Dundee defender Curtis Good and Australia-based Josh Brillante were cut from Australia’s World Cup squad Tuesday on the eve of its departure for Brazil.
Coach Ange Postecoglou pared his preliminary squad from 30 to 27 after Monday’s 1-1 draw with South Africa.
Good had expected to be cut after missing Australia’s last home warmup match with a hip injury. Postecoglou said Sarota and Newcastle Jets midfielder Brillante could potentially be part of the Australia team in future.
Ivan Franjic, who injured his knee in a collision in Monday’s match, survived the cut. A further four players will be omitted when the final, 23-man Australia squad is confirmed on June 2.
“Adam, Josh and Curtis will bounce back but it is up to the remaining 27 players to realize how quickly the opportunity they now have in front of them can evaporate,” Postecoglou said. “We now leave for Brazil … and I’m looking forward to seeing the same levels of enthusiasm and buy-in to the hard work we have in front of us to ensure we continue to improve and embrace the football I want us to play.”
Tim Cahill, Mark Bresciano, Mark Milligan, Josh Kennedy and Luke Wilkshire are still in line to make the Socceroos squad for a third World Cup.
Australia will play a friendly against Croatia on June 7 before its first Cup match against Chile on June 13. The Australians also face defending champion Spain and 2010 runnerup Netherlands in Group B.
Squad:
Goalkeepers: Mark Birighitti, (Newcastle Jets), Eugene Galekovic (Adelaide United), Mitchell Langerak (Borussia Dortmund), Mat Ryan (Club Brugge).
Defenders: Jason Davidson (SC Heracles Almelo), Ivan Franjic (Brisbane Roar), Ryan McGowan (Shandong Luneng), Matthew Spiranovic, (Western Sydney Wanderers), Alex Wilkinson (Jeonbuk Hyundai), Luke Wilkshire (Dynamo Moscow), Bailey Wright (Preston North End)
Midfielders: Oliver Bozanic (FC Luzern), Mark Bresciano (Al Gharafa), James Holland (Austria Wien), Mile Jedinak (Crystal Palace, captain), Massimo Luongo (Swindon Town), Matthew McKay (Brisbane Roar), Mark Milligan (Melbourne Victory), Tommy Oar (FC Utrecht), Tommy Rogic (Melbourne Victory), James Troisi (Melbourne Victory), Dario Vidosic (FC Sion).
Forwards: Tim Cahill (New York Red Bulls), Ben Halloran (Fortuna Duesseldorf), Josh Kennedy (Nagoya Grampus), Matthew Leckie (FSV Frankfurt), Adam Taggart (Newcastle Jets)
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