Australia

Australia coach Verbeek criticised Middlesbrough for Williams’ injury [Reuters]

Australia coach Pim Verbeek left Rhys Williams out of his 23-man squad for the World Cup after deciding the defender’s pelvic injury was too much of a risk.

Williams was missing along with James Holland, Tommy Oar and Shane Lowry when Verbeek revealed his final squad on Wednesday.

Eugene Galekovic, who had been training with the squad as a back-up goalkeeper, was also absent from the list.

The coach blamed English club Middlesbrough for the absence of Williams, saying the 20-year-old could have made it with different handling of his injury, but the player himself refused to join in with that criticism.

“Everyone enjoys playing football and obviously I did not want to miss a game,” he said.

Verbeek has taken just two strikers but Harry Kewell is expected to have an advanced role.

Goalkeepers:

Mark Schwarzer (Fulham), Adam Federici (Reading), Brad Jones (Middlesbrough).

Group D fixtures

Sunday June 13  Germany v Australia   Serbia v Ghana  Friday June 18  Germany v Serbia  Saturday June 19  Ghana v Australia  Wednesday June 23  Ghana v Germany   Australia v Serbia

Defenders:

Lucas Neill (Galatasaray), Craig Moore (unattached), Scott Chipperfield (Basel), David Carney (Twente Enschede), Luke Wilkshire (Dynamo Moscow), Mark Milligan (JEF United), Michael Beauchamp (Al-Jazira).

Midfielders:

Tim Cahill (Everton), Mark Bresciano (Palermo) Vince Grella (Blackburn Rovers), Brett Emerton (Blackburn Rovers), Jason Culina (Gold Coast), Harry Kewell (Galatasaray), Brett Holman (AZ Alkmaar), Carl Valeri (Sassuolo), Mile Jedinak (Antalyaspor), Richard Garcia (Hull City), Dario Vidosic (Nuremberg).

Forwards:

Josh Kennedy (Nagoya), Nikita Rukavytsya (Twente Enschede).