Australian player Vince Grella (right) during the Socceroos pre-match training session at the Melbourne Cricket Ground. AAP Image/Luis Enrique Ascui
Forget about the likes of Harry Kewell, Tim Cahill, Mark Bresciano, Vince Grella, Brett Emerton, Craig Moore and Lucas Neill being the Socceroos most important players at the World Cup.
The first 11 picks themselves and if any of the above players that I mentioned are fit or near it on June 14 they will be shaking hands with German players while under their breath saying “wir sind dabei, Ihren ausgezeichneten englischen sprechenden deutschen Arsch zu kicken” which roughly translates to “we’re going to kick your excellent English speaking German arse”
(I think I am in love with Google translate, and I want to tell it in all sorts of different languages).
The most important Socceroos that will be picked in the 23 man squad will be the next 11. The reason I say this rather daft comment is that nine of the potential first 11 will be over 30 years old.
Only Jason Culina and Luke Wilkshire are in their twenties. There are five days between games during the group stage and I don’t really think everyone in the first team will be able to play every minute of the Aussies three group games.
So here is my fantasy 23 man World Cup Socceroo squad:
GK: Mark Schwarzer, Adam Federeci, Mitch Langerak (3)
DEF: Craig Moore, Lucas Neill, Mark Milligan, Scott Chipperfield, Luke Wilkshire, Ryhs Williams, Matthew Spiranovc, David Carney (8)
MID: Tim Cahill, Brett Emerton, Jason Culina, Nicky Carle, Vince Grella, Mile Jedinak, Carl Valeri, Mark Bresciano, Brett Holman, (8)
Strikers: Josh Kennedy, Harry Kewell, Nikita Rukavystya, Brett Holman (4)
And my first team 11 against Germany playing Pim’s famous 4-2-3-1 is:
—————–Mark Schwarzer—————–
Luke Wilkshire–Craig Moore–Lucas Neill–Scott Chipperfield
———–Vince Grella—–Jason Culina————
—–Brett Emerton—Tim Cahill—Mark Bresciano—–
——————-Harry Kewell——————–
Unlucky to miss out:
Scott McDonald, Richard Garcia, Mile Sterjovski, Simon Colisimo, Dario Vidosic, Jade North, Tommy Oar.
Are we there yet?
I have tried to be conservative due to Pims’ 4-2-3-1 formation with my choices; I guess the most controversial is not picking Scott McDonald.
Instead I have picked Nikita Ruckavytsa because he fits into that formation better than Scott McDonald, but I suspect Pim might take Dario Vidosic instead.
Both have the ability to get behind the defence and the team need some pace. It’s all speculation anyway and the man that counts is Pim Verbeek, but I’m not sure about you but I would rather forgo the all speculation, pre-game analysis and hype just so I can hear the whistle blow when the Socceroos take the field against Ze Germans on 14 June at 4:30am sharp.
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