Winger Boyle ruled out of World Cup

Martin Boyle has been ruled out of the Socceroos campaign for the Qatar World Cup.

Socceroos coach Graham Arnold confirmed the news that Boyle has not recovered from a knee injury sustained on October 28.

“That is probably the hardest thing, the devastating thing, he has been so important ... and has probably been one of our best players right through the whole campaign,” Arnold said.

“But at the end of the day, we can’t do anything about it now.

“It’s devastating news for Martin. But at the end of the day we pretty much knew it was going to be touch and go when we selected him, that is why we brought Tilio over as a standby. But Martin is in great spirits.

“He is going to stay on here and be part of it still and be brings such energy to the camp and to the players."

Boyle has been replaced in the 26 player squad by Marco Tilio.

Arnold said that it was important now Tilio and the rest of the squad that they focus on performance.

“He has integrated really well,” Arnold said of Tilio.

“We were probably, to be honest, 80-20 that Boyle would have been out. “But we had to give him every last minute and every last chance to try and get fit especially because of the sacrifice and everything that he has done through the whole campaign."

Australia take on France in their World Cup opener at 3am WST Wednesday morning.

IMAGE: FILE