Hibs pair miss out on Lionel Messi showdown as Australia pull Copa America participation

Hibernian stars Martin Boyle and Jackson Irvine are set to overlook out on matching up towards the likes of Lionel Messi after Australia pulled out of this yr’s Copa America.

Soccer Australia has formally pulled the Socceroos out of the summer season’s event over a fixture pile up attributable to a cluttered World Cup 2022 qualifying marketing campaign as a result of coronavirus pandemic.

The Aussies, certainly one of two invited sides within the event alongside Qatar, had been as a consequence of face hosts Argentina together with Bolivia, Chile, Paraguay and Uruguay final summer season however the competitors was placed on maintain.

It’s now scheduled to go forward this summer season, however won’t function both of the perimeters from the Asian Soccer Confederation (AFC) after the governing physique rescheduled beforehand postponed qualifiers for the World Cup on the identical time.

Flying Hibs winger Boyle, who has 4 caps for the facet after qualifying by his Sydney-born dad, has been in purple sizzling kind for the lads in inexperienced and white with 5 objectives in his final 4 Premiership outings firing the Hibees right into a commanding place within the chase for Europe.

Irvine has additionally impressed after arriving on a short-term deal till the top of the marketing campaign in January, regardless of spending ten months on the sidelines following his departure from Hull Metropolis final yr.

Each are in competition to start out when Jack Ross’ facet host Motherwell at Easter Highway this weekend.

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Australia head coach Graham Arnold mentioned: “The Socceroos’ gamers and employees had been vastly trying ahead to the distinctive alternative of enjoying within the Copa America and it’s unlucky that, as a result of Covid-19 pandemic, we will likely be unable to attend in 2021.

“On behalf of the group I thank Conmebol for the invitation, which might have introduced our group with a implausible alternative to check itself towards among the world’s greatest.”

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