The Socceroos have been dealt a significant blow with attacking midfielder Riley McGree ruled out of the World Cup with injury.
ESPN reported that the 27-year-old’s chances of playing in a second straight World Cup were ended after he left the pitch with what appeared to be a hamstring injury in Middlesborough’s playoff final loss to Hull at Wembley Stadium on the weekend.
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It was a sliding doors moment for McGree as his Middlesborough only played in that game because Southampton were expelled from the playoff final over the spying saga.
The South Australian came off the pitch in the 76th minute of that match and watched from the sidelines as his dream of promotion to the Premier League ended in heartbreaking fashion with Hull’s Oli McBurnie scoring a 95th minute winner.
In the space of roughly 48 hours, McGree’s Premier League and World Cup hopes came to an end.
The brutal blow will force Socceroos boss Tony Popovic into a rethink with McGree an almost certain starter for Australia’s World Cup opener against Turkey in Vancouver on June 13.
In Qatar four years ago, McGree started in all four games and assisted Mathew Leckie’s goal against Denmark that put the Socceroos through the Round of 16 for just the second time.
McGree was instrumental in Australia reaching this year’s World Cup too by setting up Aziz Behich’s goal to defeat Japan and effectively secure qualification last June.
He has also been in impressive form at club level, scoring a goal in the playoff semi-final for Middlesborough, while finding the back of the net on five other occasions and providing three assists across the Championship season.
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McGree is not the only Australian to have their World Cup hopes cruelled by injury.
Hayden Matthews and Nick D’Agostino have already departed the Socceroos’ camp in Florida, which is taking place right now, while Patrick Yazbek sustained a quad injury playing for American club Nashville earlier this month.
Popovic will name Australia’s final 26-player squad on June 1, immediately following a friendly against tournament co-hosts Mexico in Los Angeles on May 30.