Australia NewsPim: Loan Ticket To World Cup |
PIM Verbeek has strongly hinted A-League players wanting a World Cup squad spot will need a loan deal following the conclusion of the domestic season.
The Socceroo coach today named 15 A-League players in a squad for the upcoming AFC Asian Cup qualifier with Kuwait on January 6.
While the Melbourne Victory and Adelaide United players in the group - Galekovic, Jamieson, Thompson and Kemp - all have Asian Champions League commitments in the off-season, the remaining 11 will all remain without meaningful club football in the lead up to May 11 announcement of the 30-man squad.
"Okay, if they think they will be selected if they go to the beach, it's their decision. If it's their selection to stay here, it's their decision," the Dutchman said today.
"If they want to go to Europe it's up to them. I'm not going to say anything anymore about it.
"I think I made my point, didn't I? It's up to the players to take their decisions and it's up to the coaching staff to make their decisions on May 11.
"I'm not going to advise anything. They all know well enough what's coming up in the next five or six months. On the May 11, I make a selection of 30 players and on June 1, I make my final 23.
"So until that time everybody has a chance to show themselves."
The Socceroos will train in Dubai for the week leading up the game in Kuwait. Verbeek said he wanted to go out and win the game and tie up qualification against an "unpredictable" Kuwait.
As for his starting XI, he said it was all up for grabs.
"It's why I have picked two players for each position. Everyone has a 50-50 chance of being selected. It's up to the players now to show us," he said
And that includes teenage Tommy Oar. Verbeek said the Roar flyer wasn't there just for the experience.
He added: "If he's picked, it means he's good enough. If you're good enough, you're old enough."
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