serious14
Well-Known Member
http://www.smh.com.au/news/sport/football/pim-puts-faith-in-rookies/2009/01/27/1232818435164.html?page=fullpage#contentSwap1
SOCCEROOS coach Pim Verbeek is set to name at least six debutants when Australia meet Indonesia tonight in an Asian Cup qualifier that is shaping as the first significant test of the A-League's strength and depth.
Adelaide United showed the domestic competition has made enormous strides with their run to the Asian Champions League final this season, but rarely has the national team gone into a competitive fixture so light on for experience at the highest level.
While captain Craig Moore and striker Archie Thompson will provide the big-game know-how, much will rest on the shoulders of two mature players earning their first caps: Melbourne Victory centre back Roddy Vargas and Adelaide's 29-year-old midfielder Paul Reid, who will be charged with a controlling role in midfield alongside the left-sided Matt McKay from Queensland Roar.
Verbeek will also look to youth and enthusiasm in the fullback roles, with Adelaide's left back Scott Jamieson set to gain his first start on one flank. The coach has had a hard time deciding whether to start Newcastle's Tarek Elrich or Sydney's Shannon Cole at right back.
Central Coast's Dean Heffernan had hoped to make his debut against Argentina in Melbourne some 16 months ago. He did not get on the pitch that night but now, having been out of football for an extended period after breaking his leg in the 2007-08 season, the 28-year-old Mariners flyer is set to win representative honours for the first time on the left side of a midfield quartet.
Victory veteran Tom Pondeljak will start wide on the right, with Thompson and another Melbourne player, Danny Allsopp, having won the battle for the two striking spots ahead of Mariners duo Dylan Macallister and Matt Simon. Thompson and Allsopp have consistently been the A-League's leading combination and have netted 19 goals between them this season.
Verbeek hopes that the understanding they have developed, as well as their combination with Pondeljak, will be able to bring similar rewards tonight in what will in no way be an easy game.
Adelaide goalkeeper Eugene Galekovic has won the contest between the uncapped shot-stoppers and will be another first-timer when he takes the gloves at the Gelora Bung Karno Stadium.
The Indonesians will be roared on by a fanatical crowd and are in good heart after their 0-0 draw with Oman away from home last week in their opening qualifier. The game shapes as a fascinating fixture because of the light it might shed on the future. Verbeek has made it clear if any of the A-League players do well he will consider them for the Japan game in Yokohama on February 11 and for the 2010 World Cup squad.
"I was here with South Korea in 2007 in the Asia Cup and I know that South Korea was more or less at our best and we only had a narrow 1-0 win," he said yesterday. "That gives you an idea of how hard it can be here.
"This will be hot and humid, there will be hostile fans. It is true what people say, that there are no easy games. They will fight hard all the way. They had a very good result in Oman. They played very defensively, but they still got a good result.
"I am counting on players wanting to impress and force their way into the squad for the World Cup matches. For all of the players here it's a great motivation to play in the Asian Cup.
"We need at least players who can physically cope with this game we will use everybody in his best position, so if you have not much or no preparation you are not asking a player to do things he has not done before."
Verbeek is unconcerned about his three goalkeepers' lack of international experience.
"I have the confidence that this group can do a job. I still think we have an interesting selection. A coach starts to get worried if he doesn't have enough choices, and we have enough choices to make. Galekovic has done very well. I have seen him in eight or nine games. In one game he made two mistakes, in all the other games he did very well. He is consistent, does good coaching [from the back] and is difficult to beat."
THE LOWDOWN
INDONESIA v AUSTRALIA. Asian Cup qualifier. Gelora Bung Karno Stadium, Jakarta.
Kick-off 7.30pm local, (11.30pm AEDT). Live, Fox Sports 2.
LIKELY LINE-UPS
AUSTRALIA: Eugene Galekovic; Shannon Cole, Craig Moore (C), Roddy Vargas, Scott Jamieson; Tom Pondeljak, Paul Reid, Matt McKay, Dean Heffernan; Archie Thompson, Daniel Allsopp.
INDONESIA: Markus Horison; Ricardo Salampessy; Charis Yulianto, Maman Abdurrahman, Erol Iba; Ponaryo Astaman, Firman Utina, Hariyono; Bambang Pamungkas, Budi Sudarsono, Boaz Solossa.
