SYDNEY, May 30 (Reuters) - Former Australia captain Mark Viduka
has turned down the chance to join the Socceroos in their remaining
three World Cup qualifiers.
Australia coach Pim Verbeek told Viduka he could join the squad
if he was willing to make a full commitment to the side.
But the striker, out of contract after his English club
Newcastle United were relegated from the Premier League last week,
told Verbeek he had decided to skip the qualifiers while he
contemplated his future.
"He told me that after a difficult season he needed a break from
football to consider his future plans," Verbeek said in a statement
on Saturday.
"Mark is currently out of contract and, while he is deciding
what to do next, it would be difficult for him to fully concentrate
on these important matches for Australia."
Viduka captained Australia at the 2006 World Cup in Germany but
has not played for his country since the 2007 Asian Cup and missed
all the qualifiers so far for 2010.
Australia need one point from their three remaining matches to
qualify for the finals in South Africa.
They play Qatar away on June 6 before home games against Bahrain
on June 10 and Japan a week later.