Australia will enter the World Cup knockout rounds with just 24 players in the squad, after veteran Matthew Leckie and right-back Jacob Italiano departed the camp.
Leckie suffered a leg injury in the loss to the USA, while Italiano went down with a groin problem during training in the build-up to the draw with Paraguay.
Football Australia confirmed the pair had returned to their clubs’ countries to continue their rehabilitation.
Jacob Italiano has been among the first players on the team sheet for the Socceroos. (Peng Ziyang/Xinhua via Getty Images)
It’s particularly disappointing for Leckie, who only returned from injury at the end of the A-League season and was a surprise inclusion in the squad.
“I’m gutted for him,” said Aziz Behich, who plays his club soccer with Leckie at Melbourne City.
“I saw first-hand this year what he had to do to get back on that pitch for us at Melbourne City and then what he did in Sarasota (the Socceroos pre-tournament training camp).
“He left no stone unturned and it’s a credit to him, it’s not easy, not just physically but also mentally at his age.
“We’re all gutted for him because we want him to stick around because we know what he can give us as a team and even when he’s not playing.”
Options limited for Tony Popovic
The Socceroos can’t replace the pair in the squad, which leaves Tony Popovic shorthanded in the wide areas.
The departure of Italiano in particular will require some positional changes, which were evident in the draw with Paraguay.
Aziz Behich, pictured in action versus Paraguay, is a teammate of Matthew Leckie at Melbourne City. (Lyndsay Radnedge/ISI Photos/ISI Photos via Getty Images)
Regular left-back Jordy Bos switched to the right hand side, while Behich started on the left.
“(Italiano) worked hard to get himself in this position and I thought he did really well in the games that he played as well,” Behich said.
“For myself, obviously I came here to play. I put myself in this position as well, to be involved in my third World Cup.
“I’ve been biding my time. I’ve been working hard at training every day and just waiting for my opportunity.
“I think we’re in a good headspace. Obviously, two soldiers down, but we’ve got a lot of boys that can cover depth and position.”
Australia will remain in Oakland until July 1, before relocating to Dallas in preparation for the round-of-32 clash on July 3.
