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.