The 33-year-old’s World Cup dreams have been crushed for a second time.

Socceroos veteran Martin Boyle has released a short statement after his World Cup dreams were crushed for a second time in heartbreaking fashion.

The 33-year-old attacker, fellow forward Brandon Borrello, defender Kye Rowles and goalkeeper Joe Gauci were the four players cut from the squad, announced on Monday AEST.

For Boyle, it’s the second time he will miss out on the World Cup after he picked in the squad for the 2022 edition in Qatar, only to be ruled out due to a knee injury on the eve of the tournament.

This time, the Scottish-born forward missed out, likely as a consequence of Cristian Volpato’s late defection from Italy and ultimate selection in the 26-man squad.

Socceroos coach Tony Popovic wouldn’t go into detail of how Boyle took the news, but the much-loved player posted a short statement on social media.

“Left it all out there. Heart & soul,” he wrote on Instagram, along with a heart emoji.

Martin Boyle posted on social media after missing out on the World Cup squad. Martin Boyle posted on social media after missing out on the World Cup squad. Credit: Instagram

He also jokingly teased he will set his sights on the next World Cup in 2030 when he will be 37.

“Here’s to 2030,” he added with an old man emoji.

Boyle played a key role in helping the Socceroos qualify for this year’s World Cup, setting up the winning goal in a 2-1 triumph over Saudi Arabia that clinched Australia’s spot.

“Look, I’m not going to go into how he took the news. That’s a private conversation that we had,” Popovic said.

“But look, he knows he’s played an important role in getting here.”

Popovic pointed to Lucas Herrington, Awer Mabil, Tete Yengi and Volpato entering the selection fray late as proof the door was always open for new players — though that could be at the expense of stalwarts.

“So that’s four players that had nothing to do with our campaign are now going to the World Cup,” he said.

“So I’ve always kept the door open for everyone, and when you do that, it can cost someone that’s been through the journey a spot at the World Cup, and unfortunately for Martin, he was one of those players.”

Popovic said sitting down with the omitted players, as he had done with others earlier in training camp, had proved a difficult process.

“Those discussions are never easy, and there’s no perfect way to give someone that type of news,” Popovic said.

“Once they hear the news, how much they hear after that, I’m not sure really, in terms of whatever I say after that can be a blur to most of them.

“But they hear the news they don’t want to hear, and that’s the news that I have to give them.

“(They are) wonderful young men, professionals, have played a part in our journey in helping us qualify for the World Cup

“So it’s tough for them, and they need to process that.”

Socceroos’ World Cup squad

Patrick Beach (GK)*, Aziz Behich, Jordan Bos*, Cameron Burgess*, Alessandro Circati*, Milos Degenek, Cameron Devlin, Jason Geria*, Lucas Herrington*, Ajdin Hrustic, Nestory Irankunda*, Jackson Irvine, Jacob Italiano*, Paul Izzo (GK)*, Mathew Leckie, Awer Mabil, Connor Metcalfe*, Paul Okon-Engstler*, Aiden O’Neill*, Mat Ryan (GK), Harry Souttar, Mohamed Toure*, Kai Trewin*, Nishan Velupillay*, Cristian Volpato*, Tete Yengi*

* First World Cup selection

— with AAP

SOURCE: https://7news.com.au/sport/soccer/much-loved-socceroo-martin-boyle-releases-short-statement-after-world-cup-heartbreak-c-22366496