World Cup Qualifier: Australia v Qatar

[Ray Nolan]

All discussion for the World Cup Qualifier match between Australia & Qatar may be posted on this thread. It will be stickied for 2 weeks.

Broadcast Details:

Wednesday 6 February 2008

LIVE FOX SPORTS 3 – 6:30pm EST, 6pm CST, 5:30pm QST, 4:30pm WST

 

[Norfolk & Clew]

My guess at a starting XI

Schwarz

Neill - Moore - Milligan - Carney

--------Cahill---Carle--------
Griffiths----------------Troisi
-------Aloisi - McDonald-----

Off the top of my head, maybe play Valeri instead of Carle and slot him into a DM position

 

[thebigboy]

Really tough to pick who Pim will pick at this moment in time. Depends on how the Overseas players pull up.

Id like to think that our A-league players would be good enough to win the game, but qatar have been in camp for 6 weeks so they will be tough.

Still we should have more than enough quality, regardless of jet lag to win this game.

Id reckon 2-0 in front of a very nice crowd. Ill certainly be there.

 

[hey shorty]

Very hard to pick a starting lineup at this point in time, in fact its near on impossible until the final squad of 19 is picked on Monday. We should win this game comfortably but as we saw at the Asian Cup nothing can be taken for granted. I dont expect more than 12 overseas players to make the trip and who knows how many will start

 

[peterss]

Cant wait for this one

I fly out for thr game on tuesday and arrive back in Perth on Thursday.

Only 4000 tickets left if anyone doesnt want one and would still like one.

 

[hey shorty]

Cant wait for this one

I fly out for thr game on tuesday and arrive back in Perth on Thursday.

Only 4000 tickets left if anyone doesnt want one and would still like one.

How does that work ?? Surely if they dont want one they wouldnt like one ??

Perhaps you mean if they dont HAVE one but would still like one ?

Anyways I wont be going over for this one but ill be watching it on TV for sure !!!

 

[roostersgal4eva]

couple of questions from an Adelaide P.O.V.

Any chance Bruce or Travis getting a run?
AND
When will we find out if Adelaide gets to host one of qualifers - im itching to find out

 

[hey shorty]

couple of questions from an Adelaide P.O.V.

Any chance Bruce or Travis getting a run?
AND
When will we find out if Adelaide gets to host one of qualifers - im itching to find out

Even though Travis appears to be a favourite of the coaching panel I would say there isnt a chance he'll make the final 19 but you never know. There would be several guys ahead of him

Bruce I dont know, Kennedy, Macca, Aloisi, Griffiths and Archibald would probably be ahead of him but again who knows. It really depends on how we set up and whether or not Verbeek goes for experience or youth. If Kennedy and McDonald dont make the trip then id say he is a chance to make the bench.

As far as the other WC venues are concerned I dont know when theyll be announced, I believe they were supposed to be done already. However, dont hold your breath about us getting one. The FFA were extremely disappointed with the turn out during the Olyroo campaign and also the Womens WC campaign. Also, think back to the last Oceania Nations Cup that was held here in 2004. Guys like Cahill, Culina, Bresciano, Vidmar and others came down and it was a pretty quality squad yet no one turned up to watch the matches.

Add to that the fact we dont have a quality stadium (Hindy and AO arent big enough and AAMI, well lets not go there) and I think you'll see Suncorp snatch it from our hands, probably rightly so.

 

[Norfolk & Clew]

Flying out to the Gold Coast tomorrow, pretty peeved i wont be able to watch this one live but will be cheering on from up there. At the time i wasn't really concerned coz i thought it'd be all a-leaguers but then Pim realised they are shit... unlucky for me

 

[mulhollanddrive]

Adelaide will likely host one of the June/July matches. But nothing confirmed, but there have been inferences about this by FFA.

This is my thinking regarding each position:

I reckon the formation will be 4-3-3 with 2 holding midfielders.

GK - Schwarzer, Covic, Vukovic.

Schwarzer will play unless he's physically unable to when he lands at Melbourne airport. He's been in good form, proven performer. Given how Pim doesnt gamble, I don't think he's going to select a goalkeeper who hasn't been tested at international level. Covic probably on the bench edging out Vukovich with experience.

