Socceroos coach set to play it safe

Having steered Australia to the 2010 World Cup finals with minimum risk and maximum
effectiveness, coach Pim Verbeek will stay true to himself in the final qualifier
against Japan on Wednesday night.
With both teams having already locked up the two automatic qualifying berths from
their group, the match at the MCG has taken on something of the feel of a friendly
international.
But that doesn't wash with Verbeek.
He has yet to reveal whether he will start with a two-pronged strike attack of Josh
Kennedy and Scott McDonald, or persist with a lone target-man supported by the likes
of Tim Cahill and Mile Sterjovski pushing forward from midfield.
Highly-skilled Nick Carle could also get a rare chance to start for the Socceroos in
place of Harry Kewell, who's being rested after a long season at club and
international level.
But Verbeek won't risk starting any of the large group of players who are only one
booking away from missing the opening game of the finals in South Africa.
That means the best the likes of Brett Holman, David Carney and Mile Jedinak can
hope for on Wednesday night is a spot on the substitutes bench.
"I will not take any risk with the players with yellow cards," said Verbeek.
"The moment they go on the field they forget and they do what they always do.
"So I think it is better to finish off the World Cup qualification with a group that
is ready to start the World Cup."
Despite having kept clean sheets in all seven previous matches in the final round of
qualifying, there is a feeling among the Socceroos that they have not received
sufficient credit at having booked a berth in the World Cup finals for only the
third time.
Verbeek noted that Japanese coach Takeshi Okada was resting all four of his
European-based players - Celtic midfielder Shunsuke Nakamura, Makoto Hasebe and
Yoshito Okubo of VfL Wolfsburg and Venlo's Keisuke Honda.
Gamba Osaka star midfielder Yasuhito Endo has also been given a leave pass for
Wednesday night's game.
"I'd like to do that also (with Australia's European-based stars) because they
deserve a holiday, but if I do that we have no players on the field," said Verbeek.
"So I think you should give them a little more respect for what they do.
"And they love to do it.
"They did a fantastic job, playing in difficult circumstances."
With a crowd of more than 75,000 expected at the MCG, the clash for Asian bragging
rights will take place on Australian sport's biggest stage.
"This is a perfect opportunity for players to show themselves like they did last
week against Bahrain (in the 2-0 win in Sydney)," said Verbeek.
"We'll do it again, we'll give players the possibility to start and play in a big game.
"I've also told my players that I will not make a decision for the World Cup because
of the fact that they played a good game or a bad game tomorrow evening.
"They have a whole year to show and prove to me and themselves for final selection
for the World Cup."