• Home
• /
• Football

Australia bullish over World Cup despite injuries

SYDNEY - Australia coach Pim Verbeek on Tuesday backed his team to reach the knock-out stages of next month’s World Cup provided they can clear a worrying injury list including star forward Harry Kewell.

Verbeek named Kewell, who is battling groin problems, in a bumper 31-man preliminary squad alongside other injury-hit senior players such as Mark Bresciano, Brett Emerton and Vince Grella.

The Dutchman, Guus Hiddink’s assistant during South Korea’s miraculous run to the 2002 semi-finals, said he was confident Australia can repeat 2006’s round of 16 appearance — provided everyone is fit.

“We can go to the last 16, I’m sure about that, if everybody’s ready and everybody’s fit. We still have four-and-a-half weeks to prepare,” he told Sky News after a glittering ceremony to announce the squad.

“We can go to the last 16 — and in the last 16, anything can happen. It’s a tough group but the players are excited about the group, they see it as a challenge.”

Australia qualified for the knock-out stages in 2006 before controversially falling to a late penalty against eventual winners Italy. They face a tough Group D in South Africa starting with three-time champions Germany on June 13.

Kewell, 31, along with Everton’s serial match-winner Tim Cahill, Fulham ‘keeper Mark Schwarzer and Galatasaray clubmate Lucas Neill, is seen as key to Australia’s chances in Verbeek’s last assignment before stepping down.

“Of course there are rumours, of course there are opinions, but Harry will be ready,” Verbeek said.

“Medical staff, everybody, Harry himself inform me that he will be okay. We still have five weeks to prepare him for the first game against Germany so don’t worry about him, he will be there.”

Last week Johan Neeskens, assistant coach at Turkey’s Galatasaray, said it would be “very difficult” for the gifted former Leeds and Liverpool player to recover in time for the World Cup.

“Fingers crossed, he will be fit,” said Crystal Palace midfielder Nick Carle. “You want players like Harry Kewell playing in the World Cup for you, because he’s one of the best.”

Verbeek gave a surprise call-up to 18-year-old Tommy Oar, who only made his international debut last month, as possible cover on the left wing for Kewell or Bresciano, who is battling a back problem.

Blackburn duo Emerton and Vince Grella were also named despite injury concerns, while Archie Thompson and Patrick Kisnorbo were among those ruled out by more serious problems.

Verbeek included Adelaide United’s Eugene Galekovic as a standby goalkeeper in case of further injuries, in addition to the FIFA-sanctioned preliminary squad of 30 players.

Veteran defender Craig Moore was named despite cutting short his stint with Greek club AO Kavala in March, while in-form Nagoya Grampus striker Josh Kennedy will lead the attack.

Aston Villa defender Shane Lowry, 20, and Reading goalkeeper Adam Federici both have a chance to earn their first full international caps on the sport’s biggest stage.

The Socceroos have a friendly against fellow World Cup finalists New Zealand on May 24 before flying to South Africa, where they will face Germany, Ghana and Serbia in the group stage.

Squad:

Michael Beauchamp (Al-Jazira/UAE), Mark Bresciano (Palermo/ITA), Tim Cahill (Everton/ENG), Nick Carle (Crystal Palace/ENG), David Carney (FC Twente/NED), Scott Chipperfield (FC Basel/SUI), Jason Culina (Gold Coast Utd/AUS), Brett Emerton (Blackburn Rovers/ENG), Adam Federici (Reading/ENG), Eugene Galekovic (Adelaide Utd/AUS), Richard Garcia (Hull City/ENG), Vince Grella (Blackburn Rovers/ENG), James Holland (AZ Alkmaar/NED), Brett Holman (AZ Alkmaar/NED), Mile Jedinak (Antalyaspor Kulubu/TUR), Brad Jones (Middlesbrough/ENG), Josh Kennedy (Nagoya Grampus/JPN), Harry Kewell (Galatasaray/TUR), Shane Lowry (Aston Villa/ENG), Scott McDonald (Middlesbrough/ENG), Mark Milligan (JEF United/JPN), Craig Moore (no contract), Lucas Neill (Galatasaray/TUR), Jade North (Tromso/NOR), Tommy Oar (FC Utrecht/NED), Nikita Rukavytsya (FC Twente/NED), Mark Schwarzer (Fulham/ENG), Carl Valeri (US Sassuolo Calcio/ITA), Dario Vidosic (FC Nurnberg/GER), Luke Wilkshire (Dinamo Moscow/RUS), Rhys Williams (Middlesbrough/ENG)