Australia in Ireland to win
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MAKE no mistake – Australia have no intention of using tomorrow’s friendly against the Irish as an experimental practice run, despite their World Cup spot already being sealed – they’re in it to win it.
Less than a year out from South Africa 2010, Socceroos boss Pim Verbeek must make do with any chance he can to get his transient squad together and they come to Thomond Park determined to keep the momentum going following their Cup qualification in June.
“From what I saw (of Ireland), especially in the game in Bulgaria, was it was not an easy game - they are very well organised, very difficult to create chances against them and they work very, very hard,” Dutchman Verbeek said.
“So it will be a difficult team to beat, but it will be a good challenge for us to do everything again to win the game. And for Ireland it will be a very good test because they will expect something also in the upcoming three qualification games.”
Australia has called on the services of only its European-based players, Verbeek deeming it too far for Australian club players to travel for a single match, the Socceroos’ only in Europe before the World Cup.
However, he has an arsenal of talent to call on with Everton goal-ace Tim Cahill, Celtic striker Scott McDonald and Fulham ‘keeper Mark Schwarzer all expected to start. Currently unsigned captain and defender Lucas Neill, formerly of West Ham, is in the squad, although unlikely to be in the starting 11.
He vowed to start with his strongest 11, although will err on the side of caution in an effort to "protect" those with Premiership commitments only days away.
“I feel I must respect the players as well as their clubs,” he said.
“I will look to pick my strongest selection so definitely the young players will not start. “My experienced players I feel I must also protect with the season so close. I will give them a good chance to play, but maybe I will need to rest them at some point.”
Verbeek is likely to go with his regular 4-2-3-1 formation, leaving McDonald as the sole striker, a role that the small forward has already admitted to not particularly enjoying, preferring to play second striker behind either Josh Kennedy at international level or Georgios Samaras for Celtic. But with Kennedy not involved, McDonald will be on his own. “He (Kennedy) is the ideal partner I think for Scott because Scott is used to playing in his club with a tall guy,” Verbeek said.
“That’s the way Scotty likes to play at his best but we don’t have that player in our selection, so we have to play a little bit different to how we normally play because we don’t have that tall type of player."
Australia’s last match together was almost two months ago, a 2-1 World Cup qualification win against Japan in Melbourne on June 17 that result coming after their place in South Africa had already been confirmed weeks prior in the campaign.
“For us it’s good to have the players together again after the last three qualification matches we played in June,” Verbeek said.
“It’s a different situation for us of course because we’re preparing for the World Cup and of course Ireland is preparing to get to the World Cup, so for both teams I think it’s an important and interesting game.
“We’re looking forward, because it’s very important for Ireland, it’s very important for the opponents and we will give everything to make it a very interesting game for the fans and make it a fantastic test for Ireland for the very important game they play next month in Cyprus.”
Likely starting team: Schwarzer; Wilkinson, North, Kisnorbo, Carney; Williams, Jedinak; Bresciano, Cahill, Kewell; McDonald
Less than a year out from South Africa 2010, Socceroos boss Pim Verbeek must make do with any chance he can to get his transient squad together and they come to Thomond Park determined to keep the momentum going following their Cup qualification in June.
“From what I saw (of Ireland), especially in the game in Bulgaria, was it was not an easy game - they are very well organised, very difficult to create chances against them and they work very, very hard,” Dutchman Verbeek said.
“So it will be a difficult team to beat, but it will be a good challenge for us to do everything again to win the game. And for Ireland it will be a very good test because they will expect something also in the upcoming three qualification games.”
Australia has called on the services of only its European-based players, Verbeek deeming it too far for Australian club players to travel for a single match, the Socceroos’ only in Europe before the World Cup.
However, he has an arsenal of talent to call on with Everton goal-ace Tim Cahill, Celtic striker Scott McDonald and Fulham ‘keeper Mark Schwarzer all expected to start. Currently unsigned captain and defender Lucas Neill, formerly of West Ham, is in the squad, although unlikely to be in the starting 11.
He vowed to start with his strongest 11, although will err on the side of caution in an effort to "protect" those with Premiership commitments only days away.
“I feel I must respect the players as well as their clubs,” he said.
“I will look to pick my strongest selection so definitely the young players will not start. “My experienced players I feel I must also protect with the season so close. I will give them a good chance to play, but maybe I will need to rest them at some point.”
Verbeek is likely to go with his regular 4-2-3-1 formation, leaving McDonald as the sole striker, a role that the small forward has already admitted to not particularly enjoying, preferring to play second striker behind either Josh Kennedy at international level or Georgios Samaras for Celtic. But with Kennedy not involved, McDonald will be on his own. “He (Kennedy) is the ideal partner I think for Scott because Scott is used to playing in his club with a tall guy,” Verbeek said.
“That’s the way Scotty likes to play at his best but we don’t have that player in our selection, so we have to play a little bit different to how we normally play because we don’t have that tall type of player."
Australia’s last match together was almost two months ago, a 2-1 World Cup qualification win against Japan in Melbourne on June 17 that result coming after their place in South Africa had already been confirmed weeks prior in the campaign.
“For us it’s good to have the players together again after the last three qualification matches we played in June,” Verbeek said.
“It’s a different situation for us of course because we’re preparing for the World Cup and of course Ireland is preparing to get to the World Cup, so for both teams I think it’s an important and interesting game.
“We’re looking forward, because it’s very important for Ireland, it’s very important for the opponents and we will give everything to make it a very interesting game for the fans and make it a fantastic test for Ireland for the very important game they play next month in Cyprus.”
Likely starting team: Schwarzer; Wilkinson, North, Kisnorbo, Carney; Williams, Jedinak; Bresciano, Cahill, Kewell; McDonald
