Hudson focuses on World Cup
All Whites coach Anthony Hudson reaffirmed yesterday just how serious he is about qualifying for next year’s World Cup.
Just a day before departing for the other side of the world, Hudson named a 23-man squad for three matches leading into next month’s Confederations Cup in Russia.
Central Coast Mariners defender Storm Roux and Phoenix winger Kosta Barbarouses both earned re-calls, with Melbourne Victory attacker Jai Ingham and young midfielder Moses Dyer dropping out.
While both were part of the most recent squad for World Cup qualifying ties against Fiji in March, the inclusion of Auckland City midfielder Clayton Lewis and Brisbane Roar defender Dane Ingham also caught the eye. Both were expected to feature when the Confederations Cup group is named on June 8, but not be involved for matches against Northern Ireland (Belfast, June 2) and Irish club side Cabinteely FC (Dublin, June 7).
The pair, and Dyer, are part of the national under-20 team poised to qualify for the knockout stages of the World Cup in South Korea.
Asked how under-20 coach Darren Bazeley felt about the situation, Hudson made it clear he would be leaving no stone unturned in the All Whites’ bid to qualify for the 2018 World Cup.
‘‘This is quite normal in international football ... with all national teams, the senior team takes priority,’’ the Englishman said.
‘‘If [Northern Ireland] was a friendly game in a friendly window it’d be different but with the magnitude of this tournament, the first game against Russia and what it does for our preparation is really important.’’
The full squad meets in Belfast tomorrow night and under-20 captain Lewis and the younger Ingham would be at training the following day. That meant they would miss the age-group outfit’s final group game against France on Sunday and any potential knockout matches.
While he understood it would disappointing for the pair to leave their under-20 team-mates midtournament, Hudson felt they would also be excited about the opportunities in Russia, which includes the possibility of 17-yearold right back Ingham facing Real Madrid superstar Cristiano Ronaldo in the final group game against Portugal.