RB - Emerton, Milligan, Muscat, A.Griffith, North

Emerton will get the role, simply by far and away better than any other option A-league or otherwise. There is a case for either of the next 3 on the bench as they are all flexible players, and A.Griffiths stocks have risen at training camp. I reckon Muscat is the dark horse to make the final 18.

CB - Neill, Moore, Beauchamp, Milligan, Muscat, Griffiths, Thwaite, Vargas.

Neill will fly back and be a certain selection. And from media interviews lately I think Moore if fit will be alongside him. However either Beauchamp or Milligan are a chance. I realistically wouldnt give the next 4 a chance at being in the starting 11, or in the final squad even.

LB - Carney, Thwaite, Topor-Stanley.

That looks pretty depressing. If Carney gets injured or isnt available, it may mean play a back 3 due to no other playable option.

DM - Culina, Wilkshire, Valeri, Burns, Colosimo, Musialik.

There's 3 viable contenders realistically. I would give the 2 dutch boys the edge just because they play in Holland. Personally I think Valeri craps all over them but I'm not coach.

AM - Cahill, Carle, Holman, Pondeljak, Holland.

Keep hearing things about Cahill/Moyes pulling the plug. Lots of smoke regarding that. I would favour Carle over Holman, because Holman is poo.

RF (Right Forward) - Bresciano, Holman, Griffiths, Thompson, Dodd.

The forward 3 is a bit of a puzzle. Bresciano is one of the Euro players with a question mark. However, I'll play the odds and say he does come back. I think due to the dutch factor Holman can't be written off, and as much as Griffiths deserves a spot, I don't think Pim would have him ahead of the 2 European boys.

CF - Aloisi, McDonald, Kennedy, Bridge.

Its out of Aloisi or McDonald. Again there's a Strachen issue to deal with that puts a ? over his availability. And with Aloisi available Pim may just play it cool and give Aloisi the starting spot. If McDonald comes back which I rate as a 50/50 chance at best, then surely he'd play, but I give the edge to Aloisi.

LF - Kewell, Bresciano, Troisi, Brosque.

Simply put, one of Kewell or Bresciano must be available, otherwise we'd have to switch back to 2 strikers. My inkling is that Kewell will stay in England, meaning Bresciano to play on the left.

Predicted final line up 11

Schwarzer
Emerton Neill Moore Carney
Culina Wilkshire
Carle
Holman Aloisi Bresciano

Subs: Covic, Beauchamp, Griffiths, Kennedy, Thompson.

Based on:

- Kewell, Grella, Cahill, McDonald not being available.
- Pim has as much said if European boys come back they will play ahead of the A-Leaguers.
- 3 man Dutch league midfield. Adapting to tactics won't be as big a barrier, and Dutch coaches love the mobility of them.
- Pim doesn't gamble, won't be giving any 'rookies' a starting spot. So the only A-leaguers to be in the 11 are Aloisi and Moore, proven internationals.

Probably will be a lot wrong, but thats my synopsis a week out. The front 3 is up for debate. Could be any number of combinations.

 

[hey shorty]

Very well done there mulholland but you know rational thinking doesnt go well in these parts, you thought that through way too much

I just cant believe Moyes' on-going whinges about our international players gaining selection. Not one shred of "Oh well done Timmy mate" its all "No you cant have him its all ridiculous". Now he has the famous hamstring strain. I agree those four wont travel and I also think Bresciano wont play either so maybe Troisi gets a gig ?? Im still nowhere near certain what the starting lineup will be and as I said itll be hard to pinpoint until Monday when the final squad is announced.

And on the Adelaide issue, we were guarenteed a game after the Lebanon game was cancelled during the Asian Cup qualifiers. I know we are supposed to get the final home match but I just think with the crowds Suncorp has been getting and given that it is a much better place for the game that theyll pinch it rightly or wrongly from our grasp. As a huge football follower and Adelaide (Hills) boy through and through I would love to see the game here but im not holding my breath on it.

 

[Lowie01]

The A-League Socceroos drew 1-1 with Melbourne Victory today. Caceres gave Melbourne the lead and, ironically, Archie Thompson scored the equaliser after a terrible backheader by the returning Daniel Piorkowski.

 

[stmookeyj]

On the returning players (we think as of 10:45 Sat Night).....

