Verbeek blamed injury for ruining Williams's World Cup 2010 dream. The Dutch coach said 21-year-old Williams would have been a certain member of his squad had it not been for a pelvic injury, which plagued him for much of the season.
Nathan Hines adds weight to Lions pack for South African challengeManchester City striker Craig Bellamy in Wales World Cup qualifying squad despite injuryWilliams continued to play through the pain barrier for Middlesbrough, receiving injections to keep going, Verbeek said. "He trained without confidence, he could never train fully, he's not free to play and his recovery is not quick enough to make it," he said.
"I'm disappointed he will not be in the final 23."
There was more positive news for the Australia coach on squad announcement deadline day as he watched his side triumph over Denmark in a pre-tournament friendly. Joshua Kennedy's 72nd minute goal enough to seal a 1-0 victory.
Australia Squad:
Goalkeepers: Mark Schwarzer (Fulham/ENG), Adam Federici (Reading/ENG), Brad Jones (Middlesbrough/ENG)
Defenders: Scott Chipperfield (FC Basel/SUI), David Carney (FC Twente/NED), Lucas Neill (Galatasaray/TUR,captain), Michael Beauchamp (Al-Jazira/UAE), Craig Moore (no contract), Mark Milligan (JEF United/JPN), Luke Wilkshire (Dinamo Moscow/RUS)
Midfielders: Mark Bresciano (Palermo/ITA), Tim Cahill (Everton/ENG), Jason Culina (Gold Coast Utd/AUS), Brett Emerton (Blackburn Rovers/ENG), Richard Garcia (Hull City/ENG), Vince Grella (Blackburn Rovers/ENG), Brett Holman (AZ Alkmaar/NED), Mile Jedinak (Antalyaspor Kulubu/TUR), Carl Valeri (US Sassuolo Calcio/ITA), Dario Vidosic (FC Nurnberg/GER)
Strikers: Joshua Kennedy (Nagoya Grampus/JPN), Harry Kewell (Galatasaray/TUR), Nikita Rukavytsya (FC Twente/NED)
Source: Telegraph
Source: Telegraph