The Socceroos left for their base in South Africa yesterday, the pared back squad of 28 excluding Scott McDonald and Nicky Carle. The less said about those glaring omissions, the better, I think.
The team is four years older, a little slower but perhaps somewhat wiser from the last experience in Germany in 2006. I hope that they can throw off the many indifferent performances of the last two years and really hit their straps in the group stages. To get to the Round of 16, like last time, will require enormous discipline, tight organisation, strong defence and a little luck here and there. It's possible but, from what I have seen of the national team in recent times, will require a massive improvement in a number of areas. The baleful effort against a plucky New Zealand last Monday should have been a big wake-up call.
As for Pim Verbeek the next few weeks will determine whether he is a real head coach and manager, or a football technician, better suited to the assistant's role. I hope that he too rises to the occasion.
The squad of 28 (to be reduced to 23) is:
Goalkeepers: Mark Schwarzer, Adam Federici, Brad Jones, Eugene Galekovic.
Defenders: Scott Chipperfield, David Carney, Lucas Neill, Michael Beauchamp, Shane Lowry, Craig Moore, Mark Milligan, Rhys Williams, Luke Wilkshire.
Midfielders: Vince Grella, Carl Valeri, Jason Culina, Mile Jedinak, Tim Cahill, Brett Holman, Dario Vidosic, Mark Bresciano, Brett Emerton, Richard Garcia, James Holland, Tommy Oar.
Strikers: Nikita Rukavytsya, Josh Kennedy, Harry Kewell.
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