Dear me. Pim Verbeek, ensconced in a hotel in Manama, has a casualty list longer than a Mexican Day of the Dead. Scott McDonald, the latest to pull out of Australia’s World Cup clash against Bahrain, has a chest infection (whatever happened to V for Vicks?) and of those left standing Tim Cahill, probably our most lethal attacking weapon, has a bung foot.
If that weren’t bad enough, the poker-faced Rotterdammer has practically got the time it takes to whip up a plate of couscous to get his team focused on the task ahead.
No problem for Super Pim, though. He’s been there and done it many times before.
With Harry Kewell expected to assume a lone striker role, frankly I’m a little worried.
“H” might be in scoring form in Turkey but when he’s been given responsibility upfront for the Socceroos he usually doesn’t match the hype with deeds.
It’s a big gamble to leave Josh Kennedy on the bench, especially given the home side, depleted with suspensions to Mohammed Salmeen, Abdulla Al Marzooqi, Abdulla Omar and Mahmood Jalal, are treating this assignment like Escape from Alcatraz.
Their jack-in-the-box for this match is naturalised 1.81-metre-tall 23-year-old Nigerian striker Jaycee John (aka “Jesse John”, great name) Okwunwanne, who plays for Royal Excelsior Mouscron in Belgium’s Jupiler Ligue and was responsible for this breakdance-like bit of magic during a match in Bahrain in 2007 (pardon the music). To pull off a move like that takes balls and nerve. And lots of skill.
Time and time again our defenders have been caught out by opposing forwards with sleight-of-foot skills so they’re going to have to work harder than they probably anticipated. (Then again, I can’t see any Australian defender allowing Jaycee John as much time on the ball as he got in that clip.)
This is the first time the Australians will have met the crafty Nigerian-Bahraini (he didn’t play in either of the two games Australia played against Bahrain in 2006), but if Verbeek’s scouts have been doing their work they will be aware not only of his footwork but his creative impact: he set up Bahrain’s equaliser in their World Cup qualifier against Qatar in Doha in September and in a friendly in November last year against Singapore scored a hat-trick. Ominously it was in the same stadium the Socceroos meet the Bahrainis in the early hours of Thursday morning AEST. Coming on a substitute, he also posed some problems for the Japanese in their 3-2 away win over Bahrain in September.
Australians’ sum knowledge of Bahraini football doesn’t add up to much at all really, all things considered, so the ingredients of this match – lack of preparation and personnel for the Socceroos, do or die urgency from the Bahrainis – will go a long way to ensuring it is far more competitive than any of us would have anticipated in the wake of the Aussies’ demolition job of Qatar in Brisbane.
All the same, I think the Australians will be too good for their hosts and set-up an almost unassailable lead in Group A qualifying.
It’s a shame it’s been so easy for the Aussies – I would have loved to have seen them lumped in the far more cutthroat Group B, just for competition’s sake – but we’re not home and hosed yet.
One banana skin in Manama and Verbeek’s forecast could start looking a whole lot different. And we’re sure as hell one football nation that knows all about banana skins, aren’t we?
Slippery Jim
Guest
Actually, Cranky's worse on points per game, surely a more meaningful stat, at least in any qualification league...
dasilva
Guest
Top 5 Coaches by Win Record Rank Name Period Win % Pts./Game 1 Les Scheinflug (incl. 9 matches as caretaker) 1981 - 1994 71% 2.24 2 Terry Venables 1997 - 1998 65% 2.09 3 Frank Farina 1999 - 2005 59% 1.91 4 Pim Verbeek 2007 - 58% 2.00 5 Guus Hiddink 2005 - 2006 58% 1.92 Irrefutable evidence that Frank Farina is better then both Pim and Guus
Koala Bear
Guest
Yes Slippery Jim, but is he as good as Big Phil Scolari..?. :D ~~~~~~~~~ KB
Slippery Jim
Guest
I believe Pim is now statistically better than Guus. Food for thought.
Mick of Newie
Guest
das here was my take on it, provided the lessons are learnt it is great to get a wake up call and 3 points. The lessons for Pim as far as I am concerned tell Carney and Coyne (and Sterj) to get a game, if not at current club somewhere else. Kennedy is not your solo striker with back to goal. He should only be used with another striker and with some width. Valeri is sloppy in possession, a real question for me about his capacity at this level. The unsolvable lessons are, Emmo is great value to the team, when Cahill is off the pace it shows and we do lack depth when we have a few guys out. The options off the bench to spark things were very limited and Pim's reluctance to use Sterj and Holman till late was telling. Having said that I think Holman may have been of more value earlier (had trouble typing that bit).
Joe FC
Guest
Koala Bear It was a quality contest & I'm sure you will enjoy viewing. Our Jesse has an eye for talent as the subject of his story turned in a dazling performance, though his finishing was not as good as Brescanio's.
Koala Bear
Guest
Das, Joe FC, Your account of the game was the first I have heard and now look forward to heading down to the CRSL to watch a replay if I can get one of those gold leave passes from the cheese&kisses .. However, looking forward to a good contest.. :D ~~~~~~~~~ KB
Joe FC
Guest
Jesse I hope that game was competitive enough for you because it certainly wasn't easy. The better team lost.
