Australia NewsSocceroo Starting Line-up |
EXCLUSIVE: The mystery surrounding Pim Verbeek's starting line-up for tonight's crunch World Cup qualifier against Qatar can be revealed by au.fourfourtwo.com.
To see behind the scenes at the final Socceroos training session...
It's understood that Verbeek will select the following starting team: Schwarzer, Neill, Moore, Emerton, Carney – Culina, Wilkshire, Bresciano, Cahill – McDonald, Kennedy.
From what our sources are telling us, Verbeek will employ a four man defence which in reality will be a two-man backline with Neill and Moore looking after Qatar's expected lone striker.
This means that wide “defenders” Brett Emerton (right) and David Carney (left) will have licence to push up in wide areas to support the midfield diamond and the strikeforce.
That diamond will consist of Eredivisie star Jason Culina at the base with Mark Bresciano, Luke Wilkshire and Timmy Cahill in front of him. The Everton talisman is likely to play in behind the front two in order to utilise his renowned ability to drift into the box and score.
The other two midfielders will be floating around the left and right channels and getting wide when they can.
Up front will be the Victorian duo of Karlsruhe beanpole Josh Kennedy and Celtic hitman Scott McDonald, forming a striking combination of height and pace across the deck.
However this morning we hear there's a chance Kennedy could be kept on the bench in a possible late change of tactic.
It's also understood that Italy-based Carl Valeri may be on the bench and could come on as a replacement for Jason Culina later in the game.
With kick-off later today, we'll soon find out if au.fourfourtwo.com got this one right. Tell us now what you reckon on this line-up.
To see behind the scenes at the final Socceroos training session...
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