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Recovering Melbourne Victory striker Archie Thompson aims to use tomorrow night’s exhibition match against Juventus to put himself in the Socceroos’ picture for for upcoming World Cup qualifiers.
Thompson was unable to be considered for Sunday’s match against Iraq in Brisbane, as he has been sidelined by a knee injury which kept him out of all but the last match of the Victory’s Asian Champions League campaign.
But, with three more qualifiers – against Iraq, Qatar and China – in the following three weeks, the agile frontman is hoping to quickly regain touch tomorrow night to push his case.
“Obviously there’s a lot (at stake) for me with this game because I want to show that the knee is progressing well and there’s qualifiers next month and I desperately want to be a part of that,” Thompson said.
While he said the knee was not yet at full strength and he also needed more fitness work, he expects to come off the bench and play a half tomorrow night.
“The treatment I’ve been getting, it’s been getting stronger each training session so I’m looking forward to hopefully running a couple of rings around some Juventus players tomorrow,” the 2006 World Cup squad member said.
“… If I put a good performance in, I’ll just have to see what happens and hopefully I get the opportunity.”
Victory coach Ernie Merrick said he had been in contact with Socceroos boss Pim Verbeek and Thompson remained in his plans.
Merrick also said the Victory’s Australian squad members Danny Allsopp and Rody Vargas could be released for tomorrow night’s match.
Verbeek was to decide tonight whether he needed them for the Iraq game, with both to start against Juventus if they are available.
Merrick promised an attacking approach, with three strikers, rating entertainment for what will be close to a full house as important as the result.
Juventus’ Australian goalkeeper Jess Vanstrattan said the same approach could be expected from the Italian club.
“Hopefully we can put on a good spectacle for the people, play end to end football and nobody wants to see teams sit back and just try to play for a result,” Vanstrattan said.
“It’s a friendly match, so everyone will be keen to put on a good spectacle.”
Striker Raffaele Palladino said Juventus would be out to do the club’s famous colours justice, despite the absence of many of their biggest stars through a combination of injury, personal reasons or international commitments.
“Even though it’s just a friendly game I’m going to do my best to make sure that the Juve name is maintained and that we will be a very competitive side,” he said.
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