Revenge on Socceroos’ minds, but not their lips

Revenge. It’s the word none of the Socceroos will say, but all of them are thinking ahead of their World Cup qualifier against Iraq.

Nine of the likely starting 11 against Iraq in Sunday’s match at Suncorp Stadium were part of the Australian squad humbled 3-1 by Iraq at last year’s Asian Cup.

While Iraq went on to win the tournament, the star-studded Socceroos were humiliated in the Bangkok heat and found hopelessly wanting at their first serious foray into Asia.

“I can sense it,” Socceroos striker Joel Griffiths said of the players’ thirst to avenge their Asian Cup defeat.

“I’m sure it will be in the back of their minds. I wasn’t there at the Asian Cup, but if I was there, I’d be trying to make sure it doesn’t happen again.”

Eleven months on, victory over the Asian champions would show the Socceroos are getting to grips with the nuances of Asian football and can be the menace most expected them to be in 2010 World Cup qualifying.

Midfielder Vince Grella, who was part of the Asian Cup squad, had one of his few poor matches in a Socceroos shirt against Iraq in Bangkok.

He admits he would love nothing better than to square things up.

“Most of the boys who were in the Asian Cup and maybe didn’t perform to their best are looking forward to these games to show the people they’re still playing for the same reasons they were before the World Cup,” Grella said.

“Let’s just say I’m happy to be involved, and looking forward to the game.”

One thing the Socceroos won’t have to contend with is the 30-degree plus heat they endured in Bangkok.

Instead, they can expect rain and far cooler temperatures at Suncorp Stadium on Sunday, with steady rain which has fallen in Brisbane for the past two days tipped to continue into the weekend.

And the Socceroos now have the advantage of first-hand experience against the Iraqis – something they had little of going into the Asian Cup.

“Having played against them and having seen the style they play can be an advantage to us now,” Grella said.

“They’d seen us play a lot more than we’d seen them play. I wouldn’t say we underestimated them, but we didn’t know them enough.

“It won’t be easy but we’re playing to win.”

Coach Pim Verbeek is likely to wait until just before the match before making public his starting 11.

But European big guns Grella, Harry Kewell, Mark Schwarzer, Mark Bresciano and Brett Emerton are all certain starters.

The Socceroos trained behind closed doors today to finalise their preparations, and will have one more training hitout at Suncorp Stadium tomorrow as Verbeek tapers their workload ahead of Sunday’s match.

Australia are top of their qualifying group with four points, while Iraq have just one point from their two matches.

Likely Socceroos team: Mark Schwarzer, Brett Emerton, Jade North, Michael Beauchamp, David Carney, Vince Grella, Jason Culina, Mark Bresciano, Luke Wilkshire, Harry Kewell, Scott McDonald.