Cup set to be Vukovic's Socceroos farewell

Back-up Socceroos goalkeeper Danny Vukovic is set to retire from international football after the World Cup to allow younger players a chance to realise their dreams with the national side.

Despite consistently featuring in the national selection frame since the last World Cup, Vukovic's inclusion in the squad for Qatar was met with surprise - not least as it came at the expense of the in-form Mitch Langerak.

The reaction did not faze the 37-year-old Central Coast Mariners skipper, who will join national captain Mat Ryan and former Mariners teammate Andrew Redmayne as one of three Australian goalkeepers on the plane to Qatar on Sunday.

"I wouldn't say I was surprised, I can understand why it happened," Vukovic told AAP of the reaction to his selection.

"It's been a little bit lost there; I've been a part of this squad for four or five years now. The only time I've missed out is through injury.

"It's time to focus on the job at hand. The team has been selected and it's time to focus on getting over there and doing as good a job as we can."

The Central Coast Mariners stopper has represented the Socceroos four times, most recently against Taiwan in a World Cup qualifier last June.

The experienced Ryan is at short odds to begin the campaign as first-choice, meaning Vukovic may not have the chance to add to his tally of caps in Qatar.

"He's our captain, he's not let the country down really ever," Vukovic said of Ryan.

"Initially (Redmayne and I) will play a supporting role but also make sure that, if called upon, we're ready to step in and do a good job."

Whether he gets onto the pitch or not, Vukovic said he was content to pass the baton to the next generation of goalkeepers once his first - and last - World Cup campaign draws to a close.

At 37, he is older than Redmayne (33), Ryan (30) and Langerak (34) and had begun his youth career by the time Adelaide United's Joe Gauci - tipped as a potential successor - was born.

"It's time for some others to come through," he said.

"There's a few young goalkeepers going around, Joe Gauci is one that's been mentioned.

"(Melbourne City's) Tom Glover has had a good season as well. 

"The Asian Cup's next year so it'll be nice to see a few younger goalkeepers potentially getting a chance."