Australia's World Cup ambitions have taken another blow with the news that Vince Grella has been sidelined.
Midfielder to miss Ghana tie
Australia's World Cup ambitions have taken another blow with the news that Vince Grella has been sidelined.
The defensive midfielder has damaged his knee and will be forced to sit out Saturday's encounter with Ghana as a result.
That contest is critical to the Socceroos, with three points imperative if they are to prolong their South African adventure.
A 4-0 drubbing at the hands of Germany in their opening encounter has left them with a mountain to climb if they are to reach the knockout stages.
With that in mind, they will have been desperate to have their most experienced stars available to them.
Ineligible
Unfortunately, Grella, who has 49 caps to his name, will be ineligible when they next take to the field.
He lasted only 45 minutes of the forgettable encounter with the Germans and has been struggling ever since.
The Blackburn Rovers midfielder has not yet been ruled out of a final Group D encounter with Serbia on 23rd June, but faces a battle to regain full fitness by then.
Carl Valeri is expected to take his place in midfield against Ghana.
