Australian squad named for game against Singapore

Aussie coach Pim Verbeek has finalised his squad for the March 22 friendly against Singapore. He has named an Olyroo-heavy team for the match up only four days before the 2010 World Cup Qualifier against the Chinese in Kunming.

Verbeek can’t be blamed for feeling a little nervous for their next qualifier as it falls smack bang in the middle of the European club football season therefore it made his decision an easy one to name an inexperienced team for the Singapore match. Only four of the 17 man squad has been capped at Socceroo level before.

A big number of experienced local based players were left behind including world cup hero John Aloisi, Simon Colosimo, Kevin Muscat and Joel Griffiths. This was strictly to allow the Olyroo team as much game time as possible before the commencement of the 2008 Beijing Olympics.

Verbeek is giving all players involved in the Singapore friendly hope of making the final cut for the match against the Chinese by saying, “I will not finalise my squad for the match against China until after the Singapore game so these players have a chance to impress and be included in the team for China”.

Published on March 11, 2008