More seriously though, Milligan (playing regularly for good J2 club) was picked ahead of Bosnar (same position, playing regularly for good J1 club). He an entire division better so to speak - and thats without Beauchamp. If he was on the list he'd be my vote for most unlucky.

Although paradoxically it would have been really surprising if he was picked.

Lack of game time sidelines the World Cup dream of Geelong soccer star Matthew Spiranovic

Jason Shields

May 12th, 2010

SOCCEROOS coach Pim Verbeek admitted a lack of game time over the past year had counted against Geelong's Matthew Spiranovic, who was left out of Australia's preliminary World Cup squad yesterday.

Verbeek, who recently flew to Japan to watch the 21-year-old defender in a J-League Cup game, gave Spiranovic a courtesy phone call late last week to explain the reasons behind his omission.
Did Pim Verbeek make the right decision to leave Spiranovic out of his squad? Have your say on the feedback form below

Verbeek yesterday named a 31-man squad which will be trimmed back to a final 23 following the Socceroos friendly against New Zealand at the MCG on May 24.

"Pim gave him a call and obviously he thought that Matthew didn't have enough game time, so he has gone with the older guys," Matthew's father Michael Spiranovic said yesterday.

"It obviously would have been great to go to a World Cup and go along for the ride, but realistically he was probably a bit underdone to play at that level.

"I think what destroyed him was the ankle injury that put him out for 11 months. You are behind the eight ball at that age. If you are 27 or 28 and you are a proven player, coming back from injury it is OK. But people forget that he is only 21 still."

Spiranovic has had limited game time with J-League club Urawa Reds since transferring from Bundesliga club FC Nuremberg.

But Michael Spiranovic expected more opportunities to arrive in the coming weeks with the Reds involved in a number of Cup games.

"The positive thing for Matthew is that he is fit and strong and is able to focus and apply himself at club level now," he said.

"Pim has a lot of time for him and, whatever disappointment he had, he would be over it by now."

Verbeek also admitted that he was spoilt for choice for central defenders.

"There are quite some central defenders and that was the most difficult (area) to be honest," Verbeek said.

Other players who had been considered chances to make the squad but missed were Mile Sterjovski, Chris Coyne, Jacob Burns, Joel Griffiths and Dean Heffernan.

http://www.geelongadvertiser.com.au/article/2010/05/12/172421_geelong_sports.html

Lengthy list of disappointed players

* Grantley Bernard
* From: Herald Sun
* May 12, 2010

PIM Verbeek said yesterday only season-ending knee injuries had kept Melbourne Victory pair Archie Thompson and Matthew Kemp out of World Cup squad calculations.

The form the pair had shown and the feedback Verbeek had received had him thinking about picking Thompson and Kemp for the preliminary squad, but the national coach stopped short of saying the striker and defender would have been there.

"That's always difficult to say," Verbeek said. "(Victory coach) Ernie Merrick always told me he had never seen Archie more motivated than this season. That says enough. Players like that are a little unpredictable and open up games, so there is always a chance for those players to be part of it.

"Matthew Kemp ... I was impressed when he was with us in Kuwait and during the whole season.

"He can play right back and left back and not many players can.

"It's terrible for them (to miss because of injury).

"It's not to make them feel worse, but I say it out of respect for those players because they are good."

Also overlooked because of injuries were defenders Shane Stefanutto (knee) and Patrick Kisnorbo (achilles).

And room could not be found for others, including defenders Chris Coyne, Simon Colosimo and Matthew Spiranovic and goalkeepers Ante Covic and Michael Petkovic.

"With the central defenders, I had nine for five positions, so that means I have to disappoint four," Verbeek said. "But you're not going to disappoint players because they're not good enough. You're going to disappoint players because you have to make decision."

The decision not to pick striker Mile Sterjovski, the only available member of the 2006 World Cup squad overlooked, was enough for the Perth Glory veteran to announce his international retirement.

"I think I've had a good 10 years with the Socceroos and I'm really proud of my achievements," the 30-year-old said.

Glory captain Jacob Burns, 32, also missed out.

se who has made 11 appearances for Australia, now seems set to never play at a World Cup having missed out on the 2006 and 2010 squads.

"I would've loved to (have) gone to South Africa but unfortunately it wasn't to be," the 32-year-old Burns said.

http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/lengthy-list-of-disappointed-players/story-e6frf9if-1225865284820

Easily Colosimo. He was the defender of the year in the A-league, played in the last socceroos match and did very well. Currently training with Ajax or something like that. I really thought he deserved to go ahead of the likes of Beauchamp. Colosimo honestly had a spectacular season marshaling the best defense in the A-league and winning everything. Can't believe you don't even have him listed Joff.

when was the last time beauchamp was picked in a roos squad anyway? mind you, when was the last time colosimo was picked?

when was the last time beauchamp was picked in a roos squad anyway? mind you, when was the last time colosimo was picked?

Easily Colosimo. He was the defender of the year in the A-league, played in the last socceroos match and did very well. Currently training with Ajax or something like that. I really thought he deserved to go ahead of the likes of Beauchamp. Colosimo honestly had a spectacular season marshaling the best defense in the A-league and winning everything. Can't believe you don't even have him listed Joff.

Also this ain't Sydney FC prejudice, he has left now and I'm not happy about that or him atm. But I didn't realise he was such a good player until last year. Pim has missed a beat here by not picking him. /rant

Easily Colosimo. He was the defender of the year in the A-league, played in the last socceroos match and did very well. Currently training with Ajax or something like that. I really thought he deserved to go ahead of the likes of Beauchamp. Colosimo honestly had a spectacular season marshaling the best defense in the A-league and winning everything. Can't believe you don't even have him listed Joff.

Also this ain't Sydney FC prejudice, he has left now and I'm not happy about that or him atm. But I didn't realise he was such a good player until last year. Pim has missed a beat here by not picking him. /rant