"Gutted" Bristol City captain Bailey Wright opens up about "ruthless" World Cup axe The defender looked set to go to Russia with the Socceroos but missed out. Bristol City skipper Bailey Wright says the full impact of being dropped by Socceroos coach Bert van Marwijk a month before the World Cup in Russia is still sinking in. Wright, 25, has 23 caps for Australia and played a key role in their qualifying campaign, featuring in two World Cup qualifiers in 2016 and five in 2017. But to everyone's shock the Bristol City man missed out on the 26-man squad for Russia. Talking to FourFourTwo , an honest Wright said: "I'm gutted. "This is football I guess, it doesn't always plan out the way you think. It did come as a bit of a surprise, although this is the nature of the business we are in - it's ruthless, competitive and nothing is guaranteed. "I won't be the first person to miss out on a World Cup who felt personally that they deserved to be there, and I won't be the last. This is life. "There has been no contact from any coaching staff there. "It's still sort of sinking in with me, part of my goals over the past four years was to qualify for a World Cup and represent my country at a World Cup and be part of something special. "I can no longer do that now so it's time to reflect, have some time off and be ready to concentrate on myself and being ready for next season with Bristol City. "If I can do that then hopefully that will get me back involved with the national team and there is still a lot to look forward to beyond the World Cup." Post World Cup the next major competition for the Socceroos will be the 2019 Asian Cup. Robins head coach Lee Johnson revealed Wright requires an operation for an injury he has been carrying for several months. So a longer off season should actually benefit City long term. https://www.bristolpost.co.uk/sport...ws/gutted-bristol-city-captain-bailey-1614947
Sorry for Wright but it gives a chance to get his injury sorted out and that has got to be beneficial to Bristol City's needs, it also takes you back to that club v's country debate. Every cloud and all that.
Having watched Australia labour through extra qualifiers for the World Cup against realy pi$$ poor opposition, I have to say BW did not excel at any stage (although he wasn't alone in this), he often looked tired and unfit and very often caught going too far forward. A new manager for the Socceroos since qualifying and the injury probably tipped the scales against him. A bit harsh as the Championship is still light years above the Australian A league in the standard of football and technical ability.
Maybe he suffered from a combination of carrying a niggling injury and being played out of his preferred position for the majority of the season - I'm not familiar enough with Australia's other centre backs, but it does seem a bit distasteful that he was ever-present in the team that qualified but then got binned. Like you said Wiz, at least it means he can have his operation and get back to full-fitness before the new season. There may not be many people that'd have him ahead of Flint and Baker in their line-up, but a fully-fit and in-form Wright is a quality defender at this level and at 25 he still has time on his side. Who knows, this set back might pump him up to prove a point...
