KRUSE WILL RETURN

Australia's manager Ange Postecoglou has said that he is very much confident that Robbie Kruse will come back from his season-ending injury much stronger.

Kruse has been ruled out for the rest of the season due to a knee injury, which is also likely to keep him out of the World Cup 2014 as well. The Bayer Leverkusen player is one of the important members of the squad, but he recently injured his anterior cruciate ligament during training with his club.

Postecoglou said that it was a very sad news for everyone concerned with the Australian national team since it meant that one of their important players will not be able to take part at the World Cup. The manager confirmed that Kruse was part of his plans for the World Cup, which will be a great test for Australia considering their recent form. Postecoglou was brought into the national team for in order to help the country do well at the World Cup, but he already has a mountain to climb with the injury to a key player.

Australia also face the prospect of being eliminated in the group stages itself after being paired along with Spain, Netherlands, and Chile. All three teams come into the tournament with hopes of winning the title.

"I heard last night (Sunday) and my primary concern is for Robbie as a player because he's been denied the opportunity to represent his country at the highest level at the biggest sporting event in the world later this year. It is a tough break for Robbie, who was playing some great football and was certainly a massive part of our plans for the World Cup. It's fine to say he'll get another chance but you just never know and I feel for him as the 2014 World Cup was looming," said Postecoglou.