Tim Cahill, Mark Bresicano and Mark Milligan become the first Australian footballers to represent the Socceroos at three World Cups after Head Coach Ange Postecoglou names his 23-man squad for Brazil 2014.
Mark Bresciano is amongst a trio of players making their third appearance at the World Cup finals. Getty Images.
The trio were announced amongst the squad today from the Socceroos pre-World Cup training base in Vitoria, Brazil, where the players have been undergoing a grueling preparation.
Having departed Australia for Brazil last week following a 1-1 draw with South Africa with a squad of 27 Postecoglou was forced to trim four players from the squad.
The four unlucky players to miss out on the final squad are Mark Birighitti, Josh Kennedy, Tom Rogic and Luke Wilkshire.
Following the announcement Postecoglou paid tribute to the efforts of Birighiti, Kennedy, Rogic and Wilkshire.
“Every step of the selection process has been difficult because the players have worked very hard since they came into camp but we have had to weigh up form, fitness and squad balance in coming up with the 23 players who will represent Australia at the 2014 World Cup,” Postecoglou said.
“We’ve selected a squad that can do Australia proud and they will walk out onto the pitch for the World Cup in the green and gold shirt and display the characteristics that define our country.
“Our stated aim is to make our country proud, show the world what Australians are made of and test ourselves against the very best football players in the world and this group of players is capable of doing that.”
The Socceroos will face Croatia in their final warm-up match on Friday, June 6, before they face Chile on June 13 in their opening game of the 2014 World Cup.
Socceroos 23-man World Cup Squad
Goalkeepers: Eugene Galekovic (Adelaide United), Mitch Langerak (Borussia Dortmund), Mat Ryan (Club Brugge)
Defenders: Jason Davidson (Heracles), Ivan Franjic (Brisbane Roar), Ryan McGowan (Shandong Luneng), Matthew Spiranovic (Western Sydney Wanderers), Alex Wilkinson (Jeonbuk Motors), Bailey Wright (Preston North End).
Midfielders: Oliver Bozanic (Luzern), Mark Bresciano (Al Gharafa), James Holland (Austria Vienna), Mile Jedinak (Crystal Palace), Massimo Luongo (Swindon Town), Matt McKay (Brisbane Roar), Mark Milligan (Melbourne Victory), Dario Vidosic (Sion)
Forwards: Tim Cahill (New York Red Bulls), Ben Halloran (Fortuna Dusseldorf), Mathew Leckie (FSV Frankfurt), Tommy Oar (Utrecht), Adam Taggart (Newcastle Jets), James Troisi (Atalanta).