ALREADY HERE: Troisi, Burns, Thwaite
DEFFO COMING: McDonald (lunchtime kickoff for Celtic), Schwarzer (whether he plays or not is another matter), Bresciano
PROBABLY COMING: Carney, Carle, Wilkshire (unfortunately), Emerton, Culina, Neill
50/50: Kewell, Cahill,
UNKNOWN: Kennedy, Beauchamp, Valeri, Holman
NOT COMING: Grella


Booked on a flight home first class after the weekend games are Schwarzer, Emerton, Neill, Culina, Carle and Carney

 

[sainter]

The A-League Socceroos drew 1-1 with Melbourne Victory today. Caceres gave Melbourne the lead and, ironically, Archie Thompson scored the equaliser after a terrible backheader by the returning Daniel Piorkowski.

Interestingly according to The World Game the Socceroos looked far more threatening in the second half when Thompson and Brosque played upfront as oppposed to the first half combination of Aloisi and Griffiths.

It's hard to comment without watching the game but you would think this would only strengthen Verbeek's resolve to play the international players. While it would depend on how they pull up after flight you wouldn't think he'd be bringing them home to sit on the bench. Fingers crossed for no injuries tonight.

 

[Embers]

For those wondering Neill confirmed himself as a starter on his internet blog. My guess at a team

Covic
Emerton Neill Moore Thwaite
Bresciano Carle Cullina Carney
McDonald Griffiths

Bench : Schwarzer Aloisi Wilkshire Milligan Holman

 

[Adam BK]

Speaking of Scott McDonald, its the 2nd half according to the official Celtic website and McDonald has scored one of the 3 Celtics goals! So his 20th of the season!

 

[Adam BK]

Again! 21st goal, oh please come Scotty!

EDIT: Subbed of straight away after the goal in the 67th minute, interesting hopefully he comes then.

 

[sainter]

Again! 21st goal, oh please come Scotty!

EDIT: Subbed of straight away after the goal in the 67th minute, interesting hopefully he comes then.

Great stuff by Strachan.

And Scotty too.

 

[grimlock]

Kewell didn't play this morning, and I don't think it was due to injury.

 

[Adam BK]

Strike pair on target in good sign for Qantas Socceroos
Sunday, 3 February 2008

Australia’s potential strike-pairing of Scott McDonald and Josh Kennedy for the opening FIFA 2010 World Cup qualifying match against Qatar, will come home in goalscoring form, after both found the back of the net for their clubs overnight.

McDonald’s irresistible form for Celtic continued in the 5th Round of the Scottish Cup, adding another two goals to his tally in a 5-1 rout of Kilmarnock.

However Kennedy’s goal on debut for his new club Karlsruhe was especially sweet, given that it was scored against his former club Nurnberg in a 2-0 win. Kennedy, who started the match, also played a key role in the opening goal with an incisive pass.

The pair were both replaced in the second half of their matches and will now head back to Melbourne for the all-important qualifier on Wednesday night at the Telstra Dome.

McDonald took his season tally to 20 goals from 26 matches, by far and away the leading goalscorer in Scotland, again showing his predatory skills inside the penalty box. He rifled home Celtic’s opening goal from close range after meeting a Nakamura cross and then added the side’s fourth goal with a shot from 12 yards, which singled his final contribution of the game.

As for Kennedy, he couldn’t have wished for a better debut for Karlsruhe after a difficult; injury-riddled spell at Nurnberg. He came back to haunt his old club, who are fighting to stave of relegation, with a good display that will have boosted his confidence considerably, after failing to get much game time at his old club. Ironically though, it’s Karlsruhe that is traveling along really well, the win sending them to 5th on the Bundesliga table.

It was his pass that laid the foundations for Karlsruhe’s first goal in the 66th minute, while he was on the end of a cross, volleying home from close range in the 74th minute. For Nurnberg, Michael Beauchamp came on midway through the second half.

Another player in goalscoring touch at the moment is David Carney, who scored for the second successive game, as Sheffield United drew 2-2 away at struggling Colchester. Carney’s equaliser rescued a point for The Blades. Also in The Championship, Nick Carle was replaced midway through the second half, as Bristol City lost 3-0 at QPR.

Several returning national team players faced off against one another in the Premier League, with Brett Emerton’s Blackburn Rovers sharing a point with Tim Cahill’s Everton. Both players played full games.

Lucas Neill played a full game for West Ham in a 1-0 loss against Wigan Athletic, while Harry Kewell was not included in the Liverpool squad that played at home against Sunderland.

