A-League whizz-kid Garang Kuol and his Central Coast teammate Jason Cummings are in Australia’s 26-man squad for the World Cup.
But Kuol’s fellow 18-year-old, the Sydney-born and Italy-based Cristian Volpato, has rejected Australia’s overtures to be part of the Socceroos’ cup campaign in Qatar.
Coach Graham Arnold has overlooked Tom Rogic, who withdrew from the Socceroos’ last phase of cup qualifying for personal reasons and has had limited recent game-time.
And goalkeeper Mitch Langerak was also not selected despite his sustained excellence in Japan.
Arnold picked Andrew Redmayne and Danny Vukovic as back-ups for first-choice custodian and captain Mat Ryan.
Ryan and Mathew Leckie will compete at their third World Cup after being included in Australia’s squad announced on Tuesday.
The selections of the English Premier League-bound Kuol, who has yet to start a game at senior level, and fellow Mariners attacker Cummings squeezed out Japan-based striker Adam Taggart from the squad.
A-League marksman Jamie Maclaren and Japan-based frontman Mitchell Duke made the cut.
Arnold also named pivotal players Ajdin Hrustic (ankle) and winger Martin Boyle (knee) despite both carrying injuries.
And towering centre-back Harry Souttar was included despite only returning to action in recent weeks after having knee reconstruction surgery last November.
Souttar’s fellow central defender Kye Rowles has also been named despite after only making a comeback from a foot injury last weekend.
Adelaide United captain Craig Goodwin is among seven players in the squad from the A-League Men’s competition, joining Leckie, Maclaren, Kuol, Cummings, Vukovic and Redmayne.
“It has been a unique and difficult qualification campaign and we now arrive in Qatar with an exciting squad which will do everything to make Australia proud on the world stage,” Arnold said.
“We have worked hard to give younger players an opportunity over the campaign, to expose them to international football, to test them against the best.
“And I’m thrilled with the development and maturity of this group who now get a chance on the biggest stage possible.”
Australia’s squad begin assembling in Qatar on Saturday with the full squad to train together in Doha for the first time on Monday.
The Socceroos’ cup campaign starts against reigning champions France on November 23 (AEST) with games against Tunisia on November 26 (AEST) and Denmark on December 1 (AEST).
Australia’s Qatar World Cup squad:
Mat Ryan (capt), Nathaniel Atkinson, Keanu Baccus, Aziz Behich, Martin Boyle, Jason Cummings, Milos Degenek, Thomas Deng, Cameron Devlin, Mitchell Duke, Craig Goodwin, Ajdin Hrustic, Jackson Irvine, Fran Karacic, Joel King, Garang Kuol, Mathew Leckie, Awer Mabil, Jamie Maclaren, Riley McGree, Aaron Mooy, Andrew Redmayne, Kye Rowles, Harry Souttar, Danny Vukovic, Bailey Wright.
