Verbeek To Get Fresh

The Sunday Age

Sunday June 22, 2008

David Sygall, Sydney

PIM VERBEEK will inject fresh young fringe players and give them a chance to show their quality in tonight's match against China. But the coach has warned he is no gambler and has every intention of ensuring a win to finish the Socceroos' early stage of World Cup qualifying.

"I can give some young talented players the chance to play in a big game, an important game," Verbeek said yesterday. "Maybe they will make some mistakes. But it's better to make them now than when we play one of the next qualifying games.

"I'm expecting a very motivated team, players who want to show themselves, entertain the fans and get three points."

The Socceroos are assured of progressing to the next stage of Asian qualifying because they will finish in their group's top two. They face a full-strength China in front of a crowd expected to exceed 70,000 at Sydney's ANZ Stadium.

Verbeek yesterday revealed his starting line-up. Michael Petkovic will be in goal, with Nikolai Topor-Stanley, Matthew Spiranovic, Jade North and Ruben Zadkovich patrolling the back. Mile Jedinak and Carl Valeri will control the middle of the park, with James Troisi on the left, James Holland on the right, and Bruce Djite and Harry Kewell will team up as strikers.

Verbeek said he would give Kewell the chance to play 90 minutes. "I want Harry to play his own game, like he has in the past weeks," he said. "That's when he's strongest. He's getting fitter and fitter and it's a good opportunity for him to play 90 minutes. I think Harry's a great player. He can be very important in the World Cup for us. All he needed was to be fit and a bit of confidence. He has shown me that he has the quality and can do the job.

"We should not forget that he left Liverpool to play for us in Singapore and they were not happy with that. It showed us that he was desperate to play for the Socceroos. I don't give presents, but he has shown us that he should be there."

But tonight will be all about the future, with the Socceroos expected to give fans a glimpse of how they will look getting closer to the business end of the qualification series.

"Bringing in new players gives us fresh legs, fresh energy," Verbeek said. "It's better to have players who can bring new energy to the team.

"Some of these guys are at a great age and they can play and train with us. That's what we like. I hope they can show (their quality). We still want to win the game, that's why the players in the middle of the park should be the experienced players.

"(The younger guys) must enjoy the game because if it was a qualification game that we needed a point or three points, I probably would not start with these players. This is a great opportunity to show themselves. My feeling is that we can beat China and they will do a great job."

GROUP 1 FINAL ROUND

AUSTRALIA v CHINA

6pm today, ANZ Stadium, Sydney

TV: Fox Sports 3, live

IRAQ v QATAR

Dubai, 8pm

© 2008 The Sunday Age

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