Vargas under no illusions with tough task ahead

Melbourne Victory defender Roddy Vargas is under no illusions how tough the task will be for the Socceroos when they face Indonesia in the opening Asian Cup qualification match in Jakarta on Wednesday night.

Melbourne Victory defender Roddy Vargas is under no illusions how tough the task will be for the Socceroos when they face Indonesia in the opening Asian Cup qualification match in Jakarta on Wednesday night.

Only 10 of the 21-man squad has arrived in Jakarta when Rod spoke to the media via a tele-conference on Monday afternoon; the rest of the squad, along with Pim Verbeek, due to arrive on Monday night.

“Look it-s going to be tough,” Vargas said when asked if he thought the team would be able to gel in time for the clash. “Obviously its (the squad) been put together at pretty short notice and we haven-t played much together.

“A lot of the boys do know each other from playing against each other in the A-League for a few years, so it will be tough; there is no question about that. But I am sure we can pull together and do a job.”

For Vargas, if he is to get a start on Wednesday night, it will end a frustrating 12 months that he has been involved with the national team, where he has sat on the bench on six occasions and is yet to get a cap. It-s a moment he is sure to saviour.

“It will be massive and the highlight of my career,” he said. “Winning another premiership with Melbourne is a bid deal and all the boys are rapt to have done that again.

“But to get a Socceroo cap would be awesome, not just for myself but for my friends and family that have put a lot of time into me as well.

Vargas does acknowledge the opportunity this represents for the majority of the group and the chance to push their claims for representative honours down the track.

“Yeah it-s an opportunity for all the guys here. Whoever gets the chance to play, I-m sure they will be their best to stake a claim and give Pim a headache and obviously do well representing their country.

“I think the A-League boys will show a lot of spirit; a lot of courage and do everything possible to get a result and do the country proud. There won-t be any excuses from any of the boys.

Verbeek, who is suspended for the first three Asian Cup qualifiers, will have only one session to work with the players, although the players in Jakarta already will train this afternoon with assistant coaches Graham Arnold and Henk Duut.

Vargas expects the match to be played in humid and wet conditions, which means it will important to get off to a good start and keep the expected capacity crowd of 90,000 people as quiet as possible.

“Definitely will be important to get off to a good start and not fall behind in the conditions, the weather and with the stadium and the amount of people that will be there.

“Yeah it-s hard to imagine (playing in front of 90,000 people), but I guess when we get there we-ll find out, but I am sure it will be an awesome experience and I am sure everyone is looking forward to it very much.”

The bonus for Vargas and the other inexperienced players from an international presence if the influence of regular national team players Craig Moore and his Victory teammate Archie Thompson.

If Vargas does get the nod, he is almost certainly set to start alongside Moore, who has already been instilled as the captain, while Thompson remains a front runner for an attacking role.

These two will also there is no complacency from the Australian team.

“Obviously Craig has a lot of experience; he-s captained his country; played in the top leagues in Europe for years.

“I think he will bring a lot of calmness to the team in the conditions that we will face on Wednesday night and if I do get the chance to play alongside him on Wednesday night, it will be great.

“Also to have someone like Archie around, who has been there and done that and been a part of the World Cup; he-s familiar with the coaching staff and the routines and it-s very helpful in letting the other boys settle in I suppose.

“I don-t think anyone will be complacent. I remember watching Indonesia play in the last Asian Cup and although they didn-t get through results wise they were quite impressive, so they will be definitely one to look out for,” Vargas concluded.