Australia NewsPim Believes Home Finale Crucial |
PIM Verbeek believes Australia's World Cup fate could come down to its two final qualifying games on home soil.
The Socceroos have been drawn with Japan, Bahrain, Uzbekistan and Qatar in Group A of the Asian section with a top two finish needed to guarantee automatic passage to South Africa in 2010.Speaking tonight following the draw, Verbeek said: "It is a very interesting situation.
"All 10 teams (there are five teams in Group B) have their own qualities and their own weaknesses.
"It is a big challenge. There are no easy teams in this group.
"All teams are difficult, we know that. I think we have a very interesting group. We have to work hard, really hard to achieve the final round. All the players know that now after all the experience of the past two years."
Verbeek was pleased that he would have plenty of preparation time for Australia's first match, the away game in Uzbekistan on September 10. He also has previous experience of playing them, during his spell with South Korea.
With many of the Uzbek players playing their club football in Russia, Verbeek said the Socceroos would be up against players who are physically strong and skilful.
He said: "They were tough games when we (Korea) played them."
Three of Australia's last four qualifying matches are at home and Verbeek hopes that proves decisive.
He said: "My feeling is the last two games (against Bahrain and Japan). Then the decision will be made."
FFA chief executive Ben Buckley said: "We will leave no stone unturned to ensure that everything that can be done off the field to facilitate qualification will be done.
"Playing in the FIFA World Cup is an ambition shared by the entire nation and we will take all necessary steps to support Pim and the players to realise that ambition for all of us."
Buckley would not be drawn on the location and venue for the four home World Cup qualifiers.
Australia's fixtures are as follows:
10 September 2008, Uzbekistan v Australia
15 October 2008, Australia v Qatar
19 November 2008, Bahrain v Australia
11 February 2009, Japan v Australia
1 April 2009, Australia v Uzbekistan
6 June 2009, Qatar v Australia
10 June 2009, Australia v Bahrain
17 June 2009, Australia v Japan.
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