Socceroos coach Pim Verbeek is not fazed by Australia’s 3-1 loss to South Korea on Saturday night, with the Dutchman more focussed on using the outing as a chance to experiment and allow fringe players an opportunity on the international stage.
The defeat was the worst result for Australia since Verbeek took charge in February last year and the first time Australia had conceded three goals in 27 matches since an infamous loss to Iraq at the Asian Cup in July 2007.
Australia fielded an inexperienced backline of Jade North, Mark Milligan, Patrick Kisnorbo and Shane Stefanutto who were up against a Korean team with nearly 1,000 caps collectively.
Australia were punished for a sluggish start and had conceded twice by the 20-minute mark with Park Chu-Young and Lee Jung-Soo on the scoresheet.
Australia pulled a goal back via the head of Kisnorbo before the interval but after an improved second-half showing from the Socceroos failed to garner an equaliser, it was the home side that secured a clinching goal through Seol Ki-Hyun.
The Koreans, having matched Australia by topping their Asian World Cup qualifying group earlier this year, are in impressive form and have not tasted defeat since January last year.
Saturday night’s win in Seoul was their 25th match unbeaten and the world record of 35, jointly held by Brazil and Spain is slowly coming into view for the seven-time World Cup finalists.
Verbeek, who was without the services of a number of key players including skipper Lucas Neill, Tim Cahill and Harry Kewell, plus defenders Scott Chipperfield and David Carney, said the match was a rare chance to allow fringe players a chance to play against quality international opposition.
“We have some tough games coming up against the Netherlands and also Asian Cup (qualifiers) so there is no time for doing anything like we did (against Korea) with giving players the chance to get international football,” Verbeek said.
“The match was a great opportunity against a very good opponent to see players that didn’t play so often in the last World Cup qualification round.
“Of course we don’t like to lose, and you always try to win the game, but I think a draw would have been a good result on the night but losing is also part of football.”
Verbeek didn’t name any players for special praise but stated that he was pleased with the second-half showing.
“I think it is the first time that those four players in the back-line have played together and there was some communication problems,” he said.
“But they did very well in the second half and that is the good aspect of playing these games so that next time they know exactly what to do and how we like to play football.
“We can never get that experience from training sessions, you have to play games.
“I have to be fair and say the Korean team played very well, they were very organised and of course they have some special players.”
Defender Mark Milligan is understood to have suffered no serious injury despite leaving the field late in the game on the stretcher following a robust challenge.
The Socceroos’ next match will be a glamour friendly against world No.3 the Netherlands on 10 October in Sydney before an Asian Cup qualifier against Oman in Melbourne four days later.
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