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Verbeek set to stand down after Football World Cup
Jim Morton
1st March, 2010
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Jim Morton
Roar Guru
1st March, 2010
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Versatile defender Mark Milligan has urged the Socceroos to produce something special to tempt Pim Verbeek into continuing as coach after the World Cup.

Verbeek is expected to end his Australian tenure after the June tournament in South Africa and will discuss his future with FFA officials following Wednesday night’s Asian Cup qualifier against Indonesia.

The Dutchman, who harbours a desire to return to club football, was always expected to follow compatriot Guus Hiddink’s lead and end his short-term contract after the world finals.

But Japan-based Milligan, in line to start at Brisbane’s Suncorp Stadium after overcoming a groin injury, said the coach’s departure would be a “massive loss”.

Verbeek’s record since taking the reins from Graham Arnold two years ago has been highly impressive, the Socceroos enjoying 13 wins, seven draws and four losses in 24 internationals.

It stacks up well compared with Hiddink, who guided Australia to the 2006 World Cup and finished with seven wins and two draws from 12 matches.

While Milligan has had limited time under Verbeek, the former Olyroos skipper admitted he would be disappointed to lose him as players responded well to his style.

“Obviously if Pim leaves that’s going to be a massive loss for us,” said the 2006 World Cup squad member.

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“He’s grown to be more Australian (compared to) when he first came out here.

“All the players are very used to him, very used to his style of play, we know what to expect when we come into camp and it’s not easy when you lose a coach like that.

“So I think it’s very important we try to keep him.

“We’ve done very well under him and we’ve still got a lot (of time) to go before that decision is made so we just need to focus on those things and get the correct results and maybe if we keep doing well that will entice him to stay.”

Wednesday night’s clash is not only important for the squad, who need a draw to ensure qualification for the 2011 Asian Cup, but doubly so for Milligan.

The 24-year-old views Suncorp Stadium as his last chance saloon after enduring an extraordinary turbulent past four years since Hiddink chose him as the World Cup bolter for Germany.

Able to play virtually anywhere in defence, or as a holding midfielder, he has hardly been sighted for Australia since being one of the few to impress in the 2007 Asian Cup.

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But he stands with Simon Colosimo, Matthew Spiranovic, Patrick Kisnorbo and Jade North as potential back-ups to key central defenders Lucas Neill and Craig Moore.

Milligan, who left Shanghai Shenhua to sign with Japan’s JEF United, has desperately raced against time to overcome a torn groin to be fit for the final qualifier against out-of-contention Indonesia.

“The move to Japan hasn’t been the smoothest for myself due to my groin injury so I haven’t trained a lot over the last few weeks,” he said.

“(But) it’s all come together well for the next few days and I got a good training session on Sunday.

“Over the last few weeks I had wanted to be involved in this camp … as it was one last chance for me (before the World Cup) to show again what I’m capable of.”

AAP jsm/gjw

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