Preview: Socceroos vs Qatar

Can a Socceroos side that has had just 48 hours together win its first-ever World Cup qualifier in Asia?

Australia coach Pim Verbeek has had 6 weeks to decide whether to field a team of inexperienced A-League players, or try his luck with a squad of experienced – but potentially jet-lagged – Europe-based players. After several training camps with the local players, culminating in an embarrassing 1-1 draw against an undermanned Melbourne Victory last Saturday, Verbeek has opted for the latter.

Selecting a team after spending only two days with the majority of the players is far from a safe option. But then, picking a side that can’t beat a Melbourne side missing many of its key players is just plain foolish. Choosing the “Euroroos” was the better of two risky options.

Or at least, that’s what we hope.

Yesterday, Verbeek named a provisional 21-man squad, which is due to be shortened to 18 today. Rodrigo Vargas and Kevin Muscat did not make it into the shortlist, which featured 7 A-League players: John Aloisi, Ante Covic, Jade North, Craig Moore, Danny Vukovic, Nikolai Topor-Stanley and Melbourne’s Archie Thompson. Joel Griffiths and Mark Milligan were both injured on the weekend, putting them out of contention for tonight’s game.

Not among the 14 Europe-based players are Harry Kewell, Michael Beauchamp and Nick Carle, who were informed earlier this week that their services were not necessary. Michael Thwaite, who flew out to Melbourne last week, has also been told he will not be needed.

Coaching Qatar is one Jorge Fossati, a man many Australians will remember for being the coach of Uruguay when Australia qualified for the 2006 World Cup. Fossati has plenty of reason to seek revenge.

But he will be trying to do so with a Qatar side missing some of its best players: Uruguayan-born Sebastian Soria, the team’s star striker; Portuguese-born Yasser Hussein, a midfielde; defender Bilal Mohammad; and striker Sayed Al Bachir.

Qatar failed to score in their three warm-up matches last month, a result which has made most pundits predict that the Qatari 11 will be banking for a nil all draw. But with Al Sadd striker Ali Afifi and talented 19-year old Khalfan Ibrahim running behind him, Qatar’s potential to steal a goal should not be underestimated. And according to today’s Age, Pim isn’t underestimating their counterattack at all.

Qatar are considered the easiest of Australia’s Group 1 challengers, with both China and Iraq promising tough competition. Winning tonight is, quite simply, essential.

My tip: 2 – 0

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