Dave
Guest
The Answer "Asian football is largely rubbish and I can’t believe how many games in a world cup qualifying campaign can be deemed banana skins. Bahrain are terrible, Australia will waltz in." Errr not quite...think you underestimate the quality of the top 6-8 teams in Asia. Bahrain completely dominated the Socceroos and should have won.
dasilva
Guest
I'm sorry for writing off Bahrain predicting 4-0 It was probably one of the most unfair victory an Australian side ever made. When Bresciano scored that goal. I didn't jump up and cheer and celebrate (although I did laugh at our good fortune). I felt really sorry for Bahrain who deserve 3 points from that match. It was such a cruel ending for such a great effort. Australia has a tendency of getting lucky results in this campaign. 0-0 China, 1-0 Iraq, 1-0 Ghana, 1-0 Uzbekistan (should have conceded a penalty but the referee missed) and now 1-0 Bahrain. Hopefully that luck will continue to be with us at the World Cup The only person who actually played well in that match was Jason Culina, Bresciano and Schwarzer. I also think this match show that when Mark Viduka is fit, he should walked straight back to our national team. His ability to hold the ball under great pressure was sorely missed tonight. Kennedy again shows he is all headers. His touch is crap. Cahill looked completely unfit and should have been off far earlier. Coyne too was showing lack of match practice. Wilkshire had an uncharacteristically poor match. However the biggest liability was David Carney who shouldn't be near our national team until he plays regular club football (even with regular football I would still be hesitant picking him). He hasn't played a good game for Australia since Nigeria and is an absolute liability to the side. Jesse Fink - Good pick on Jesse John. He was excellent that match and troubled Australia all game. Too bad he missed that sitter which would have capped off a great match from him and give the team a deserved victory.
The Answer
Guest
Asian football is largely rubbish and I can't believe how many games in a world cup qualifying campaign can be deemed banana skins. Bahrain are terrible, Australia will waltz in. Forget the hype of trying to talk people in following these matches, we will be at the World Cup, put your house on it. No call for Nick Carle?
dasilva
Guest
Dave I'm generally conservative with prediction. I predicted Australia losing to Uruguay in 2005, knock out group stages in 2006, Adelaide losing against Chanchung Yatai when needed to draw to qualify to the quarter finals, elimination against Kashima, predicting draw with Uzbeks, Narrow victory over Qatar. however, now is one of the few times I feel confident and have no nerves as a socceroos game is approaching. It's seems that Pim's confident and bullish attitude from the last match seems to be brushing off onto the fans - or to me at least .
Dave
Guest
KB After attending the 1997 and 2001 qualifiers at the 'G' l dont think the old ticker could stand such a finish...how about 3-2 to the Socceroos with a Kool hatrick...alright the Japs can qualify also on goal difference...thats a real happy ending :) RW can write what she likes dont think l'd be too interested at that point. Perhaps the FFA should invite her to the game so she can sing the national anthem with 90,000 others...might just give her something positive to say... Dasilva Whilst on form would agree with your prediction but...have always found sport in general and football in particular has a way of bringing you down a peg or two just when you think you have the game licked...hope you're right.
Koala Bear
Guest
Dave, good stuff and this would be good match it the Japanese need only to draw to go through with Australia.. But yes it would be a party what ever happens on the night. I think we are in the box seat and they need to knock us off... I can see in now; the last 10 sec of the 90 + add on time Australia one goal up the Japanese push forward to get the equalizer .. the Jap goal keeper comes up for the corner leaps high and Schwarzer falls to the ground. Neill sees the Jap keeper with the ball at his feet on the goal line, and only needs to toe it over.. Neill hurtles himself into the melee to head the ball away but brings down the Jap goal keeper.. Schwartz struggles to regain his footing leaps over the bodies lays across the goal line.. Somehow miraculously the Jap keeper with no fear or reason of his own safety continually stomping on Neill's head; the Spanish ref blows his whistle, the crowd is stunned, and incredible awards the Japanese a penalty against Neill for maliciously attacking the Japs foot with his head .. The goal is scored and the Japs go thru with Australia.. The Crowd erupts and riots and the Japs safe guarded to their dressing room .. Meanwhile Rebecca Wilson writes another disparaging article .. the Champagne corks are popping at Grooky headquarters with congradulatons of a job well done... Dave I love a happy ending... :D ~~~~~~~~ KB
dasilva
Guest
The last time Australia played in Bahrain it was a non-fifa date with a second XI side. We came over there and beat them 3-1. Not only that - Graham Arnold tactically outclass the opposing coach with a structural change at half time to turn the match for Australia If we could do that with Arnie, then Pim will do better 4-0
Dave
Guest
KB Already have my 12 tickets (family/mates) for the big one at the 'G'. Even if Oz have already qualified will still be a big party. Be nice if the Japs haven't qualified and they need something from that last game... :)
Koala Bear
Guest
Sorry Lads I hit the wrong button .... I am not worried I sort of hope it's a draw so the interest keeps rollin’ along for the big showdown with the Japanese.. What a spectacle that would be if it had a bearing on qualification on that last game… Yes a draw would be OK with me and the big one at the MCG with 95k screaming Aussies Ole Ole Ole Aussie Aussie... ;) ~~~~~~~~~ KB
Koala Bear
Guest
I am not worried I sort of hope its a draw so the interest keeps rollin' along for the show down with the Japanese.. What a spectacle that would be if it had a bearing to qualify on that last game... Yes a draw would be OK with me and he big one at the MCG with 95k
Midfielder
Guest
Lots of player pulling out .......... banana skin game this should win ........but is still easy to loose. I hope that Jedi gets on the pitch at some stage .......... I am nervous before every game ...... why is Josh Kennedy on the bench has the run on team been announced already
Ben of Phnom Penh
Guest
I hope that Qatar to be defeated by Japan. The key isn't coming first in the group but in the top two. Therefore the further away the third placed team is from us in terms of points the better. Hence, go Samurai Blue! I'm also hoping that the South Koreans managed to get a point in Saudi Arabia. That would make Group B an almighty squeeze, particularly as Team Melli have not been playing well and are no certainty against UAE. My hope: Saudi-Korea draw in Millster's much desired 2-2 draw and UAE upset the Iranians to leave the group with no breathing room what-so-ever.