Maclaren World Cup snub, Cahill plug viewed dimly in Australia

Football Soccer - Australia v Brazil - International Friendly - Melbourne Cricket Ground, Melbourne, Australia - 13/06/17 - Australia's Jamie MacLaren reacts after losing the match. REUTERS/Jason Reed - RC19C904FBC0

MELBOURNE (Reuters) - Australia coach Bert van Marwijk's snub of in-form striker Jamie Maclaren and a marketing campaign centred on veteran Tim Cahill have prompted some local soccer fans to suggest commercial interests have trumped form in the team's World Cup selections.

Maclaren, who scored a hat-trick for Scottish side Hibernian in their 5-5 league draw with Rangers on Sunday, was one of six cut from Van Marwijk's initial 32-man squad, along with goalkeeper Mitch Langerak and defender Bailey Wright.