SOCCEROOS coach Pim Verbeek is set to name at least six debutants when Australia meet Indonesia tonight in an Asian Cup qualifier that is shaping as the first significant test of the A-League's strength and depth.
Adelaide United showed the domestic competition has made enormous strides with their run to the Asian Champions League final this season, but rarely has the national team gone into a competitive fixture so light on for experience at the highest level.
While captain Craig Moore and striker Archie Thompson will provide the big-game know-how, much will rest on the shoulders of two mature players earning their first caps: Melbourne Victory centre back Roddy Vargas and Adelaide's 29-year-old midfielder Paul Reid, who will be charged with a controlling role in midfield alongside the left-sided Matt McKay from Queensland Roar.
Verbeek will also look to youth and enthusiasm in the fullback roles, with Adelaide's left back Scott Jamieson set to gain his first start on one flank. The coach has had a hard time deciding whether to start Newcastle's Tarek Elrich or Sydney's Shannon Cole at right back.
Central Coast's Dean Heffernan had hoped to make his debut against Argentina in Melbourne some 16 months ago. He did not get on the pitch that night but now, having been out of football for an extended period after breaking his leg in the 2007-08 season, the 28-year-old Mariners flyer is set to win representative honours for the first time on the left side of a midfield quartet.
Victory veteran Tom Pondeljak will start wide on the right, with Thompson and another Melbourne player, Danny Allsopp, having won the battle for the two striking spots ahead of Mariners duo Dylan Macallister and Matt Simon. Thompson and Allsopp have consistently been the A-League's leading combination and have netted 19 goals between them this season.
Verbeek hopes that the understanding they have developed, as well as their combination with Pondeljak, will be able to bring similar rewards tonight in what will in no way be an easy game.
Adelaide goalkeeper Eugene Galekovic has won the contest between the uncapped shot-stoppers and will be another first-timer when he takes the gloves at the Gelora Bung Karno Stadium.
The Indonesians will be roared on by a fanatical crowd and are in good heart after their 0-0 draw with Oman away from home last week in their opening qualifier. The game shapes as a fascinating fixture because of the light it might shed on the future. Verbeek has made it clear if any of the A-League players do well he will consider them for the Japan game in Yokohama on February 11 and for the 2010 World Cup squad.
"I was here with South Korea in 2007 in the Asia Cup and I know that South Korea was more or less at our best and we only had a narrow 1-0 win," he said yesterday. "That gives you an idea of how hard it can be here.
"This will be hot and humid, there will be hostile fans. It is true what people say, that there are no easy games. They will fight hard all the way. They had a very good result in Oman. They played very defensively, but they still got a good result.
"I am counting on players wanting to impress and force their way into the squad for the World Cup matches. For all of the players here it's a great motivation to play in the Asian Cup.
"We need at least players who can physically cope with this game we will use everybody in his best position, so if you have not much or no preparation you are not asking a player to do things he has not done before."
Verbeek is unconcerned about his three goalkeepers' lack of international experience.
"I have the confidence that this group can do a job. I still think we have an interesting selection. A coach starts to get worried if he doesn't have enough choices, and we have enough choices to make. Galekovic has done very well. I have seen him in eight or nine games. In one game he made two mistakes, in all the other games he did very well. He is consistent, does good coaching [from the back] and is difficult to beat."
THE LOWDOWN
INDONESIA v AUSTRALIA. Asian Cup qualifier. Gelora Bung Karno Stadium, Jakarta.
Kick-off 7.30pm local, (11.30pm AEDT). Live, Fox Sports 2.
LIKELY LINE-UPS
AUSTRALIA: Eugene Galekovic; Shannon Cole, Craig Moore (C), Roddy Vargas, Scott Jamieson; Tom Pondeljak, Paul Reid, Matt McKay, Dean Heffernan; Archie Thompson, Daniel Allsopp.
INDONESIA: Markus Horison; Ricardo Salampessy; Charis Yulianto, Maman Abdurrahman, Erol Iba; Ponaryo Astaman, Firman Utina, Hariyono; Bambang Pamungkas, Budi Sudarsono, Boaz Solossa.
