Verbeek forced into Socceroos reshuffle

Socceroos Head Coach Pim Verbeek has made a number of changes to his squad for the friendly match against South Africa at Loftus Road Stadium in London on Tuesday night (London time).

Michael Beauchamp, Brett Emerton and Harry Kewell have been omitted due to niggling injuries, while David Carney, Bruce Djite, Richard Garcia, Mark Milligan and Matthew Spiranovic have been added to the squad.

Scott Chipperfield joins the Socceroos for the first time since recovering from a foot injury that has prevented him from appearing in the previous eight international matches.

“Most of the players have just started, or are about to start, their respective domestic competitions and we can now start focusing of the World Cup qualifiers which are just around the corner,” Verbeek said from London.

“With that in mind, we will be looking to try a few different things in the match against South Africa on Tuesday night, he concluded.

Meanwhile South Africa coach Joel Santana has introduced some fresh faces into his 23-man squad and intends on using the match to give younger players an opportunity to impress.

“Unlike at club level, at national level you don’t have the luxury of having your players day in and day out. For instance, this is a short camp with only two limited training sessions.” Santana said

“My players come from different parts of the world and from all corners of the country, and will leave immediately afterwards. So one therefore has to improvise on the given circumstances.”

Socceroos squad for South Africa friendly: Mark Bresciano (US Citta di Palermo, Italy), Nick Carle (Crystal Palace FC, England), David Carney (Sheffield United FC, England), Scott Chipperfield (FC Basel, Switzerland), Chris Coyne (Colchester United FC, England), Jason Culina (PSV Eindhoven, Netherlands), Bruce Djite (Genclerbirligi, Turkey), Richard Garcia (Hull City, England), Vincenzo Grella (Torino FC Spa, Italy), Brett Holman (AZ Alkaamar, Netherlands), Josh Kennedy (Karlsruhe SC, Germany), Scott McDonald (Celtic FC, Scotland), Mark Milligan (uncontracted), Lucas Neill (West Ham United FC, England), Michael Petkovic (Sivasspor, Turkey), Mark Schwarzer (Fulham FC, England), Matthew Spiranovic (FC Nurnberg, Germany), Mile Sterjovski (Derby County FC, England), Carl Valeri (U.S. Grosseto FC, Italy), Luke Wilkshire (FC Twente, Holland).

South Africa squad: Itumeleng Khune (Kaizer Chiefs), Moeneeb Josephs (Orlando Pirates); Aaron Mokoena (Blackburn), Bongani Khumalo (Supersport United), Nazier Allie (Ajax Cape Town), Bryce Moon (Panathinaikos), Nasief Morris (Recreativo Huelva), Bevan Fransman (Maccabi Netanya), Bradley Carnell (Karlsruhe), Innocent Mdledle (Orlando Pirates); Lance Davids (Djurgarden), Macbeth Sibaya (Rubin Kazan), Thulasizwe Mbuyane (Orlando Pirates), Matthew Pattison (Norwich City), Surprise Moriri (Mamelodi Sundowns), Kagiso Dikgacoi (Golden Arrows), Lefa Tsutsulupa (Moroka Swallows), Siyabonga Nkosi (Arminia Bielefeld), Dean Furman (Rangers), Teko Modise (Orlando Pirates), Siphiwe Tshabalala (Kaizer Chiefs); Sibusiso Zuma (Mamelodi Sundowns), Katlego Mphela (Mamelodi Sundowns), Benni McCarthy (Blackburn).

Australia vs South Africa

Tuesday, August 19, 2008.

Kick-Off 8pm BST (5am AEST, Wednesday, August 20)

Loftus Road Stadium (Shepherds Bush, London)