Kewell missing as Socceroos name Slovenia squad

Australia have gone for a mix of experience and youth for their first international since the reign of Pim Verbeek ended after the World Cup, but there is no Harry Kewell in the squad.

The Socceroos, who bowed out in South Africa in the group stage, face Slovenia in Ljubljana on August 11 in a friendly and will be under the guidance of acting coach Han Berger.

Berger, Australia’s national technical director, on Tuesday named international veterans Tim Cahill, Lucas Neill and Mark Schwarzer in his 20-man squad containing only overseas-based players.

The injury-prone Kewell declared himself unavailable and Mark Bresciano is also not in the squad, which includes 13 members of Verbeek’s World Cup combination.

Berger said he was keeping his options open for his final team.

“We first want to see the players in the camp, Monday and Tuesday, see how they are, and I want to discuss that with Aurelio Vidmar because we are doing this match together,” he said.

Berger coached more than 600 matches in the Dutch league and will have new national assistant coach Vidmar providing support.

“We see the friendly against Slovenia as a part of the next phase of the Socceroos campaign, which is aimed at developing the squad for the 2014 FIFA World Cup and also the Asian Cup.”

Australian squad: Nathan Burns, Tim Cahill, David Carney, Bruce Djite, Adam Federici, Richard Garcia, James Holland, Brett Holman, Mile Jedinak, Shane Lowry, Mark Milligan, Jon McKain, Lucas Neill, Jade North, Thomas Oar, Nikita Rukavytsya, Mark Schwarzer, Carl Valeri, Dario Vidosic, Luke Wilkshire.