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Socceroo's coach Pim Verbeek chats with Harry Kewell during a training session at ANZ Stadium, Sydney, Thursday, June 19, 2008. The Socceroo's take on China in a World Cup qualifying match this Sunday, June 22. AAP Image/Dean Lewins
After a comprehensive 3-0 rout of Ireland in their recent friendly in Limerick, the Socceroos will be out to extend their winning streak when they take on Korea Republic in Seoul.
But without the talismanic Tim Cahill in their midst, Australia may need to find a new match-winner when they run out at Seoul World Cup Stadium on Saturday night.
Time is slowly ticking down for several players to confirm their place in Pim Verbeek’s 2010 World Cup plans.
North Queensland Fury defender Shane Stefanutto gets his chance in the absence of the reliable Scott Chipperfield.
Chipperfield picked up his second Man-of-the-Match award in ten days in FC Basel’s recent 2-1 home defeat to Young Boys Bern, but recent knocks means the versatile veteran won’t be risked in the South Korean capital.
Another possibly playing for his international future is Michael Beauchamp.
The tall defender appears to be on the outer at Danish club Aalborg, with Beauchamp – like so many of his Socceroos team-mates – currently struggling for game time.
Ironically, it’s the much-maligned Brett Holman who is playing regularly and seemingly in form.
Not only will he run out for his club side AZ Alkmaar in the UEFA Champions League group stage this season, but Holman also scored the opener in the Dutch champion’s most recent 2-1 win over Willem II.
Whether he can demonstrate some more composure in a Socceroos jersey remains to be seen, but the Pim Verbeek-favourite is one Socceroo who appears in no danger of missing the World Cup squad.
The same can’t be said of Nicky Carle – recently denied a loan move to FC Seoul by Crystal Palace coach Neil Warnock, despite the fact that Warnock has shown little propensity to actually play the creative midfielder this season.
Mile Jedinak just switched clubs to gain more first team football, while a frustrated Jade North no doubt wishes he’d done the same, with several of the Socceroos far from first choice players for their respective sides.
So it will come as a relief that youngster Dario Vidosic turned in a bright performance for German outfit 1. FC Nürnberg last weekend, while Nikita Rukavytsya is another youngster looking to make his mark with the World Cup finals inching ever closer.
Both are likely to start on the bench, with Celtic striker Scott McDonald getting his wish as he looks set to be paired alongside the towering Josh Kennedy in a classic “little-man, big-man” combination up front.
Meanwhile the Korean Football Association pulled a swift one with the naming of their squad, with several overseas-based players named in a preliminary squad subsequently dropping out.
There were always going to be changes with no goalkeepers named in the original squad.
But with the KFA and the K-League routinely at loggerheads over scheduling, a full round of K-League action next Sunday makes the inclusion of thirteen local-based players somewhat surprising.
Lee Young-Pyo – once briefly a team-mate of Jason Culina’s at PSV Eindhoven – slammed the K-League for its reluctance to release domestic players for national team duty.
The Al-Hilal defender was named in the final squad, however 2002 World Cup star Ahn Jung-Hwan was ultimately overlooked.
Bundesliga club Freiburg refused to release Cha Du-Ri – whose father Cha Bum-Kun is arguably the most famous Asian player of all time.
Not an ideal situation for coach Huh Jung-Moo, although he can at least call upon Manchester United star Park Ji-Sung for the clash, while exciting Monaco youngster Park Chu-Young is another to watch out for.
And after topping a tough-looking World Cup qualifying group, the South Koreans will be no pushovers in the capital.
If it’s squad depth the Socceroos are looking to test, they’ve got the perfect opportunity to do in Seoul.
The result is relatively unimportant, but with no Lucas Neill or Tim Cahill in the line-up, now is an ideal time for some fringe Socceroos to step up and leave their mark on the national team.