Verbeek SOS to Euro stars

Socceroos boss Pim Verbeek is pinning his colours to the mast of European prestige over A-League pluck by deciding to co-opt up to 14 overseas-based Aussies into his squad to face Qatar in the February 6 World Cup qualifier in Melbourne.

:: VIDEO - [epl4657|30|Verbeek's Socceroos squad 99%epl]

When the Dutchman’s first official 25-man party is announced on Wednesday it will be a testament to the fact that Verbeek isn’t willing to place Australia’s World Cup fate in the hands of understudies.

With his future on the line between now and the end of June, Verbeek has plumped for players at their peak rather than those either on the way up or way down and is believed to be unwilling to name a single A-League starter in his line-up against the Gulf state, unless forced to by unforeseen circumstance.

Former Sydney FC luminary David Carney, transplanted to Sheffield United after the Asian Cup last year, doesn’t blame Verbeek one bit for opting to pen an SOS to his tried and trusted.

The list is likely to include the names of Tim Cahill, Harry Kewell, Lucas Neill, Brett Emerton, Mark Schwarzer, Scott McDonald, Nicky Carle, Carl Valeri, Brett Holman, Jason Culina, Luke Wilkshire, Michael Beauchamp and, not least, Carney himself.

“This is a match we have to win and we need our strongest team on the park,” said Carney, scorer of a sumptuous long-range clincher in Australia’s friendly against Nigeria at Craven Cottage two months ago.

“Coaches are judged by results and if we were to drop points against Qatar with a not-so-strong team then it might be a question of ‘if only’ down the track.”

“If you don’t qualify, then it always looks bad for the coach. He probably doesn’t want to take any risks so early in qualifying, maybe if you have plenty of points in the bag later in the group and are through, then you could look at doing things differently.”

While Verbeek knows in his mind that he has a get-out clause with the other half of his initial party composed of A-Leaguers - don’t bet on too many being be in his final 18.

Carney, whose Blades team face Colchester on February 3 (Australian time), would arrive in Melbourne around 48 hours before kick off.

But he insists the rigours of long haul travel won’t drain his mojo.

“Hopefully we’ll travel first class and be well looked after. I’m confident we’ll be able to hit the ground running - we’ll need to,” he added.

It’s believed of the A-League contingent, only defenders Mark Milligan, Craig Moore and strikers John Aloisi and Joel Griffiths are in genuine contention for starts and only then if injuries claim the likes of Neill, Beauchamp, McDonald and Holman.

The irresistible McDonald was watched by Verbeek’s assistant Henk Duut playing for Celtic in the 1-0 win over Kilmarnock at the weekend.

He didn’t score but with 14 goals this season he remains the top scorer in the SPL. His hopes of playing against Qatar in his hometown may hinge on not getting injured in the Scottish Cup against Kilmarnock or Airdrie on February 3 (Australian time).

Carney, who had two stellar seasons in the A-League, admits he is surprised that so few A-League players are in serious consideration for starting places.

“You have great players in the A-League like Millsy (Milligan), Aloisi and Alex Brosque, and I still think they will play their part,” he said.

“Of course, when you play in Europe you have to be that bit sharper and a lot of that comes down to just playing a lot more games. But there’s also real quality back home.”

Carney admits he may have to sit down with Blades boss Bryan Robson to ratify his departure but isn’t expecting any serious pressure from the former England skipper.

“He knows what it’s like and how important it is to represent your country,” Carney added.

“So I’m sure there won’t be any real problems. He knows that any time Australia play I will put my hand up.”

Verbeek, who discovered more questions than answers after three training camps with A-League inductees, would also have called on Italian-based duo of Mark Bresciano and Vince Grella but both play on the Sunday (Monday 4 February Australian time) before the Qatar game and would be left in logistical limbo.

The same applies to Basel’s Scott Chipperfield.

Now it’s up to elite performers like skipper Neill, Kewell, Cahill and the rest of the European vanguard to collect their flight tickets and live up their earnest pledges of allegiance to the World Cup cause.

You could say that Australia’s hopes are up in the air - quite literally.

top