Pim’s biggest problem is getting the defence right

 
Paddy Higgs Roar Pro

By , 6 May 2010 Paddy Higgs is a Roar Pro

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Australia's coach Pim Verbeek reacts from the sideline. AP Photo/Ermindo Armino

Australia's coach Pim Verbeek reacts from the sideline. AP Photo/Ermindo Armino

Pim Verbeek has several pressing issues ahead of the naming of Australia’s preliminary World Cup squad on Tuesday. At the forefront of a worrying queue is a concern over his central defenders.

Lucas Neill – whose own shortcomings have been exposed as he edges into his 30s – nonetheless has a mortgage on one slot.But who will join him there?

Let’s examine Verbeek’s options.

Kicking off Pim’s troubles was Patrick Kisnorbo. Or his achilles, to be more precise.

After years in the wilderness, Kisnorbo had emerged as Neill’s most likely partner-in-crime after impressing for Leeds United and when called upon for his country.

A ruptured achilles changed that, leaving Verbeek to look further afield.

Despite claims the break will keep him fresh, Craig Moore won’t have played competitive football since turning out for Greek club Kavala in March. His critics believe he won’t have the pace to cope with the likes of Lukas Podolski and Asamoah Gyan regardless of match-fitness.

Moore is held in high regard by Verbeek, but it remains to be seen how much the Dutchman’s patience will be tested by Moore’s inactivity.

If he deems the former Australian skipper not up to scratch, the man perhaps leading the charge to replace him is Mark Milligan.

Milligan hasn’t always showed himself to be the wisest of heads off the pitch, as evidenced by twice leaving for Europe only to return empty handed.

But the JEF United man has two key elements on his side. One, that he possesses pace – something of a rarity among other contenders. Two, and perhaps just as scant at present, he is getting constant game time.

The latter is an issue that is sure to put paid to the faint hopes of Matthew Spiranovic and Michael Beauchamp – both of who have seldom made it on the park this season.

Similarly, Jade North’s claims have not improved with a switch to Norwegian football. North couldn’t get a game in Korea with Incheon United. His situation has barely improved at Tromso.

A-League defender Simon Colosimo has spent time training with AZ Alkmaar in a bid to keep up his fitness. Fresh from a super season with Sydney FC, Colosimo will face a nervous wait to see if that was enough.

Youngsters Rhys Williams and Shane Lowry are unlikely to be called upon to take on the might of Germany on June 13, though the former is a good chance to get a berth on the plane due to his versatility and form for Middlesborough.

Adrian Madaschi, plying his trade in Italy’s lower leagues, must only be considered an outside chance.

Chris Coyne – who during a time not so long ago was getting game time for Australia’s strongest line-up – has not featured for the Socceroos since June 2009.

Like Moore, he is hardly blessed with pace. But at least the former West Ham youth is seeing time at Chinese club Liaoning.

The issue has even reportedly led Verbeek to scout Japan-based Eddy Bosnar. Bosnar’s mouth got him in trouble years ago when Frank Farina was coach.

Even he would admit he must have given up hope of one day getting a Socceroo cap. But Australia’s paucity of fit and in form centre backs has perhaps opened the door for the determined left-footer.

The situation has also led for calls to give Sasa Ognenovski a chance. The former Adelaide United has continued his Indian summer in Korea with Seongnam, but his flirtation with a Macedonia call-up appears to have worked against him in Verbeek’s books.

So who to pick?

Milligan will be on the plane, and must be considered favourite to take his spot alongside Neill against the Germans.

But selecting a back-up will be just as important.

Perhaps Verbeek’s main difference in approach to predecessor Guus Hiddink has been an emphasis on defence.

It is hard to imagine Verbeek emulating Hiddink’s substutions against Brazil in 2006, which led Australia to finish with just Lucas Neill, Luke Wilkshire and perhaps Scott Chipperfield as the only recognised defenders.

So it is perhaps cruelly ironic that it defence is precisely where Verbeek’s greatest problem lies.

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