To see Kevin Rudd meet the Socceroos...
 

With the World Cup looming, it appears only misfortune will spoil his dream of making the final squad for Australia. But in pursuing that dream, he has had to forego another.

Valeri's Serie B club Sassuolo is in a battle for promotion to the Italian top flight, but having made a major impression since joining the club in January, the 25-year-old has had to leave that behind.

The club v country battle is waged in big clubs across Europe all the time, but small clubs like Sassuolo have little hope of preventing their players from pursuing a spot at the world's biggest tournament.

"It was tough for my club, but at the end of the day it's a fantastic club and they were really happy for me. They were really supportive. Obviously they asked permission for me to stay for the games, but it was light-hearted and in the end they gave me a big hug and wished me all the best," Valeri said.

"It is a bit upsetting that I can't be there for the team at a crucial point in the season, because promotion is a big thing for me and for every player and for the club. It means a lot of money, it means massive things for the city but I'm here to play in a World Cup which sin every players' dream."

Valeri owes his likely spot in Pim Verbeek's final 23 to the faith shown in him by Stefano Pioli, who previously coached the Australian at Grosseto. Things had turned sour for Valeri at his former club and he desperately needed game time if he was to be any hope of figuring in South Africa.

"The first six months of the season at Grosseto were disappointing. I ended up for contract reasons, being unable to play for three months. They left me off the team sheet. That was upsetting for me as I'd been there five years and had helped them get promotion into Serie B in the first place," he said.

"I did everything I needed to go and luckily I found Sassuolo and an old coach and he took me in with open arms and the boys are fantastic there."

He knew there was a strong likelihood that he would be required by his country at the pointy end of the season and left Pioli in no doubt on where his priorities lay.

"I moved to the club in January, I explained to them that I've got this thing that I may get called up to the Socceroos squad. They understood and said if that happens we are happy for you," he said.

"When the time came they weren't that enthusiastic, but most of those people at the club are players and their dream is to go to the World Cup, it's every player's dream. They said if you've got the chance, go, if things don't work out, come back and play the playoffs."

To see Kevin Rudd meet the Socceroos...