Matthew Hall
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Verbeek Versus Viduka
Forget China, the Socceroos coach now has to climb a bigger wall.
Pim Verbeek has shown both smarts and shrewdness in handling complicated scenarios surrounding the first two games of Australia's 2010 World Cup campaign.
Back in November, when the 2008 Socceroo schedule was presented to most of the squad, I sat with players in a hotel in London.
The sentiment was unanimous.
Club demands would make it impossible to make the games against Qatar and China.
There was no chance of any Euroroos turning up for the 2010 kick off.
This was the dying days of Australia's flirtation with Dick Advocaat and a month before Verbeek and his powers of pretty persuasion were employed.
But the new coach has shown he can think out of the box when required as ably demonstrated by his strategy against Qatar and radical rejig against China.
Verbeek has also demonstrated candid communication skills that delicate egos of football players can appreciate.
He's told A-League players they're not good enough for the national team while simultaneously giving them unprecedented opportunity to prove themselves with his use of preliminary squads made up of local players.
The result? Rather than exiling A-Leaguers, Jade North has developed into a realistic defensive option alongside Lucas Neill while Bruce Djite would likely have started against China had he not been injured.
Circumstances may have forced Verbeek to improvise but he's not making it up as he goes along.
A good coach doesn't show his worth when he can field a first-choice 11 in perfect conditions.
It is when everything is not going to plan and difficult decisions have to be made that a coach earns his money.
Undefeated on the pitch, Verbeek's next big match-up is against Mark Viduka this week in Newcastle, England.
While Harry Kewell is desperate for game time with Australia - game time with anybody - Viduka is wavering on his commitment to the national team.
Viduka quit the Socceroos last year just before the Asian Cup.
Graham Arnold, working magic, convinced him to play on.
Arnold's intervention was so late that a press conference to formally announce Viduka's retirement was cancelled at the last minute.
Guus Hiddink, ever the psychologist, knew how to bring the best out of the often temperamental striker.
Commitment issues? Let's get married, Hiddink suggested, giving Viduka the symbolic responsibility of captaincy.
The move worked. Like a kid, Viduka couldn't shake World Cup fever.
One Premier League player told me how during a game against Middlesbrough before the World Cup, Viduka jogged over and asked: "Are you going to the World Cup? It's going to be great!"
Look out, Mark. Here comes the ball.
Viduka has long been enigmatic and blown with the wind and his own impulsiveness.
At Celtic, he infamously refused to play a second-half as the Scottish giants imploded in a Cup game against Inverness Caledonian Thistle (Who? Exactly).
He shone, briefly, at Leeds United. His form, especially in the Yorkshire team's now legendary Champions League run of 2001.
Barcelona, Deportivo La Coruna, and Roma were all interested in his signature.
But instead of playing for top teams in Europe, Viduka was part of the Leeds side that was relegated and ended up at ultimate under-achievers Middlesbrough.
Move along, nothing to see here.
Next stop? Comedy club Newcastle United, a team that pays players exceptionally well but never ever live up to the expectations of fans nor the talent at the club's disposal.
Instead of playing in - or even challenging for - European competition, Viduka is now embroiled in a relegation battle.
That's when he's fit.
While Viduka was considering other options as his Middlesbrough contract wound down, the hot ticket was a possible move to Italy.
Juventus, Milan, Inter?
No. Genoa, a club promoted to Serie A last season with modest ambition.
Viduka is undoubtedly a big talent and raises Socceroo quality when he pulls on a gold shirt - even if his 11 goals in 43 games suggest otherwise.
So Verbeek will arrive for his date in north-east England this week to see where Viduka's heart truly lies with the Socceroos.
Faced with confronting his future face-to-face, bets are on Viduka calling it quits.
That would be another disappointment in a career that promised so much but, ultimately, failed to deliver.
What's our greatest memory of Viduka in a Socceroo shirt?
Missing a penalty in the 2005 shoot-out against Uruguay?
Missing a header four years earlier in Montevideo that would have changed that game?
Being only one of two players to captain Australia at the World Cup Finals?
Viduka has more to give.
The challenge for Pim Verbeek is explaining that in simple terms to a complicated talent.
COMMENTS
Humbly disagree. If a player is not frothing at the mouth at the prospect of an opportunity to play for Australia they are not worthy of the opportunity and should be overlooked (regardless of how good they are or may be). It is really that simple. When natural ability happens to coincide with this hunger (ala Kewell) all the better. I would prefer a team of eager, young players looking to prove themselves rather than a bunch of aging 'has beens' who are indifferent as to whether they represent their country or not. If Verbeek goes on bended knee to Viduka it is sending all the wrong messages to the next generation of footballers. How much do you think the Djites, Kennedys and Holmans of the world are wanting to be there? That is what we need! Viduka can stay in England for all i care.
