Back at the World Cup

It has been 588 days since our last World Cup match. 588 days, since that fateful afternoon in Kaiserlautern, when all of our hearts were broken by Fabio Grosso, and we were (unfairly) eliminated from Germany 2006. Tomorrow is our next World Cup match, a new beginning, on the road to South Africa in 2010.

Despite the tougher road through Asia, I agree with what John Aloisi when he said we’d be better prepared once we eventually (hopefully) qualify. Its not all bad, so long as we win our home games, and play sensibly away from home and get a result, we’ll finish in the top two of the group each time, ensuring our qualification. Its easier said than done though, but I believe if we can create a fortress in Australia where nobody can even think about taking points from us, we are more than half way there. The hot climates and high altitudes we’ll have to travel to won’t worry us as much, a draw will do just fine. Verbeek himself has outlined his 12 point plan.

Tomorrow Qatar is going to play very negatively with 10 men behind the ball its important that we don’t let them counter attack and that we are creative enough to crack their stubborn defence. David Carney is a must for this game, down at left back, he can do all of these things. Kewell would have been useful as well, but we’ll survive without him. Bresciano and Culina combined with the height of Kennedy and a Scott McDonald still in great form should be too much for Qatar no matter how defensive they want to be. My only worry is that we are severely underprepared. Here’s my starting XI:

Schwarzer

Emerton Moore Neill Carney

Wilkshire Cahill Culina Bresciano

McDonald Kennedy