Tue, 30 Nov, -0001
Cuiaba: Australia coach Ange Postecoglou has confirmed that Ivan Franjic will take no further part in the 2014 FIFA World Cup after the Brisbane Roar right back suffered a hamstring tear in the Socceroos' 3-1 defeat to Chile in Friday's Group B opener.
Franjic, who provided the assist for Tim Cahill's 35th minute goal, landed awkwardly after a challenge four minutes into the second half and was replaced by Ryan McGowan.
"Ivan's no good, he had a scan and has a fairly significant hamstring tear," Postecoglou confirmed on Saturday.
"That rules him out for the tournament, and that's a real disappointment."
China-based defender McGowan is the likely candidate to step in for Franjic (pictured) when Australia take on the Netherlands in Porto Alegre on Wednesday but Postecoglou said that he will assess his options ahead of the match against a red-hot Dutch side that hammered World Cup holders Spain 5-1 in their Group B curtain raiser.
"Ryan is a solution, there could be a couple of different things in the way we approach things," the coach said.
"Holland represents a different problem to Chile, so we'll have a look in the next couple of days."
Photo: AFP