Teen gun survives Roos cull

DANIEL Arzani will become the youngest Australian to travel to a World Cup after Socceroos boss Bert van Marwijk included the teenager in his final squad for Russia.

The Dutch coach unveiled his final 23-man squad yesterday, cutting James Troisi, Josh Brillante, Nikita Rukavytsya and Fran Karacic loose from his training group.

The decision locks in Tim Cahill for a fourth World Cup, where he will attempt to become just the fourth man to score at four tournaments.

Mark Milligan also makes his fourth travelling party, while skipper Mile Jedinak will saddle up for his third.

But it’s the inclusion of 19year-old Arzani that’s the most dramatic decision, sending the Melbourne City winger to the world’s biggest sporting event less than five months after his first A-League start.

He could yet be the youngest player in Russia, with only Sebastian Szymanski of Poland younger.

There’s also a place for Jamie Maclaren. The ex-Brisbane striker was contentiously dropped from the 32-man squad last month, only to be brought into camp due to fears over Tomi Juric’s knee injury.

After assessment of the pair in the Turkey training camp and the 4-0 defeat of Czech Republic in Austria on Friday, van Marwijk has kept them both. That decision has squeezed out Troisi, one of seven players in camp to have been to a World Cup, and Rukavytsya.

“Every step of the selection process has been difficult because the players have all given everything to make the final selection,” van Marwijk said.

Brillante and Karacic have lost out for a right-back berth after Josh Risdon’s star performance at the NV Arena on Friday. In Milos Degenek, van Marwijk believes he has enough depth in the Socceroos’ problem position, casting the Sydney FC midfielder aside. The axed players were informed of the cruellest cut yesterday and left Turkey last night.