Ange: I erred leaving Brillante out of WC

​Socceroo coach Ange Postecoglou has admitted it could’ve been a mistake leaving Josh Brillante out of his World Cup squad, saying the decision to cut him was the toughest he had to make.

Brillante has been named in a 20-man Socceroo squad for upcoming friendlies with Belgium then Saudi Arabia in Europe next month.

His selection comes on the back of missing the final cut for the World Cup in Brazil after being initially named in a 30-man squad by Postecoglou.

But the impressive Queenslander didn’t let that disappointment affect him with an extraordinary start to his Serie A career at Fiorentina.

After signing with the Italians from Hyundai A-League club Newcastle Jet shortly after the World Cup, the versatile 21-year-old defender-midfielder has become a regular in La Viola’s side during pre-season.

Brillante has already got on the score-sheet in a friendly in South America and earned the plaudits from his new coach Vincenzo Montella.

And Postecoglou, like many, has been hugely impressed by the Bundaberg-born former Young Socceroo.

“Josh was extremely unlucky to miss the World Cup squad,” admitted Postecoglou in an exclusive interview with FFA TV.

“That was probably the toughest decision I had to make. Probably in retrospect I might have even erred in not taking him.”

See the full interview with Ange Postecoglou here

Postecoglou added he wanted to expose some new players to international football while resting some other players who remain in his calculations when picking his squad.

It’s hoped; said Postecoglou that by November when the Socceroos play their last pre Asian Cup matches the Socceroo squad’s base would’ve been broadened.

And many would expect Brillante to be part of that squad in Australia next January when the best of Asia hit Australian shores.

“It’s great. He’s hit the ground running [at Fiorentina] at a big club in a tier-one competition in Serie A,” added Postecoglou.

“And again one of the lessons coming out of the World Cup was we wanted more of our players playing at the highest level.

“And he’s made a breakthrough which is fantastic. And we’ll certainly move that along by giving him some international exposure… delighted for him but importantly it’s great for us.”

The 20-man Socceroos squad is:

NAME

CLUB, COUNTRY

A-International Caps (goals)

Terry ANTONIS

Sydney FC, AUSTRALIA

3 (0)

Joshua BRILLANTE

ACF Fiorentina, ITALY

1 (0)

Tim CAHILL

New York Red Bulls, USA

71 (34)

Jason DAVIDSON

West Bromwich Albion F.C., ENGLAND

10 (0)

Ben HALLORAN

Fortuna Dusseldorf, GERMANY

5 (0)

Chris HERD

Aston Villa FC, ENGLAND

-

Mile JEDINAK

Crystal Palace FC, ENGLAND

47 (5)

Tomi JURIC

Western Sydney Wanderers FC, AUSTRALIA

3 (1)

Robbie KRUSE

TSV Bayer 04 Leverkusen, GERMANY

29 (3)

Mitchell LANGERAK (gk)

B.V. Borussia 09 Dortmund, GERMANY

3 (0)

Matthew LECKIE

FC Ingolstadt 04, GERMANY

11 (1)

Massimo LUONGO

Swindon Town FC, ENGLAND

1 (0)

Mark MILLIGAN

Melbourne Victory FC, AUSTRALIA

30 (2)

Tommy OAR

FC Utrecht, NETHERLANDS

18 (1)

Mat RYAN (gk)

Club Brugge KV, BELGIUM

10 (0)

Trent SAINSBURY

P.E.C. Zwolle, NETHERLANDS

-

Brad SMITH

Swindon Town FC, ENGLAND

-

Carl VALERI

Melbourne Victory FC, AUSTRALIA

50 (1)

Alex WILKINSON

Jeonbuk Hyundai FC, KOREA REPUBLIC

6 (0)

Bailey WRIGHT

Preston North End FC, ENGLAND

-

 

Thu 4 Sep            Belgium v Australia - Stade Maurice Dufrasne, Leige  8.45pm (4.45am AEST)

Mon 8 Sep          Saudi Arabia v Australia - Craven Cottage, London 8.00pm (5am AEST)

Both matches will be broadcast LIVE and exclusive on FOX SPORTS.

Tickets to the Socceroos matches and other 2015 AFC Asian Cup games are on sale at www.afcasiancup.com/tickets.