Pim Verbeek Names Final 28-man Squad for South Africa

Pim Verbeek names 28-man Qantas Socceroos squad that will travel to South Africa

Qantas Socceroos Head Coach Pim Verbeek today named the 28 players that he will take to South Africa tomorrow as he prepares his squad for the 2010 FIFA World Cup™ which begins next month.

Speaking at a media conference in Melbourne today, Verbeek also announced that Nick Carle, Scott McDonald and Jade North would not be travelling to South Africa with the Qantas Socceroos having been originally named in the preliminary list of players earlier this month.

"Tomorrow we leave and we will take with us 28 players which means we leave three players here in Australia,” said Verbeek.

"Jade North will not be coming with us as there is too much competition for his position.

"In Nicky Carle's position I have enough players who can do the job too.

"Scott McDonald will also not be with us. Scott plays his best football when there are two players upfront and that does not fit into the structure we are going to play.

"Scotty plays at Middleborough with two strikers and we don't play with two strikers we play with one upfront and he does not fit into that system and he knows it.

Verbeek also added that the selection of younger players, James Holland and Tommy Oar, was more to provide experience and that they are unlikely to make the final 23-man squad.

"I spoke with the FFA (Football Federation Australia) and I want to take two younger players to get some World Cup experience and they are Tommy Oar and James Holland and they are part of the group.

"I have to make a decision on the 1st of June, and anything can happen in football, but they know unless there are some injuries to other players they will not be part of that 23.

"It is great that FFA will spend the money so that they can get valuable experience and be part of a FIFA World Cup and these players will stay with us as long as we stay in South Africa.

"They are players for the future and you take extra players so you can train and have extra variation and can play a full eleven on eleven and still be able to rest players if need be.

"My experience is that by having a larger training group you are able to get the team in the best condition for playing the matches," concluded Verbeek.

As per FIFA regulations, Verbeek will name his final squad of 23 players on Saturday 1st June in South Africa.

The Qantas Socceroos will depart for Johannesburg tomorrow (Wednesday 26th May) on the special Qantas “Socceroos” Boeing 747 flight out of Melbourne.

As part of their final preparations for the 2010 FIFA World Cup™, the Qantas Socceroos will play international friendly matches against Denmark and the United States of America (USA) on the 1st and 5th June, respectively, at Ruimsig Stadium near Johannesburg.

The Qantas Socceroos have been drawn in Group D for the 2010 FIFA World Cup™ and will face Germany in their opening match of the tournament on Sunday 13th June in Durban, followed by matches against Ghana on Saturday 19th June and then Serbia on Wednesday 23rd June.

Should the Qantas Socceroos place in the top two positions of Group D at the end of the first phase of the competition, they will play their next opponent from Group C (England, USA, Algeria or Slovenia) in the Round of 16 on either Saturday 26th June (Rustenburg) or Sunday 27th June (Mangaung/Bloemfontein).

The Quarter Finals of the tournament will be held on the 2nd and 3rd July with the Semi Finals on the 6th and 7th July and the Final to be played on the 11th July.

The players are as follows:

Michael BEAUCHAMP Mark BRESCIANO Tim CAHILL David CARNEY Scott CHIPPERFIELD Jason CULINA Brett EMERTON Adam FEDERICI Eugene GALEKOVIC* Richard GARCIA Vincenzo GRELLA James HOLLAND Brett HOLMAN Mile JEDINAK Brad JONES Josh KENNEDY Harry KEWELL Shane LOWRY Mark MILLIGAN Craig MOORE Lucas NEILL Tom OAR Nikita RUKAVYTSYA Mark SCHWARZER Carl VALERI Dario VIDOSIC Luke WILKSHIRE Rhys WILLIAMS