Not even Captain Socceroo Lucas Neill could convince starlet Brent McGrath to commit to Australia’s looming Under 20s World Cup campaign, it emerged today.
FFA technical director Han Berger revealed the Danish-based striker was endangering his international future by rejecting his nation’s call to arms for the tournament, which starts at the end of the month.
After unveiling Australia’s 21-man squad, Berger revealed the Brondy sharpshooter and Hadjuk Spilt midfielder Steve Lustica opted out of the championship to chase club honours.
Both were considered certainties for Jan Versleijen’s squad.
McGrath rejected warnings from Socceroos powerbrokers Berger, coach Holger Osieck and Neill that pulling out of the under-age competition would harm his chances of pulling on the green and gold in the future.
The 19-year-old made his full Socceroos debut against Germany in March.
“They both let us know that they prefer to do the pre-season with the clubs instead of playing for the Young Socceroos in the U20 World Cup,” Berger said.
“With Brent McGrath, I tried to convince him and Socceroos coach Holger Osieck tried.
“Finally I asked Lucas Neill to contact Brent to make him aware of the fact that we think it’s not really a good position for him to take.
“At the end of the day he decided to stick with his position and it is like it is.”
Sixteen of the squad were part of the team that finished second at last year’s Asian Under 19 Championships, while Tommy Oar, Kofi Danning, Ben Kantarovski, Rhyan Grant and Sam Gallagher played for the Young Socceroos at the 2009 Under 20 World Cup.
The team will play friendlies against South Korea (July 20) and England (July 22) in Denver before heading to their Colombian base of Manizales.
Australia have been drawn in Group C alongside Ecuador (31 July), Costa Rica (3 August) and Spain (6 August).
Qantas Young Socceroos Squad for FIFA U-20 World Cup Colombia 2011
Matthew ACTON (gk) (Brisbane Roar), Mustafa AMINI (Central Coast Mariners), Terry ANTONIS (Sydney FC), Jake BARKER-DAISH (Gold Coast United), Mark BIRIGHITTI (gk) (Adelaide United), Kerem BULUT (Mlada Boleslav), Kofi DANNING (Brisbane Roar), Matthew FLETCHER (Uncontracted), Petar FRANJIC (Melbourne Victory), Sam GALLAGHER (Central Coast Mariners), Rhyan GRANT (Sydney FC), Brendan HAMILL (Melbourne Heart), Bernie IBINI-ISEI (Central Coast Mariners), Ben KANTAROVSKI (Newcastle Jets), Mathew LECKIE (Borussia Monchengladbach), Dylan McGOWAN (Gold Coast United), Tommy OAR (FC Utrecht), Dimitrios PETRATOS (Sydney FC), Trent SAINSBURY (Central Coast Mariners), Lawrence THOMAS (gk) (uncontracted), Marc WARREN (Sheffield United).
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