- by brad on March 29, 2008 at 02:01 PM
Vicruka? geeeee Pim, no need to scrape the barrel yet!
- by Debinq on March 29, 2008 at 03:46 PM
Keep going Dukes. Socceroos need a great player, a captain like you.
- by Phong Tran on March 29, 2008 at 04:05 PM
mark viduka is soo hot
- by Mz pWiNcEsS on March 29, 2008 at 04:35 PM
Every since one silly scribe gave Viduka the tag of lazy and inconsistent, everyone has had a go at him. It is a very Australian trait (inherited from the US) to want sameness in everything. Viduka is an unusual player in the game. He is stocky and slower than most strikers but everyone expects him to play like Thiery Henri. Despite this, he rountinely scores goals and the best coaches have always got the best out of him because they knew they had to massage his ego. I further think that his lack of goals for Australia has had a lot to do with the idiotic defensive style that several national coaches have employed that leaves Viduka on his own up front. He sets up as many as he scores when he has a partner.
- by michael on March 29, 2008 at 05:33 PM
Come on Mark. Socceroos and all Aussie need you. I feel that without you Socceroos lacks of something fundamental in fighting spirit!
- by Giao Nguyen on March 29, 2008 at 11:55 PM
Viduka has yet to prove his worth in the Green and Gold.Not to mention his lack passion for the jersey. Let the slobb play his days out in the premier league, look in our own backyard .... Archie is a option plays with inspiration and scores goals. Pim Viduka has nothing to offer the jersey or nation.
- by Shags on March 30, 2008 at 09:01 AM
viduka has a vagina
- by regfgfgfg on March 30, 2008 at 10:28 AM
I have to agree with Brad on this topic,as much as I hate to.. because obviously Dukes is an exceptional talent that would no doubt strengthen any squad, but I think everyone would agree that hunger and desire is something we really want to see in our players when they pull on that jersey, i can see that in McDonald, Kennedy, Cahill, Neill and Holman etc..
I did see that in Dukes, but im afraid its gone for good.
but in all honesty, i hope im wrong!
- by patrick on March 30, 2008 at 11:00 AM
Mark Viduka helps the team in ways that don't appear on the stats sheet. That's why non-footballers only judge him by the number of goals he has scored.
HE is the only one that can allow us to play 1 up front and have players like Cahill, Kewell and BResciano run off him.
- by Ben Jones on March 30, 2008 at 11:47 AM
socceroos?,...euroroos??
cant we just have Australia FC?
or,..shall we call the national cricket team,..the cricketoos??
shurely shome mishtake,....
- by duncan on March 30, 2008 at 01:22 PM
If Viduka only played for the country in Germany for the captaincy, get rid of him. He's way too emotional, childish and selfish.
Unlike Kewell. I remembered how Frank Farina wanted Kewell to captain the roos and how he liked it. When everything turned Harry down, he didn't say anything negative. He might be Mr. Cool and always keeps himself to himself, he has shown his true love towards the country.
- by N on March 30, 2008 at 03:24 PM
Viduka has served his country proud but I think they time has come for him to let some of the younger players an opportunity to serve the national team.
Step up Kennedy, Macdonald, Burns, Djite, Williams, Patafta, Triosi etc.
- by Peter Johnson on March 30, 2008 at 03:29 PM
The reality is that the Australian players who are truly worthy of selection in the EPL, SPL, Serie A and Spanish League cannot always play for Australia and must pick the best times to make themselves available. All this claptrap about laying down your life for the green and gold shirt is just cliche'd retoric and uninformed media hype. As my older brother used to say when i would try to crack every ball he bowled over the fence of our yard "Not every shot needs to be a scoring shot". In other words, there is benefit in playing your best team in the high stakes games and your second stringers in these group matches. With all due respect to Archie, he is not of the same class as Viduka or Cahill, otherwise he would be playing for Newcastle or Everton......but......he is perfect for the group games. And as much as i think Lucas Neill is a star, his availability to start for the Roos so often is as much a function of his ability to avoid long term injury as anything else. its like driving, the more Kms you clock up, the more likely you are to have an accident. Same with sport.
- by michael on March 30, 2008 at 05:54 PM
I think Viduka is an important part of the Australian team, especially through asia. Yeah, he is not the fastest forward, and the one up front target man suits his speed and physique. Plus, think of the asian team.....all generally short and fast. Anything coming about Vdukas height is going to create nightmares for the asian opponents. A case in point is is the game against Qatar. Kennedy caused numerous problems with his height, and so did the aerial ability of Cahill (unfortunately he is injured now). I want Dukes to play on, as he will attract so much attention from defences and free up other players running off him, the likes of holman, bresciano, archie (who is not an out and out striker) and McDonalds.
