Socceroos miss Viduka and Kewell

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SYDNEY, Australia -- Australia have named a near full-strength squad on Tuesday for next month's friendly with Paraguay and the Asian Cup qualifier against Bahrain.

Strikers Mark Viduka, Harry Kewell and Josh Kennedy are the only players who went to this year's World Cup in Germany who were omitted from coach Graham Arnold's 23-man squad.

Viduka's wife is pregnant, while Kewell and Kennedy are ruled out though injury for the October 7 game against Paraguay in Brisbane and the Bahrain match in Sydney four days later.

Experienced defender Tony Vidmar is recalled after missing the World Cup due to a heart problem.

Young midfielder Travis Dodd, who scored in last month's 2-0 win over Kuwait that clinched the Socceroos' place in next year's Asian Cup finals, is also named.

Paraguayan striker Oscar Cardozo of Newell's Old Boys has been called up for the first time by his country for the friendly.

The uncapped 23-year-old has scored seven goals in eight matches for Newell's in the Argentine championship.

The match will be the last for Paraguay for their World Cup captain Carlos Gamarra.

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