He outlined the squad with at least two players for each position. He said the side has options and balance in the selections but added there are no guarantees for players playing in certain positions.

Verbeek added that today's lunchtime meeting was one of his toughest as the news of three of his players would not be going to South Africa was made to the squad.

This is part of what Verbeek said...

The Socceroos left behind...

Jade North, in his position, there is enough competition. Too much competition for him. Same for Nicky Carle. In his position I have enough players who can do a job over there. And last but not least is Scotty McDonald. He's also not with us.

And I have to say that I have a lot of respect the way those three players handled the message towards me - which is not so important as I'm not so important but towards their colleague players. I was really impressed with their professional attitude they showed after the message came and towards the players at lunchtime.

Big compliments to those three when you hear one day before the left is leaving that you are not in the biggest tournament in the world and that's what you were fighting for for years and years. But that's the way it is.

Scotty McDonald

Scotty is as we all know and you know my story with Scotty. He's a typical two-striker player and that's where he feels happy also. The English way he played at Celtic and at Middlesbrough - but we don't play with two strikers, we play with one striker up top with typical wingers.

We know what he can [do] but also what he can't. He's not a player for a position in top all by himself. I have better players in that position. But you try and give him the chance and he's done everything working harder than ever. I've never seen him fitter than now so I can't say anything about that.

He can't blame himself - he can blame me.

So Scotty doesn't fit in this system. He knows it, he tried everything. I had a discussion with him this morning. Not even a discussion, it was a nice and friendly talk - a difficult talk from my side and that's the same with the other three.

 The young guns: Oar and Holland

I spoke with FFA to give some younger players the possibility to get the World Cup experience. Those two players are Tommy Oar and James Holland. They are part of the group. I have to make a final selection on the first of June.

This means that till the first of June, everything can happen. But they know the chance to be in the final 23 is not that big. That will only happen if one or two players are getting injured. And then still they don't get the confirmation already that they will be one of those players.

The next three weeks

We are going to work very hard to be ready to take the first points against Germany. But we don't take any risks with any player.