Socceroos boss Pim Verbeek is unconcerned about the environment his team will face in Tashkent for Australia’s opening final stage World Cup qualifying match against Uzbekistan on September 10.

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Australian skipper Lucas Neill recently described the opponents and the surroundings as “unknown” but Verbeek, who took the South Korean national team to Tashkent as coach, has no such apprehension.

“I know what we can expect,” said Verbeek, who named a 27-man Socceroo squad today.

“I have seen four or five DVDs of Uzbekistan at the moment so for me it is not a big surprise anymore.

“For the players, probably yes, but we will have enough time to prepare for the game.”

Verbeek indicated this could be the toughest match of the campaign saying the Uzbeks are a “Russian-style” team with high skill levels that are well organised and backed by fanatical supporters.

“I have always said that quality-wise we are one of the best teams in Asia. It is about circumstances, it is about the trips we have to make, and this time we will be well prepared.

“We have to find out how the circumstances are when we arrive in Tashkent.

“The China and Middle East games we had to play under difficult circumstances so I am not so worried about that.

“It can never be worse than it was in Dubai and Qatar last June so the players will go there and adapt quite soon. They will be ready.”

Harry Kewell was included in the squad after missing last week’s friendly against South Africa due to a minor injury and his settling in at new club Galatasaray.

Verbeek spent last weekend in Turkey eyeing the form Kewell and feels the talismanic attacker has settled well and will be suited to the technical style of football in the Turkish league.

The 29-year-old scored on debut for Galatasaray on Saturday.

The Socceroos will be able to field a near-full strength team with only the injured Tim Cahill and Mark Viduka not considered.

The squad contains just two Australian-based players in Newcastle Jets duo Jade North and Ante Covic.

The Socceroos will spend next week in camp in The Netherlands and Verbeek says the squad announced today will be whittled down for the trip to Tashkent following the friendly match against the Dutch on Saturday week in Eindhoven.

Australia has also been grouped with Japan, Bahrain and Qatar for the final stage of qualifying with only two of the five teams guaranteed a ticket to South Africa in 2010.

The Uzbeks will tackle North Korea in Tashkent on Friday before their World Cup qualifier against Qatar in Doha on Saturday week.

Socceroo Squad
Michael Beauchamp (Aalborg), Mark Bresciano (Palermo), Jacob Burns (Unirea Valahorum) David Carney (Sheffield United), Scott Chipperfield (FC Basel), Chris Coyne (Colchester United), Ante Covic (Newcastle Jets), Jason Culina (PSV Eindhoven), Bruce Djite (Genclerbirligi), Brett Emerton (Blackburn Rovers), Richard Garcia (Hull City), Vince Grella (Blackburn Rovers), Brett Holman (AZ Alkmaar), Brad Jones (Middlesbrough), Josh Kennedy (Karlsruher), Harry Kewell (Galatasaray), Scott McDonald (Celtic), Mark Milligan (uncontracted) Lucas Neill (West Ham), Jade North (Newcastle Jets) Michael Petkovic (Sivasspor), Mark Schwarzer (Fulham ), Matthew Spiranovic (FC Nurnberg), Shane Stefanutto (Lyn Oslo) Mile Sterjovski (Derby County) Carl Valeri (Grosseto), Luke Wilkshire (Dynamo Moscow

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