If Dukes says he has had enough, well then get Kennedy in there. Might as well gethim in the think of things and get everyone used to what he can do and what they have to do. Advantage of Kennedy is h is more mobile, though not as physically imposing as dukes.
- by Daniel on March 30, 2008 at 07:40 PM
Poor Mark Viduka he is such a world class talent, i think the last time he did anything world class was the 4 goals he scored against Liverpool back in 2001, honestly Pim give him the flick and stick with Scott Mcdonald and co, i heard Queens Park Rangers might offer him big bucks to drop down a division next season, he should take the money and run
- by The Truth on March 30, 2008 at 11:52 PM
Australia has only produced a few truly world class players...Viduka is one of them. If the younger (& less experienced players) can learn something from him then it is definitely worth bringing him along. We are not bursting at the seams with (world class) talent. We put together a solid 11 only when we have everyone fit...Case in point: We currently have a few injuries and we struggle to field a side against China.
- by AC on March 31, 2008 at 01:17 AM
I don't think Viduka should be called to play for Australia. His record as a socceroo is abismal. Stricker, playing 43 games and scoring 11? Please spare me.
- by Artur Teixeira on March 31, 2008 at 08:35 AM
If he doesn't want to play for his country he should retire straight away. If he has injury concerns and particularly injuries that could be aggravated with excessive flying then he needs to come out and say I want to play for my country when possible. Sitting on the fence when choosing club over country is not a good look, and the Australian public deserve better.
- by Davo on March 31, 2008 at 10:01 AM
First, it's up to the coach. if he wants him he'll work for him. secondly, it's up to the player, if he wants it he has to work for it. 1+1= national player; if you are missing 1 then you have 0
- by mauro on March 31, 2008 at 10:42 AM
Viduka should retire from International football and let the young kids have a go. Why are we relying on this guy hwo has no obvious passion to play for Australia?
We need to blood young, ambitious, passionate and loyal players. No one is bigger than the game, or the shirt, and Viduka seems to think so. He is a spoilt brat and has a massive ego. Lets blood young players with experienced players who are itching to play for their country. We need the Djite's, Holman's, Bridge's and Kennedy's to step up, and do what they do best, play fearlessly and try their hearts out, otherwise, on the worlds greatest stage, we will may well be relying on the tempremental Viduka, vs dare i say, a Pato from Brazil, Torres & Villa from Spain and Tevez from Agrentina.
Time to cut the crap and move on.
- by Michael on March 31, 2008 at 11:43 AM
We need all of our best players that are available to be playing this 2010 World Cup campaign , and that includes Mark Viduka.I hope that Pim can get him to play for the national team for wold cup campaign,Viduka his a great big frame that can hold the ball in the box and set up our strikers for goal, he as proven that time and time again.I applaud Pim for trying to get the best Aussie players that are available. Any Aussie player that can make the first team in the Europe, especially the UK, Italy, Spain and so on, are first choice for me.
- by Joe on March 31, 2008 at 12:04 PM
Why are we wasting our time on Viduka? He has been allowed into too many squads simply for his ability to 'hold up the ball'. This is all he does. One little cheeky goal against Nigeria aeons ago and we're prepared to keep him in the squad ahead of so many strikers maturing in time for 2010?
It's time to nuke Duke.
- by keiran on March 31, 2008 at 12:30 PM
Viduka has always put country before club. We all remember when the FFA decided to make an example out of him by imposing a fine for not turning up for a Socceroos friendly despite the fact that he only returned from months of injury and had not played for his club yet. He just took the fine and did not even speak about it in the media. I would hate to think what would have happened if it had been Kewell, Neill or any of the other players who was fined.
Dukes is at a point in his career where he needs to put himself first. I think after years of serving this country he has earned this right. Everyone should just let him decide and respect his decision.
Matt, is he a certainty for the hall of fame?
Erm... yes. MH
- by David Brown on March 31, 2008 at 07:58 PM
Pick him. He is probably just the man to hold the ball up for McDonald and Cahill. The alternative is to pick Kennedy and McDonald and trya and feed in good crosses: something we aren't that good at.
- by Hunter on March 31, 2008 at 11:00 PM
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A perceptive and objective analysis. These Dutch football Managers do seem to have a way about them. Pim Verbeek does seem cut from the Guus Hiddink mould and so far has shown the same inspired thinking of the master. A fit, keen Mark Viduka will strengthen any Australian squad.
Verbeek no doubt has all the contingencies covered. He inspires confidence and maybe that will sway Viduka if he is fit.
And it's scandalous we can't watch the national team's progress on Television. The post World Cup boost is slowly slipping away.