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Michael Cockerill in Kunming
March 26, 2008
HARRY KEWELL is expected to miss Australia's World Cup qualifier against China today through injury.
It is the latest and most severe blow to the Socceroos in what has been an injury-ravaged preparation for a game that could have significant bearing on qualification for 2010 finals in South Africa. It is believed Kewell did not take full part in training yesterday, a session held behind closed doors, and that coach Pim Verbeek will not gamble on the out-of-favour Liverpool forward. Kewell had been struggling since the game against Singapore on Saturday.
The news of Kewell's latest injury problem followed a dramatic day yesterday in which Verbeek almost collapsed during a media conference. Verbeek was four minutes into a conference with Australian journalists when he said he had to stop "because I'm not feeling very well", before staggering as he was helped to a chair.
Verbeek had earlier skipped breakfast after complaining of a stomach bug, and team doctor Peter Bruckner later confirmed it was a gastric complaint, rather than the altitude, which had caused the distress. After a few hours' rest, Verbeek was able to go to the match venue, Tuodong Stadium, and is expected to take his place on the bench for the match. Verbeek will need all his wiles and experience following the spate of injuries, which he admits have forced him to adjust his selection plans.
With Kewell, Josh Kennedy and Scott McDonald sidelined, and with Bruce Djite picking up a hamstring strain at training late on Monday, Verbeek is likely to opt for new Sydney FC striker Mark Bridge as a lone frontman with Brett Holman and Mark Bresciano supporting from deep.
There's little doubt China - roared on by a partisan crowd - will try to knock the Socceroos off their stride. China's play has become increasingly physical under new coach Vladimir Petrovic, and Chinese journalists expect the home team - who have spent three weeks in camp acclimatising to Kunming's altitude of 1900 metres - to go as hard as they can.
That's no surprise to Verbeek, who said: "We expect them to be physical; that's the way they play, and we have to be ready for that. The pressure is on them, that's true, because if they don't win, they'll probably be out for the qualification."
In truth, the pressure has mounted on the Socceroos following a catalogue of injuries that have ripped the heart out of the attack. Djite's hamstring strain - likely to sideline the Adelaide United striker for at least a month - follows the loss of McDonald, Mile Sterjovski, Tim Cahill and Kennedy.
Asked whether he has any strikers left, Verbeek laughed: "I still have a few, but of course I agree this was not expected. You cannot be happy, that's true, but on the other hand we still have players who can do the job … That's why we took enough players to come over here. It's a little bit tough, but we still think we can win the game - and that's why we go for it."
Pressed on whether the spate of withdrawals had changed his mindset, he replied: "Not really."
Verbeek's bravado is designed to keep the pressure on the Chinese team, who go into the game on the back of a sequence of poor results and injury problems of their own, which have ruled out strikers Dong Fangzhou and Shi Jun. Two other European-based players - winger Shao Jiayi and utility Sun Jihai - and striker Han Peng are all returning from injury and are expected to be on the bench. Gifted Shandong Luneng midfielder Zhou Haibin - who provides the workrate to support playmaker and captain Zheng Zhi - is also under an injury cloud.
For all that, China go into the game as slight favourites and, while he won't admit it, Verbeek will be happy to escape with a draw. That means Australia will take a far more defensive approach than they did in last month's World Cup opener, against Qatar.
* The Socceroos' next game will be a friendly against Cameroon at ANZ Stadium on Friday, May 23.
POSSIBLE AUSTRALIAN TEAM (4-2-3-1): Mark Schwarzer; Luke Wilkshire, Lucas Neill, Michael Beauchamp, David Carney; Vince Grella, Carl Valeri; Jason Culina, Brett Holman, Mark Bresciano; Mark Bridge.
