Last Time We Played the Uzbeks

Socceroos Team List For Uzbekistan WCQ (Kewell Included)

Michael Beauchamp (Aalborg) CB
Mark Bresciano (Palermo) CM/AMF/SMF
Jacob Burns (Unirea) CMF
Tim Cahill (Everton) CMF/AMF/CF
David Carney (Sheffield Utd, on loan at Norwich) SMF/SB
Scott Chipperfield (Basel) SB/CB/SMF
Chris Coyne (Colchester) CB
Jason Culina (PSV Eindhoven) CMF/SMF
Adam Federici (Reading)GK
Richard Garcia (Hull) CB
Brett Holman (AZ Alkmaar) AMF/CF
Mile Jedinak (Genclerbirligi) CMF
Josh Kennedy (Karlsruhe) CF
Harry Kewell (Galatasaray) AMF/SMF/CF/CB?
Scott McDonald (Celtic) CF
Lucas Neill (West Ham) CB/SB
Jade North (Incheon) CB/SB
Michael Petkovic (Sivasspor) GK
Mark Schwarzer (Fulham) GK
Mile Sterjovski (Derby) SMF
Carl Valeri (Grosseto) CMF
Luke Wilkshire (Dynamo Moscow) SB/SMF/CMF

Pretty strong squad, Kewell is red hot for Galatasaray, even excelling as a central defender in a recent UEFA Cup match. Apparently Verbeek wants to put Cahill back in the midfield for this one (thank God) speaking of which hopefully he puts his faith in Jesus as they're also saying McDOnald will start in centre forward.

We're only missing Moore, Emmerton and Grella. I'm just glad we're not relying on A-league players for this one. Especially as myself and Bobas will be at this game.

Kewell Heads In, Emerton Hamstrings Out, Cahill In Doubt, McDonald Virused Out

Emerton will miss the Socceroos class with Bahrain this Thursday with a soft hamstring injury. Obviously Blackburn Rovers cannot afford him getting another brace for the Socceroos.

Tim Cahill, is also in doubt with a heel injury. After Cahill's recent foot injuries I'm pretty sure Everton will not let him play despite him coming to Bahrain with the squad. Emerton in the past have not release Cahill for international matches, although this one fell on a international date.

Scott McDonald has a virus, probably influenza and cant fly to the squad, let alone play. He didn't play in Celtic's last match, so a plausible excuse.

Harry Kewell scored for Galatasary again, that's his 7th in 13 appearances. Last night he scored off a corner, seemed to miss time his arrival, but jumped backwards and headed forwards to score(watch the video).

World Cup Qualifier Bahrain v Australia
Thursday 20th November kickoff 02:00 am (on Foxsports 1).

OzzyFootball tip Sterjovski, to take Emertons spot on the right wing. And HOLMAN to take Cahill's Shadow striking attacking midfielder role.

Previously would have tipped Wilkshire to move forward and have another right fullback, but with the defense being so solid last game and having it already disrupted with Chipperfield and Moore being swapped for Carney and Coyne respectively you can see why some stability in this area would be important.

Chippers not so Chipper

So a few developments with Socceroos players.

Harry Kewell has hepatitis, although his condition is thought to be likely genetic and certainly uninfectious, he's had it since he played for Leeds. So no real story except some journalist thought it was juicy. One interesting quote came from Kewell's manager Bernie Mandic told au.fourfourtwo.com:
"Bottom line, Harry does not have and has never had any infectious disease,"
He must be some kind of superhero.

Scott Chipperfield is to undergo surgery for a urinary tract infection (ouch), which means he'll be out until January. It's an annoying set back for another Aussie scoring regularly for his club Basel. Although they have lost three games in the Champions League, Chipperfield is Basel's joint leading scorer having struck four times in 10 Swiss Super League matches this season. Obviously he will miss the Bahrain match for the Socceroos.

Scott Mcdonald scored the opener for Celtic, as they cruised past Kilmarnock in their recent Scottish Cup quarter-final clash. It was a neat header from a cross, beating his man to the ball Mcdonald gave the keeper little chance. It's good to have players who can work a set piece. Speaking of which, team mate Japan midfielder Nakamura knocked in a free kick sweetly with his left. Something to look ot for when we meet them in qualifying.

Luke Wilkshire scored for Dinamo but it was too little too late as they went down 3-1 to city rivals, and league leaders CSKA Moscow.

That's about it, feel free to post stuff I might have missed.

Check this video of Chipperfield rejecting a Brazilian jersey.

Vidukan't the Socceroos Can!

Injured Socceroo striker Mark Viduka has joined the Australian squad in Brisbane, not that there's any chance of him playing. He was consulting with the Socceroo's medical staff to help overcome a troublesome Achilles injury that has had him sidelined from Newcastle United in the EPL. Although this injury is likely to see him miss up to six months of competitive football, his presence in Brisbane is the strongest indicator yet that the door has not closed on his international career.

The Socceroos play Qatar on Wednesday, a game that if won should put them on top of the standings for the final group of qualifying. Australia are favourites, but Qatar are a different team this time with a new coach and most likely some new ideas.

The make up of our team is becoming more clear Neill, Moore and fellow veterans Scott Chipperfield and Brett Emerton were missing from Monday night’s training session. So it seems that perhaps Moore has pipped Coyne for the starting central defensive role. Carney trained in LMF while Chippers was preferred in the LB in previous sessions. All of this may be irrelevant as it's in Verbeek's interest to keep the opposition guessing as to the make up of his side.

I can't wait to see this one, hopefully a cracking game with lots of goals (for us). A lot will depend on our ability to contain Qatar's main offensive threat Sebastian Soria Quintana. Born in Uruguay, a fact that should add some extra incentive for our boys. Our main threats will be a red hot Cahill and our obvious height advantage in Kennedy. Both of these players scored against Qatar last time we won in Australia, and perhaps could have got a hat full. If we can get crosses/corners and quality balls (thanks Wilkshire) we will put Qatar under all sorts of pressure.

Go the Socceroos! Or as we at Ozzy Football like to call them, Jesus and Pals.