Farina announces 20-man squad

LG Socceroo Coach FRANK FARINA has named a 20-man squad to travel to Chile, for a Four-Nation Soccer Tournament involving hosts Chile, Slovakia and Bulgaria.

LG Socceroo Coach FRANK FARINA has named a 20-man squad to travel to Chile, for a Four-Nation Soccer Tournament involving hosts Chile, Slovakia and Bulgaria.

The 20-man squad is: Name - Position - Club SCHWARZER Mark - Goalkeeper - Middlesbrough (England) BOLTON Clint - Goalkeeper - Brisbane Strikers (Australia) FOXE Hayden - Defender - Hiroshima Sanfrecce (Japan) LAYBUTT Stephen - Defender - Parramatta Power (Australia) MURPHY Shaun - Defender - Sheffield United (England) POPOVIC Tony - Defender - Hiroshima Sanfrecce (Japan) VAN BLERK Jason - Defender - West Bromwich Albion (England) BINGLEY Matthew - Defender - Northern Spirit (Australia) OKON Paul - Def/Mid - Fiorentina (Italy) HORSLEY Matthew - Midfielder - Wollongong Wolves (Australia) TIATTO Danny - Midfielder - Manchester City (England) FOSTER Craig - Midfielder - Crystal Palace (England) CORICA Steve - Midfielder - Wolverhampton Wanderers (England) SKOKO Josip - Midfielder - Hajduk Split (Croatia) MALONEY Brad - Midfielder - Marconi Stallions (Australia) WEHRMAN Kasey - Midfielder - Perth Glory (Australia) CHIPPERFIELD Scott - Striker - Wollongong Wolves (Australia) AGOSTINO Paul - Striker - 1860 Munich (Germany) ZDRILIC David - Striker - SSV Ulm (Germany) CARDOZO Pablo - Striker - Sydney Olympic (Australia)

The Australian based players will depart Sydney February 6 2000, to meet up with the rest of the squad members in Chile, with the LG Socceroos first game against the host Nation on February 9.

Farina has been unable to include JOSIP SIMUNIC in the 20-man squad, with the defender sustaining another knock to the foot which has already seen him sidelined for much of the past two years, and is disappointed for both the squad, and the player.

“Josip was really looking forward to this camp, but unfortunately he-s had some more bad luck while in a training camp with his new Club, Hertha Berlin.” said Farina.

“He hasn-t played for quite a while and the last thing he wants to do is represent his country and not do well, which is fair enough.

“There will be plenty more opportunities for Josip, but the good thing is that he-s keen to play for Australia, and I-m sure it will be sooner rather than later.”

Meantime, a second LG Socceroo squad will be named within the next two weeks for the match up against Hungary on February 22.