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Schwarzer, Kewell missing in Aussies’ World Cup warmup

MELBOURNE - Goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer and star attacker Harry Kewell will not play in Australia’s pre-World Cup friendly against rivals New Zealand on Monday in Melbourne, coach Pim Verbeek said.

Verbeek said he will not risk the Fulham keeper, who strained a thumb in training last week, while Kewell is working his way back to fitness after a groin injury.

While Verbeek said there was no doubt about Schwarzer’s fitness for the Socceroos’ two warm-up games against Denmark and United States ahead of the World Cup, it was too early to risk the experienced shot-stopper.

“There is no doubt about Schwarzer playing in the two warm-up games in South Africa. The medical staff is convinced he will be okay, but it’s too early now to risk him in a game three weeks out from the World Cup,” Verbeek said Sunday ahead of his side’s final game at home before the tournament.

“He’s played enough games. It’s not about rhythm, it’s about getting his hand 100 percent ready.”

It is likely that Reading goalkeeper Adam Federici will make his international debut for Australia against the All Whites.

Verbeek said that Middlesbrough right-back Rhys Williams and Hull City midfielder Richard Garcia, neither of whom trained last week, will also be unavailable to face New Zealand.

Verbeek, who has to trim his 31-man provisional squad to 23 by June 1, said the match at Melbourne Cricket Ground was the first stage of preparations ahead of Australia’s World Cup opener against Germany in Durban on June 13.

“I’m not thinking about winning or losing, I’m looking for three very important things,” the Dutchman said of the New Zealand tune-up.

“First, the players have to show me what they have to do when they are on the field; then, you hope they get out of the game without any injuries; and third, it’s a good physical test and if we make mistakes we have three weeks to avoid them happening again at the World Cup.

“I don’t expect them to be at their best now, I expect them to be at their best against Germany.”

Australia, ranked 20 in the world, haven’t played the unfancied New Zealanders since beating them 1-0 in London in June 2005, but have a great respect for their trans-Tasman rivals.

“We rate New Zealand highly as footballers,” skipper Lucas Neill said.

“You’ve got to give them credit for being one of the last of the 32 teams to make the World Cup.

“They certainly won’t think they are going into any game as underdogs, I think they’ll be there on merit, similar to us, so we’ll just take this game for what it is.”

New Zealand are having their first outing with a full-strength team since they beat Bahrain to qualify for the World Cup in November.

“We had a match in Mexico (in March) where we had a lot of new faces and this is just getting back on the pitch again,” coach Ricki Herbert told reporters.

“If you look at it in isolation, it would be an extremely good result for us to beat Australia, who are well ranked and have beaten some very good teams in recent times.

“But at the end of the day, we want to be ready for Slovakia at the World Cup on June 15.”