Squad to unite Australia named by Hiddink
The squad that will unite Australia and represent the country at the 2006 FIFA World Cup in Germany was revealed today, with two Hyundai A-League players amongst the 23 names.
The squad that will unite Australia and represent the country at the 2006 FIFA World Cup in Germany was revealed today, with two Hyundai A-League players amongst the 23 names.
FFA CEO Mr John O'Neill and Assistant Coach Graham Arnold unveiled the squad at the Qantas Jet Base in Sydney in front of a Boeing 767 aircraft which has the Socceroos logo painted on the side.
Hyundai A-League players Mark Milligan and Michael Beauchamp (pictured right) were on hand with the rest of the squad either on their way back Europe or still there after completing their club commitments.
National Coach Guus Hiddink, who is in Europe, pre-recorded some comments on the squad which were shown to the audience.
"We had to think - Graham Arnold, Johan Neeskens and me - about two or three positions who were open still until the last date."
"In the end we managed to bring in some young players as well for the number 20-23 positions."
Apart from Milligan there was one other uncapped player included with German-based Josh Kennedy earning his first call-up to the Socceroos squad.
Hiddink conceded that Australia does "have a tough group" but were hoping to cause some surprises.
"Everyone thinks we have an unknown Japan but Japan have played in the last few World Cups and they have experience with European-based players so they are a tough team to beat," said Hiddink.
"Brazil, everyone knows that will be a special game. The Croatian game has a history of itself because of a lot of connections between Australian-Croatians or the other way around so that will be a very hectic clash at the end."
"Happy to be there but I know that the team is not settling down and just participating. This team is so eager to get a surprise to get into the second round."
The team captain for the World Cup will be named in Melbourne once Hiddink has told the players first.
"I have something in mind (the captain) and I will release it when I am with the players. I think that is fair to talk first with the players to say what I am thinking and what has been decided" added Hiddink.
Socceroos SQUAD FOR THE 2006 FIFA WORLD CUP
John Aloisi, Michael Beauchamp, Marco Bresciano, Tim Cahill, Scott Chipperfield, Ante Covic, Jason Culina, Brett Emerton, Vince Grella, Zeljko Kalac, Josh Kennedy, Harry Kewell, Stan Lazaridis, Mark Milligan, Craig Moore, Lucas Neill, Tony Popovic, Mark Schwarzer, Josip Skoko, Mile Sterjovski, Archie Thompson, Mark Viduka, Luke Wilkshire