Socceroos 'gutted' as two stars depart camp with injuries
OAKLAND: The Socceroos will be down two players from their 26-man squad after Jacob Italiano and Mat Leckie succumbed to injuries.
Leckie left the field with a hamstring injury in the second half of Australia’s second match loss against the USA and didn’t feature in the recent match against Paraguay.
Jacob Italiano suffered an adductor injury. Getty
Italiano was ruled out of the Paraguay fixture with an adductor issue.
Speaking on Saturday morning (AEST) from Socceroos camp, Patrick Beach said “it’s not great to see”.
“Especially with the squad so tight and close together, we’ve been together for at least six weeks now and formed a really strong bond as a team and as a family,” he said.
“It’s not great to see two squad members have to go home for reasons they can’t control but we wish them all the best and hopefully see them back on the field soon.”
Italiano will return to Austria, where he plays club football, for rehabilitation while Leckie heads back to Australia.
Leckie only played a small role in Melbourne City’s A-League season after a hip injury ruled him out for an extended period.
He returned during the finals and played 120 minutes in an elimination match City lost to Auckland FC.
From there an unlikely rise to Socceroos selection was completed when he was selected for his fourth World Cup.
However, it hasn’t panned out how he’d wish.
Aziz Behich, Leckie’s Melbourne City and Socceroos teammate, said he was “gutted” after the winger’s previous injury troubles.
“I saw firsthand this year what he had to do to get back on the pitch at Melbourne City, and then what he did at Sarasota, he played 120 minutes in that Auckland game and then as soon as we finished he went straight to Sarasota to prove himself to the boss and the coaching staff,” he said.
“He left no stone unturned, it’s a credit to him ... we’re all gutted for him, but it’s all part of football. He wished us all well and said he’d be following. He’s a legendary guy.”
After securing a spot in the round of 32, the Socceroos now have a long lay-off with seven days until their next match in Dallas.
Mathew Leckie walks off the pitch after injuring his hamstring against the US. AP
