Delving into the Socceroos starting 11 against Kuwait

 
Tony Tannous Columnist

By , 6 Jan 2010 Tony Tannous is a Roar Expert

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Australian player Vince Grella (right) during the Socceroos pre-match training session at the Melbourne Cricket Ground. AAP Image/Luis Enrique Ascui

Australian player Vince Grella (right) during the Socceroos pre-match training session at the Melbourne Cricket Ground. AAP Image/Luis Enrique Ascui

The word from Kuwait City is that Pim Verbeek will take an attacking 4-2-3-1 into Thursday morning’s (our time) Asian Cup qualifier against Kuwait, which may see Alex Brosque nestled in behind Archie Thompson in something resembling a two-man forward line, which would be a Socceroos collector’s item.

According to the trusty Fox Sports observers, Andy Harper and Simon Hill, who have been on the ground keeping an eye on things at training, the formation will look something like this;

————————Galekovic———————

———————————————————–

Kemp———Moore——Colosimo——-Heffernan

————————————————————-

——————Wilkshire—–Jedinak—————-

————————————————————

—Sterjovski————Brosque———–Vidosic—-

————————————————————–

————————-A Thompson———————–

If true, it’s a well balanced outfit, offering plenty of cut and thrust going forward and a very solid central defensive spine, with two key men in Luke Wilkshire and Mile Jedinak screening Craig Moore and Simon Colosimo.

Eugene Galekovic is the right option between the sticks.

The experienced central defenders need no introduction to each other, having been a part of the Socceroos team that set a world record in 2001 when they thumped American Samoa 31-0 in Coffs Harbour.

Of course, Archie Thompson was the major story that night, bagging 13 of his own, but as I noted in this recent piece, February 2006 was the A-League greats last goal in green and gold; four long years.

Thompson has looked a very hungry player since missing out on a couple of Verbeek’s recent squads, and knows more than anyone that he must seize this chance if he is to figure going forward.

Thompson would do well to not only focus his attention on making Verbeek’s World Cup 23, but on giving the manager something to think about in the front third stakes. No done deals in that area, it would appear.

Club coach Ernie Merrick has been boasting about the strikers renewed ability to defend from the front, and if Verbeek is seeing the same thing at training, then Thompson will have made an impression.

Verbeek loves nothing more than a front four that can start the teams defence, and that is among the reasons Brosque looks a sound option in behind Thompson.

Had Nick Carle been playing more regularly at Crystal Palace then he might have had a mortgage on the “number 10”, but as it is Neil Warnock thinks more highly of a hack like Shaun Derry, and Carle hasn’t been off the bench since the 5th of December.

Meanwhile, the Sydney FC striker, if he is given a license to roam from this central attacking midfield spot, can be a real headache for Kuwait, getting forward and beyond Thompson in the dynamic, driving style that Verbeek tends to adore.

With his finishing ability, he even has the opportunity to prove he is a better option that Brett Holman.

Brosque has made no secret of his desire to play centrally, and, like Thompson, must play with the confidence he has been exuding in the domestic league.

Foremost, these two must do their job for the team. Thereafter, the other pieces will fall into place.

Dario Vidosic was seen limping a couple of days ago, but may have done enough with his limited opportunities so far to get a start. The modern wide player, he knows his job is to offer something in attack and funnel back quickly when without the ball.

It is a role he is familiar with at Nurnberg, despite not having featured since late November.

On the other side, Mile Sterjovski knows the scene, knows what is expected of him, and has been hitting his straps at Perth.

It looks a mobile and quick front four, and the hope is they can combine well and stretch the Kuwaitis.

All the while they will be fed by the boss of the midfield, Wilkshire, who will look to set the tempo with his simple and efficient game.

If Jason Culina had made the trip, Wilkshire might have best been utilised on the right side of defence, but with Culina pulling out, the Dynamo Moscow man had to play in central midfield.

Mile Jedinak has been getting forward and getting goals in Turkey, but among his key roles here will be to ensure the supply to the dangerous Bader Al Mutwa, one of this correspondent’s favourite Asian players, is minimised.

Otherwise, the tormenter of the Socceroos on more than one occasion might get a chance to get at Moore on the ground, and that could spell trouble.

Our best bet is if Colosimo, with his extra pace, looks after Al Mutwa whenever he ventures centrally into the front third.

But he is a very clever mover, a footballer, venturing deep and out wide to pick up the ball, so it must be a concentrated team effort to keep him out. Especially out wide.

Perhaps the biggest chink in the Socceroos armour, and the area Al Mutwa may look to exploit, is in the fullback spots. All the options are raw at this level.

If I was choosing, it would be Heffernan on the left and Matt Thompson on the right.

Heffernan has been terrific for much of this season and had a good-one against Sydney in his most recent game.

Matthew Kemp has had a terrific season and deserves his spot in the squad, but I do worry about his technical ability and finishing at this level. His final ball has improved vastly this season, but is it yet up to international level?

Matt Thompson felt his way though his first two caps, but one senses he is ready for the step up.

He would be my only obvious addition to the nominated team above, with Carle coming in centrally for Vidosic in the unlikely event he succumbs to injury, forcing Brosque out wide.

Otherwise, the preparation has looked good, and the mood appears about right; not too cocky, with plenty needing to prove a point.

Not much has been heard about the hosts this time around, but if the Socceroos remain focussed and can keep their cool, they should at least come away from Kuwait with a share of the points, hopefully more.

Follow Tony on Twitter @TonyTannousTRBA
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