To see Pim make his announcement...

 

Jacob Burns, Mile Sterjovski and Chris Coyne all returned from Europe to play in the A-League last season.

Desperate to play in South Africa, Burns and Sterjovski spent the past month in England training with Premier League clubs Fulham and Blackburn while Coyne secured a loan deal in the Chinese Super League.

For Burns and Sterjoski, at least, it just wasn't enough.

"For them they did everything possible, the problem is always they don't play any games," said the national coach at today's announcement of the provisional 31-man Socceroo squad for South Africa.

"I got good reports about Mile Sterjovski and Jake Burns ... and those players spent a lot of money time and energy to be part of the selection.

"But the rest of the selection I chose were all playing. So it's a pity for them, on the other hand, that's the risk they took but it's not only those players."

Simon Colosimo could also be considered unlucky after moving overseas in a desperate attempt to help his chances of selection. Verbeek said he saw Colosimo personally during his stint in Holland.

As for Jason Culina, his status as a starting XI Socceroo weren't harmed by a training stint at PSV.

In the end, for the Glory trio, it wasn't enough.

"I also had to disappoint players who were playing like Chris Coyne in China, who  went there to be part of the selection," added Verbeek. "But also in his position, everyone's ready and everyone's fit.

"It's a difficult decision."

To see Pim make his announcement...