24.09.2013 06:14 h

Football: Schwarzer out of squad to play France, Canada

Allein unter Tigern
Allein unter Tigern

Veteran goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer was Tuesday left out of the 24-man provisional Australian squad to play friendlies in France and Canada next month to make room for new players.

Coach Holger Osieck defended his decision, saying he was "opening doors to talent" that caught his attention in a bid to test upcoming players at international level.

The squad includes newcomer Jackson Irvine, 20, while Oliver Bozanic, son of former Socceroo Vic Bozanic, received his second call-up after debuting in August 2009.

Mathew Leckie and Nikita Rukavytsya, who both play for FSV Frankfurt, also return to the squad, along with defenders David Carney and Jason Davidson and forward Dario Vidosic.

Striker Tim Cahill and defender Luke Wilkshire are both included after recovering from injury, but fellow veteran Schwarzer, 40, has been omitted with Mitchell Langerak and Mat Ryan included as goalkeepers.

"I know what he (Schwarzer) can do and his status in the team, he is our number one goalkeeper," the coach told a press conference.

"(But) if I keep playing him, what about the others?

"In particular Mitchell Langerak, he deserves a minimum of one game at least, because he was a very good servant to our team."

Schwarzer is on a one-year contract with English Premier League giants Chelsea which runs until the 2014 World Cup in Brazil, where the veteran keeper will hope to add to his more than 100 caps after Australia qualified for the tournament in June.

Osieck said he had spoken to Schwarzer, who he said was going to play in a League Cup game against Swindon in coming days.

"Hopefully he's going to be a regular (starter) again ... you never know, injuries can happen," he said.

Australia play France at the Parc de Princes in Paris on October 11 and Canada at Craven Cottage in London on October 15.

Australia - Oliver Bozanic (Luzern/SUI), Mark Bresciano (Al Gharafa/QAT), Tim Cahill (New York Red Bulls/USA), David Carney (New York Red Bulls/USA), Jason Davidson (Heracles Almelo/NED), James Holland (Austria Wien/AUT), Brett Holman (Al Nasr Sports Club/UAE), Jackson Irvine (Kilmarnock/SCO), Mile Jedinak (Crystal Palace/ENG), Josh Kennedy (Nagoya Grampus/JPN), Robbie Kruse (Bayer Leverkusen/GER), Mitchell Langerak (BV Borussia Dortmund 09/GER), Matthew Leckie (Frankfurt 1899/GER), Matthew McKay (Brisbane Roar/AUS), Mark Milligan (Melbourne Victory/AUS), Lucas Neill (Omiya Ardija/JPN), Tommy Oar (Utrecht/NED), Sasa Ognenovski (Umm Salal/QAT), Tommy Rogic (Celtic/SCO), Nikita Rukavytsya (Frankfurt 1899/GER), Mat Ryan (Club Brugge/BEL), Dario Vidosic (FC Sion/SUI), Luke Wilkshire (Dinamo Moscow/RUS), Rhys Williams (Middlesbrough/ENG)