The Australia coach, Ange Postecoglou, has named his 30-man preliminary squad for next month’s World Cup, opting to give Australia’s young players a chance to make an impression in Brazil.
Postecoglou had previously indicated he would prefer players who could play a part in the campaign for the next World Cup, and had already announced last week that former captain Lucas Neill would not travel to Brazil.
That philosophy was confirmed on Wednesday with younger players such as James Troisi, Adam Taggart, Josh Brillante and the uncapped Ben Halloran included in the squad. In total there are 10 players in the squad aged 22 or younger, and the average age of the squad is 25.5. In contrast, the Socceroos squad for the 2010 World Cup had an average age of 28.4.
"It's inexperienced but a great opportunity for some of these younger players," Postecoglou said at a press conference in Sydney. "We needed to change the direction of our national team ... we needed to regenerate. There is no doubt in my mind we need to make some meaningful change in the players we selected."
There is still room for experience though with Tim Cahill, who will play at his third World Cup next month, Mark Bresciano, Josh Kennedy and Crystal Palace’s Mile Jedinak also included. Jedinak, currently recovering from injury, is expected to captain the Socceroos in Brazil.
The A-League's role as a source for homegrown talent was also given a boost with 10 of the players in the squad coming from Australia's domestic competition.
Postecoglou’s main concern is in defence, with Trent Sainsbury – who was left out of the squad – and Curtis Good currently recovering from knee and hip injuries respectively. That has led to perhaps the most controversial selection in the Socceroos squad: Preston North End centre-back Bailey Wright. Bailey was one of six Preston players arrested and bailed over spot-fixing allegations earlier this year. He has denied any wrongdoing.
"[Wright is] only a young man beginning his career," said Postecoglou. "But he has had some really strong consistent form at Preston North End in a team that has done well and is on the verge of promotion to the Championship.
"Particularly playing in his position, we have had some injury clouds over a couple of our centre-backs, so he's one that played almost 50 games this year, is in good, solid form. It makes sense to bring him in and have a look at him in a national team environment."
Postecoglou will cut three players after the Socceroos friendly with South Africa on 26 May. The coach will then announce his final squad of 23 on 2 June.
The Socceroos face a huge struggle to qualify from their group. They face world and European champions Spain, 2010 finalists Holland and a talented Chile squad. On Tuesday, former Socceroos captain Paul Wade said Australia would be 'smashed' at next month's tournament.
Australia's preliminary 30-man World Cup squad
Goalkeepers Mathew Ryan (Club Bruges), Mitchell Langerak (Borussia Dortmund), Eugene Galekovic (Adelaide United), Mark Birighitti (Newcastle Jets)
Defenders - Curtis Good (Dundee United), Jason Davidson (Heracles Almelo), Matthew Spiranovic (Western Sydney Wanderers), Luke Wilkshire (Dynamo Moscow), Ivan Franjic (Brisbane Roar), Bailey Wright (Preston North End), Ryan McGowan (Shandong Luneng), Alex Wilkinson (Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors)
Midfielders Joshua Brillante (Newcastle Jets), Oliver Bozanic (Luzern), Mark Bresciano (Al Gharafa, Qatar), James Holland (Austria Vienna), Mile Jedinak (Crystal Palace), Mark Milligan (Melbourne Victory), Dario Vidosic (Sion), Adam Sarota (Utrecht), Matt McKay (Brisbane Roar), James Troisi (Atalanta), Massimo Luongo (Swindon)
Forwards Tim Cahill (New York Red Bulls), Josh Kennedy (Nagoya Grampus), Matthew Leckie (FSV Frankfurt 1899), Tommy Oar (Utrecht), Tomas Rogic (Celtic), Ben Halloran (Fortuna Duesseldorf), Adam Taggart (Newcastle Jets).
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