In Italy, Mark Bresciano came on as a second half substitute and helped Palermo secure a valuable 1-0 win over Livorno, to keep them in the top half of the table.

Source: http://www.footballaustralia.com.au...px?s=insideffa_newsfeatures_newsitem&id=21309

Well not only McDonald scored but so did Kennedy on his debut against his former club and Carney is in good form as well!

 

[borgsta2006]

SOunds like we ahve some very very good players in form in Europe at the moment, but will they come?

My gut feeling tells me no, but my hope is yes.

Joel Griffiths deserves a spot in the team and surely there should be room for his brother Adam. THey have been excellent players this year for the Jets, although I hate the JETS so much

Qatar is well prepared, and we must not lose.

 

[Lowie01]

I think Kennedy did himself a favour getting out of Nurnberg - they're now in the relegation zone and Karlsruhe moved up to fifth with that win. He also set up the first goal before scoring the second.

Kennedy and McDonald have to be the strike partnership if they both arrive safely.

Unfortunately Mark Milligan broke his nose in the practice match yesterday and is out. Thanks goodness Neill is coming back.

 

[Adam BK]

Kewell Dropped From Roos Squad

Feb 3 2008 15:32

SOCCEROOS coach Pim Verbeek has dropped three Euroroos from the game against Qatar, including Harry Kewell and Nick Carle.
Nurnberg star Michael Beauchamp is the third player to be omitted from the final Australian squad ahead of the 2010 FIFA World Cup qualifier on Wednesday.

Verbeek originally named his large 39-man squad to gave him the flexibility to call on players to return from Europe if necessary.

“I have now had six days with the players in Melbourne and I have made the decision that those three players will not be required to travel to Australia,” Verbeek said.

“Obviously, the three players are disappointed that I have not selected them, but I appreciate - as do all Australian fans - that they were available to come if I wanted them to.”

Verbeek also confirmed that so far all the players that were scheduled to fly out have, with only one player left with a match to play.

FFA Head of Medical Services Dr Jeff Steinweg will continue to check all players departing the UK and provide them with individual plans to monitor any concerns from the weekend’s games, deal with jet lag and undertake some exercises on the 24 hour long haul flight.

In other news from the squad, Mark Milligan today returned to Sydney after suffering a broken nose in yesterday’s training match against Melbourne Victory ruling him out of the match against Qatar.

Milligan may still be available to play for Sydney FC in the A-League minor semi-final against Queensland Roar at Suncorp Stadium later this week.

Joel Griffiths also left the field early yesterday with hamstring tightness and may not be fit for Wednesday night.

Source: http://au.fourfourtwo.com/news/69402,kewell-dropped-from-roos-squad.aspx

So if they have all flown out then that must mean the two players in doubt over the week Cahill and McDonald must be coming! Certainly on current form I would have rather those two blokes then Kewell. Still interesting why is Nick Carle not coming?

 

[Adam BK]

On the returning players (we think as of 10:45 Sat Night).....

ALREADY HERE: Troisi, Burns, Thwaite
DEFFO COMING: McDonald (lunchtime kickoff for Celtic), Schwarzer (whether he plays or not is another matter), Bresciano
PROBABLY COMING: Carney, Carle, Wilkshire (unfortunately), Emerton, Culina, Neill
50/50: Kewell, Cahill,
UNKNOWN: Kennedy, Beauchamp, Valeri, Holman
NOT COMING: Grella


Booked on a flight home first class after the weekend games are Schwarzer, Emerton, Neill, Culina, Carle and Carney

If Verbeek has said the players that he has named have flown out apart from Schwarzer who is yet to play then

ALREADY HERE: Troisi, Burns, Thwaite
DEFINITELY COMING: McDonald, Cahill, Breschiano, Neill, Schwarzer, Kennedy, Culina, Emerton, Carney, Valeri, Holman, Wilkshire
NOT COMING: Kewell, Grella, Carle, Beauchamp

 

[Adam BK]

So 15 of the 19 players will be European players, that leaves 4 spots I guess. Aloisi & Moore you would think would be guaranteed, that leaves two spots Archie and someone else? Joel Griffiths has hamstring tightness so may not be available.

EDIT: Oh right cant believe I forgot Covic so he will take one of the 4 spots up for grabs.