SYDNEY (AP) — Injured Galatasaray forward Harry Kewell has been included in Australia's 23-man World Cup squad that contains 14 veterans from Germany 2006.
Everton midfielder Tim Cahill, Kewell's teammate Lucas Neill and Fulham goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer headline an experienced squad.
Football Federation Australia said coach Pim Verbeek submitted his final squad to FIFA ahead of Tuesday's deadline, but delayed announcing it publicly until after Wednesday's practice because he wanted to explain it to the players first.
The Australians beat Denmark 1-0 in a warmup match in Johannesburg on Tuesday.
Netherlands-based midfielders Tommy Oar and James Holland were cut from the group that traveled to South Africa last week, along with defenders Shane Lowry (Aston Villa) and Rhys Williams (Middlesbrough).
Australia will play another warmup against the United States this weekend before it opens its World Cup Group D campaign against Germany on June 13.
Kewell could come into calculations to play against the United States to test the fitness of his injured groin, but is likely to be kept on the sidelines until the Germany match.
___
Australia:
Goalkeepers: Adam Federici (Reading), Brad Jones (Middlesbrough), Mark Schwarzer (Fulham)
Defenders: Michael Beauchamp (Melbourne Heart), David Carney (Twente), Scott Chipperfield (Basel), Mark Milligan (JEF United), Craig Moore (no club), Lucas Neill (Galatasaray), Luke Wilkshire (Dynamo Moscow)
Midfielders: Mark Bresciano (Palermo), Tim Cahill (Everton), Jason Culina (Gold Coast), Brett Emerton (Blackburn), Richard Garcia (Hull), Vince Grella (Blackburn), Brett Holman (Alkmaar), Mile Jedinak (Antalyaspor), Carl Valeri (Sassuolo), Dario Vidosic (Nuremberg)
Forwards: Josh Kennedy (Nagoya Grampus), Harry Kewell (Galatasaray), Nikita Rukavytsya (Twente)
Receive your weekly recap of all the happenings around the world of sports.