Attacking options clear for Osieck

Qantas Socceroos manager Holger Osieck has been spared some difficult decisions about who to play in attack thanks to late withdrawals from Australia's squad to play Denmark.

Qantas Socceroos manager Holger Osieck has been spared some difficult decisions about who to play in attack thanks to late withdrawals from Australia's squad to play Denmark.

Josh Kennedy and Brett Holman will both miss the friendly in Copenhagen on Saturday night (1am Sunday AEST) and while that has limited Osieck's choices for the match, it does mean he can avoid having to decide whether to bench veterans Harry Kewell or Tim Cahill.

In his original 25-man squad, Osieck picked Kennedy, Holman, Kewell and Cahill, as well as Japan-based attacker Alex Brosque, who starred in the Socceroos' most recent match against Saudi Arabia.

Brosque scored two goals against the Saudis on February 29 in Melbourne and is expected to earn another starting berth against Denmark.

But with Osieck preferring a 4-2-3-1 formation, that would only leave three more positions in the front third for the aforementioned quartet.

With Cahill having struggled last season for Everton and Kewell yet to set the world on fire for Melbourne Victory, either of the veterans may have been on the chopping block.

However, both can now prove to Osieck that they can still perform at international level, after Kennedy pulled out to play for his J. League club Nagoya Grampus on Tuesday in the AFC Champions League Round of 16 against Adelaide United, while Holman is awaiting the birth his second child before joining Australia's squad.

The friendly against Denmark will be a crucial test for the Socceroos before their World Cup qualifiers against Oman (June 8) and Japan (June 12).

Australia's clash with Oman will be their first in the final round of AFC World Cup qualifying.

Osieck has not had his players together since February and this week's training, plus the game in Copenhagen, will be his best chance to rate the Socceroos before Oman.

Saturday night's match will also be a big test for Denmark as they prepare for Euro 2012.

Morten Olsen's men were torn apart by Brazil in the first half of their friendly last Saturday, which the Danes lost 3-1.

Denmark trailed 3-0 at half-time and, although their second-half performance was much improved, the hosts will want to take their form up at least a couple more notches against Australia as they prepare for their opening Euro 2012 match against the Netherlands on June 9.

The Qantas Socceroos begin their final phase of qualifying for the 2014 FIFA World Cup with a clash against Oman in Muscat on Friday, 8 June.

Soon after, the Qantas Socceroos will host Japan in their first home fixture of the fourth stage of Asia-s FIFA World Cup qualification process on Tuesday, 12 June at Brisbane-s Suncorp Stadium. Kick off is at 8pm.

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