Craig Goodwin says I do to the Socceroos, giving up best-man duties at his brother’s wedding to be part of the 2018 FIFA World Cup campaign

CRAIG Goodwin has said ‘I do’ to the Socceroos, giving up best-man duties at his brother’s wedding to be part of the the 2018 FIFA World Cup campaign

Brad Smith and Craig Goodwin at Socceroos training in Thailand. Picture: Jono Searle.

CRAIG Goodwin made a heartbreaking sacrifice to give up best-man duties at his brother’s wedding in a bid to make the cut for the Socceroos’ most important games of the 2018 FIFA World Cup campaign.

But that gamble thankfully paid off when Australia boss Ange Postecoglou on Wednesday named the 23-man squad to face Syria in two vitally important matches — away in Malaysia next week and in Sydney on October 10.

Goodwin played for Sparta Rotterdam in The Netherlands while his older brother Daniel Goodwin got married in Adelaide last weekend.

Goodwin’s father, Tony, revealed Craig, 25, was desperate to win back a Socceroos berth after not seeing any official national team action since Australia’s 3-4 loss to China at the East Asian Football Championship under ex coach Holger Osieck in 2013.

Although Goodwin played for six minutes off the bench for the Socceroos in a 2-1 loss to

Craig Goodwin back in Adelaide in May with dogs Hamish and Chorizo. Picture: Sarah Reed

England in a friendly in England last year, he hasn’t featured prominently under Postecoglou.

“Daniel was very understanding, Craig was going to be dual best man with Daniel’s good mate Adam,’’ Tony said.

“The wedding was planned and booked when Craig was still playing for Adelaide United last year based around his A-League commitments.

“He had no idea he was going to sign with Holland’s Sparta Rotterdam last year.”

Tony said son Craig made the decision not to come back to Australia to see Daniel marry Danielle Buttignol when Postecoglou named him in the Socceroos 30-man squad for the Syria clashes last week.

Being a best man would have meant that Craig would have missed two games with Sparta.

That could have jeopardised his spot in the 23, given Postecoglou has always said players that have good recent game time were the foundations for selection in the national team.

Goodwin’s father said he was still part of the big wedding day after Daniel and Danielle were married at St Laurence’s Catholic Church at North Adelaide before about 100 guests attended the reception at the Next Gen Memorial Drive.

“He didn’t entirely miss out, Craig was shown around the room on social media by his sister Melanie, that was something special,’’ Tony said.

Goodwin has had an outstanding season with Sparta.

He has featured in all six league matches, playing 462 minutes and scoring once and played 90 minutes in a cup game last week.

FINAL 23-MAN SQUAD FOR SYRIA WORLD CUP PLAYOFFS

GOALKEEPERS

Mat Ryan (Brighton, ENG), Mitch Langerak (Levante, SPA), Danny Vukovic (Genk, BEL)

DEFENDERS

Aziz Behich (Bursaspor, TUR), Milos Degenek (Yokohama F Marinos, JAP), Mathew Jurman (Suwon Bluewings, KOR), Josh Risdon (Western Sydney), Trent Sainsbury (Jiangsu Suning, CHI), Brad Smith (Bournemouth), Bailey Wright (Bristol, ENG)

MIDFIELDERS

Mark Milligan (Melbourne Victory), Aaron Mooy (Huddersfield, ENG), Massimo Luongo (QPR, ENG), Mustafa Amini (AGF, DEN), Craig Goodwin (Sparta Rotterdam, NET), Jackson Irvine (Hull City, ENG).

ATTACKERS

Tim Cahill (Melbourne City), Tomi Juric (Luzern, SWI), Nikita Rukavytsya (Maccabi Haifa, ISR), Robbie Kruse (Bochum, GER), Mathew Leckie (Hertha Berlin, GER), Tom Rogic (Celtic, SCO), James Troisi (Melbourne Victory).

OMMITTED FROM ORIGINAL 30-MAN SQUAD

Mark Birighitti (NAC Breda, NET), Alex Gersbach (Rosenborg, NOR), Ryan McGowan (Al-Sharjah, SAU), Mile Jedinak (Aston Villa, ENG), James Jeggo (Sturn Graz, AUT), Awer Mabil (Pacos de Ferreira, POR), Jamie Maclaren (Darmstadt, GER)

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Originally published as Craig Goodwin says I do to the Socceroos, giving up best-man duties at his brother’s wedding to be part of the 2018 FIFA World Cup campaign