Socceroos captain Lucas Neill has missed selection in coach Ange Postecoglou’s squad for next month’s World Cup in Brazil.

Postecoglou says he told Neill he will not be selected to play at a third World Cup, adding that the decision “weighs heavily” on him.

But he was not convinced the 36-year-old defender could cope with the rigours of football’s showpiece event.

Midfielder Mile Jedinak is favoured to be named captain, although Postecoglou says he is in no rush to appoint his World Cup skipper.

“He (Neill) was obviously very disappointed,” Postecoglou said.

“It was difficult. He has worked damn hard to try and get himself ready and available.

“He has shown an enormous determination to go to this World Cup.

“I just had to make a decision not so much about the recent history, but the last six months.

“In terms of form and fitness, there just wasn’t enough evidence there for me to say that he would be able to hold up in the World Cup.”

Neill, capped 96 times for the Socceroos, has led the team on 60 occasions, equal to the mark set by Peter Wilson.

Postecoglou will name his 30-man preliminary World Cup squad next week but took the decision to tell Neill his fate early out of respect.

“I’m not going to do that with everyone but he is a unique case,” said Postecoglou, adding that Neill intended to continue his career in Europe.

Neill struggled to find a club and enough match time since a stint in Japan ended last November.

He finally signed with English championship team Watford in February before a loan move to Doncaster Rovers.

“He was probably a little bit unlucky in a couple of the moves he made,” Postecoglou said.

“And certainly from my perspective, if post-Christmas, from January onwards, if he’d had four months of football under his belt, I guess a different decision would have been made.

“It’s not easy.

“He has shown outstanding determination and it’s a credit to him.

“You can see why he has played for his country as many times as he has and why he was a leader.

“He has certainly gone down fighting.”

Source: AAP