The Australian Institute of Sport’s (AIS) reputation for developing high-quality international footballers has been reinforced with Football Federation Australia’s announcement of the 31-man preliminary Australian squad for the 2010 FIFA World Cup, which starts in South Africa from 11 June to 11 July.

Among the strong contingent of AIS graduates in the Socceroos squad for the  World Cup are: Marco Bresciano, Brett Emerton, Adam Federici, Vincenzo Grella, James Holland, Joshua Kennedy, Mark Milligan, Craig Moore, Lucas Neill, Jade North, Nikita Rukavytsya, Carl Valeri, Dario Vidosic and Luke Wilkshire.

AIS Director Professor Peter Fricker congratulated the members of the preliminary Socceroos squad— along with coaching and sports science staff — in making the Australian team, in preparation for the one of the world’s biggest sporting events. 

‘We are delighted that almost 50 per cent of the Socceroos squad are former AIS scholarship holders,’ Professor Fricker said.

‘The AIS’s strong record of developing and preparing athletes for national and international competition reflects the quality of the program.

‘Since 2006/07 the Government through the Australian Sports Commission has invested more than $5.47 million in the AIS men’s and women’s football programs.’

The Australian Government is a strong supporter of football in Australia, from backing the 2018 and 2022 World Cup bids to encouraging kids to take up the game through a range of grassroots initiatives.

Many former AIS athletes have played key roles in helping the Socceroos qualify for this year’s FIFA World Cup, which takes place 11 June–11 July in nine cities around South Africa.

Australia will come up against Germany, Ghana and Serbia in Group D matches. The top two nations in overall points will then advance to the 16-nations knockout stage.

Australia’s most successful World Cup campaign has been the Germany 2006 FIFA World Cup, in which the Socceroos reached the semi-final but were narrowly defeated by Italy.

Australian Socceroos squad for South Africa 2010 FIFA World Cup

Michael Beauchamp, Marco Bresciano, Tim Cahill, Nick Carle, David Carney, Scott Chipperfield, Jason Culina, Brett Emerton, Adam Federici, Eugene Galekovic, Richard Garcia, Vincenzo Grella, James Holland, Brett Holman, Mile Jedinak, Brad Jones, Joshua Kennedy, Harry Kewell, Shane Lowry, Scott McDonald, Mark Milligan, Craig Moore, Lucas Neill, Jade North, Thomas Oar, Nikita Rukavytsya, Mark Schwarzer, Carl Valeri, Dario Vidosic, Luke Wilkshire, Rhys Williams.

The preliminary Socceroos squad will be trimmed to 23 players on 1 June.