Australia NewsLIVE: Socceroo Training Camp |
EXCLUSIVE: We're live at Socceroo training at Bob Jane Stadium in South Melbourne - and Covic has been injured.
12.15pm UPDATE: Goalkeeper Ante Covic has picked up an injury. With Vukovic the only other keeper in camp and Mark Schwarzer a potential late arrival, suddenly there could be a crisis looming in goals.Covic was taken off during the 11 v 11 match and is now receiving treatment.
It's not clear how he picked up the knock. The big keeper does not look happy.
11.45am: Michael Thwaite has arrived for his first training session and is playing as an attacking right back in an 11 v 11 match.
The side that Verbeek has worked with is: Moore, Vargas, NTS, Thwaite – Muscat, Colosimo, Pondeljak – Troisi, Aloisi and J Griffiths.
The coaching staff are emphasising playing the ball on the deck, working space – particularly wide – and getting in low crosses. No-one is lumping long balls, it's a very cultured style of play that Verbeek is emphasising.
Typical Dutch, they are trying to control possession and play the ball out from the back. And there is no shortage of width.
The cooler conditions and the fact that the final squad is only days away has made this session very sharp.
11.30am UPDATE: After a warm up, the players have been split into two groups. One group is working with assistant coach Henk Duut on playing the ball into the final third, playing it wide and crossing the ball for Archie Thompson and James Holland to come from just behind the front line to hit a ball past Ante Covic.
The other group is working with Pim Verbeek on a similar tactical work in the other half of the ground.
Craig Moore and Roddy Vargas are playing balls from the half-way line into wide areas for Nikolai Topor Stanley to work space wide and to cross for Bruce Djite, John Aloisi and Mark Bridge.
Verbeek is animated in what he wants as is Duut as both halves of the pitch are working at an intense level on making space and getting low crosses in.
Defender Adam Griffiths has sat out training and is only doing light work on the side of the pitch.
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