Verbeek convinced we will qualify for World Cup

Newly installed Socceroos coach Pim Verbeek is convinced Australia will qualify for the 2010 FIFA World Cup finals, despite the tricky qualifying path its faces along the way.

Newly installed Socceroos coach Pim Verbeek is convinced Australia will qualify for the 2010 FIFA World Cup finals, despite the tricky qualifying path its faces along the way.

Verbeek was presented to the media by a video conference from Singapore, where he was with Football Federation Australia Chairman Frank Lowy and FFA CEO Ben Buckley.

"The most important job we have to do is to qualify and I promise we will do everything to succeed," he said in his opening address.

"I'm 100 per cent convinced we will succeed and we will go to the World Cup and do a very good job over there."

The Dutchman will arrive in Australia in a week-s time and get straight down to business, by watching as many Hyundai A-League games as possible in the lead-up to the first qualifying game against Qatar on February 6.

He will base himself in Australia and will have former coach Graham Arnold as his assistant and ‘best friend- for the next two and half years, as well as FFA Technical Director Rob Baan to assist where necessary.

Verbeek has extensive experienced working in Asian football and recently took Korea Republic to third place at the 2007 AFC Asian Cup finals. All his experience will be needed, just to qualify for the next phase after drawing China, Iraq and Qatar in the first round of qualifying, in what has become known as the ‘Group of Death-.

"I agree (it's) a difficult group but that's the challenge and if I was not 100 per cent sure we'd qualify, I should not be sitting here," Verbeek said.

"We have to respect our opponents because they are definitely difficult opponents, especially in away games. But it's my job to select the best players to win the first game. It's all about the first game, then the next game and then the next game."

"I am 100 per cent sure with the qualities that we have, we will qualify for the next round and for the next round to make the World Cup."

Mr Lowy believes they have got the right person for the job.

"I can assure you we have done our due diligence," Lowy said. "We have spent enough time with Pim to know that he is both compatible with our team and has got major experience in Asia, which is our home ground.

"He is giving us total and unequivocal commitment. He will do us proud."