McDonald’s World Cup place is looking shaky

 
Paddy Higgs Roar Pro

By , 13 May 2010 Paddy Higgs is a Roar Pro

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Australia's Scott McDonald and Iraq's Haidar Hussain during the Australian Socceroos v Iraq World Cup qualifier. AAP Image/Dave Hunt

Pim Verbeek may have trimmed his list, but the battle for a place among the final 23 to represent Australia at the World Cup is still fierce. Just ask Scott McDonald. The diminutive forward needs little introduction, but to cast light on his situation one will be given nonetheless.

The 26-year-old’s career looked in danger of winking out just five years ago, until a successful move to Scottish Premier League club Motherwell.

Celtic came calling next, and McDonald plundered 51 goals in 88 appearances before shifting to Middlesborough in January.

After some early difficulties, McDonald settled at the Championship club and began to find the back of the net again.

But while the goals have not eluded the plucky striker at club level, the same cannot be said when representing Australia.

He has not scored in 15 appearances for the Socceroos; a fact that weighs heavily on his mind. It has not all been his own doing.

A fundamental difference between Verbeek and predecessor Guus Hiddink has not helped McDonald.

Hiddink’s formation was dictated by the players he had at his disposal. He recognised depth was a luxury the Socceroos did not have, so formulated his playing style around the nation’s best players.

Verbeek has taken a different approach. He has stuck with his chosen formation which – although sometimes talked up as otherwise – tends to be a fluid 4-5-1.

Players are then selected on their ability to play the roles within the formation.

It’s meant the likes of McDonald – and Nick Carle – have had trouble slotting in and making an impact.

McDonald has been a somewhat peripheral figure in Australia’s World Cup qualification campaign, becoming increasingly isolated from Verbeek’s formation.

He was even passed over for selection for the Socceroos’ game against Oman late last year.

Anyone with a pedigree such as his would seem a shoo-in for a World Cup spot, but speculation surfaced yesterday that McDonald would only gain a place if injuries to Harry Kewell and Mark Bresciano worsen.

And where there is smoke, there is fire.

While he has ploughed a lone furrow for Boro on occasion, McDonald seems uncomfortable up front alone.

It means Kewell and Josh Kennedy are well ahead in the pecking order for Verbeek’s lone striker’s role.

If taken to South Africa, he would most likely have to settle for a spot on the bench. But Nikita Rukavytsya’s goals for Belgium outfit KSV Roeselare have placed further pressure on McDonald.

McDonald is a classic poacher: crafty, slippery and always in the right spot.

But Rukavytsya has pace and a desire to take on defenders, lending him an X-factor McDonald simply can’t match.

Who is more likely to provide spark of the bench if Australia finds itself a goal down against Serbia?

The answer is not one in McDonald’s favour. Attacker Dario Vidosic’s versatility – a quality Verbeek cherishes – is another poor omen for McDonald.

McDonald may well get his ticket to the World Cup. But even then it may be fair to say that he – and a handful of other Verbeek ‘outsiders’ – will be looking forward to the Dutchman’s exit after the finals.

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