World Cup dilemma for A-League stars

A goal-laden festive weekend has done little to ease concerns the A-League is facing a star player exodus on the verge of this season’s finals.

Socceroos coach Pim Verbeek threw the cat among the pigeons after naming his 23-man squad to take on Kuwait in an Asian Cup qualifier next month, saying locally based players would probably miss out on World Cup berths without moving overseas in the January transfer window.

Verbeek’s concerns surround the distance between the end of the A-League campaign, with the regular season ending in mid-February and the finals running until March 20, and the start of the World Cup in June.

Sydney FC duo Simon Colosimo and Alex Brosque have since confirmed their commitment to stay with the club until the end of the season, as has Melbourne Victory striker Archie Thompson.

But Perth Glory star trio Mile Sterjovski, Chris Coyne and Jacob Burns, who all featured in the club’s 4-0 thumping of Newcastle at ME Bank Stadium on Saturday night, have indicated they will be leaving on loan deals in January regardless of the club’s A-League position.

And 2006 World Cup hero John Aloisi, who made a return from injury off the bench in Sydney’s 1-0 win over Adelaide on Sunday which sent the Reds to the bottom and Sydney to an outright league lead, can understand why his former Socceroo teammates are keen to maximise their chances.

“It’s a difficult one because a few players might not make the play-offs or if they do make the play-offs they might be gone within a week,” Aloisi told AAP.

“We (Sydney) are confident that we’re going to finish in the top two and then make the grand final so that ends our season on the 20th of March.

“It’s up to Pim and the players that are looking to go to the World Cup. I’m sure he’ll sit down with all of them and talk to them about it and then they can decide what they want to do.”

While a lengthy finals campaign looks likely for the Sydney pair, Thompson has the added bonus of an Asian Champions League campaign with the Victory, who lost top spot after being stunned 1-0 by North Queensland in Townsville on Sunday, which could potentially run right up to the World Cup squad being named.

Despite Adelaide’s lowly A-League status, their goalkeeper Eugene Galekovic says he won’t leave as the Reds are also preparing for an Asian adventure.

“We’re in the Asian Champions League so I don’t think it should be a problem,” Galekovic said on Sunday.

“I’ll have a chat with Pim but I don’t think he’ll have too many problems with me playing Asian Champions League.”

The real issue surrounds those on the verge or outside the competition’s top six such as the Glory trio and Brisbane pair Tommy Oar and Craig Moore.

Not even Gold Coast United’s Jason Culina is assured a ticket to South Africa despite his regular status in Verbeek’s squads, forcing outspoken owner Clive Palmer to ask Football Federation Australia to reprimand the Dutchman for his comments.

But while Culina, who was ruled out of the Kuwait match after injuring his knee in the Gold Coast’s 5-1 win over Brisbane on Saturday, could be forced overseas, one player who will be heading to the World Cup regardless of whether he stays in the A-League or not is New Zealand striker Shane Smeltz.

The All Whites star is set to become the league’s first 20-goal in a season man after his hat-trick in United’s demolition of the Roar took his tally to 18 this campaign.

A suspected broken ankle to Ivorian defender Adama Traore and Culina’s injury were the only lowlights for third-placed United.

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© 2010 AAP