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Socceroo Kewell to miss South Korea friendly

Socceroos striker Harry Kewell will miss Australia’s friendly against South Korea in Seoul this weekend due to an ankle injury, coach Pim Verbeek said.

Verbeek said Kewell had not recovered from a knock on his ankle sustained while representing his Turkish club Galatasaray last month.

“As a result it is not worth the risk of bringing Harry to Korea for the match and it is better that he receives treatment instead,” Verbeek said late Tuesday.

He said David Carney, Luke Wilkshire and Danny Invincibile had also withdrawn from Saturday’s friendly, further weakening a side already missing captain Lucas Neill and midfield talisman Tim Cahill.

SYDNEY (AFP)

Tags: Australia, Captain Lucas Neill, Club, coach, Danny Invincibile, david carney, Harry, harry kewell, invincibile, Lucas Neill, luke wilkshire, match, midfield, seoul, socceroo, south korea, striker, SYDNEY, talisman, tim cahill, worth the risk

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Carney completes Twente switch

Australia left-back David Carney is ready to relaunch his club career with FC Twente after signing a two-year deal with the Eredivisie outfit from Championship side Sheffield United.

The 25-year-old, who is expected to feature for the Socceroos in next year’s World Cup finals in South Africa, had fallen out of favour at Sheffield United and spent time on loan with Norwich at the end of last season.

But Steve McClaren has given Carney a chance to play top-flight football again with the Enschede-based club.

“Since the departure of Edson Braafheid to Bayern Munich, we wanted a replacement. With Nicky Kuiper we have a talented player for the future and we also have Jeroen Heubach,” McClaren told the club’s website.

“We wanted to look at our depth and increase competition for that position on the left. We have seen Carney and also obtained information from Luke Wilkshire and Pim Verbeek, the coach of Australia. Both were very positive about Carney.”

Wilkshire spent time at Twente before moving to Dinamo Moscow last year and had no hesitation recommending his countryman.

Carney helped put himself on the radar by scoring a sensational late goal for the Socceroos in the recent match against Republic of Ireland in Limerick.

Abhimanyu Rajput

Tags: abhimanyu, Australia, Bayern, club career, david carney, dinamo moscow, flight football, hesitation, kuiper, Limerick, luke wilkshire, Moscow, Norwich, pim verbeek, rajput, republic of ireland, Sheffield, socceroos, Steve McClaren, talented player, top flight, twente

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Twente keen on Carney

Eredivisie side FC Twente’s boss Steve McClaren could return to his homeland to bring Sheffield United winger David Carney to Holland.

The Australian, who can also play at left back, has struggled to hold down a regular place at the Blades since his move from Sydney FC in 2007.

Carney, 25, spent the second half of last season on-loan at Norwich City and suffered relegation from the Championship during his time at Carrow Road.

The Australia international, who has featured 20 times for his nation, has been linked with a host of European clubs in the past and according to Dutch newspaper TC Tubantia, he is now a target of Twente.

McClaren’s side currently lead the Eredivisie division on goal difference with seven points from their opening three games and may provide an attractive proposition for Carney.

Abhimanyu Rajput

Tags: attractive proposition, Australia, australia international, boss, Carrow Road, david carney, goal difference, Holland, keen, norwich city, second half, seven points, Sheffield, sheffield united, Steve McClaren, sydney fc, target, tc, three games, twente, winger

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Socceroos missing big guns for S.Korea friendly

Captain Lucas Neill and midfield talisman Tim Cahill were on Wednesday left out of Australia’s squad for next month’s friendly against South Korea in Seoul, with striker Harry Kewell also in doubt.

Socceroos Coach Pim Verbeek omitted Neill from the 24-man squad as the defender searches for a new club in Europe and was forced to drop Cahill, a two-goal hero in Australia’s win over Ireland this month, due to a foot injury.

Verbeek included Kewell but admitted the former Liverpool player may miss the Seoul match after sustaining a knock on his ankle representing his Turkish club Galatasaray last week.

“He got a very nasty kick on his ankle, I was with him on Friday when he had his medical, it didn’t look good,” the coach said.

The Dutchman dismissed fears that Cahill’s injury was similar to the broken metatarsal that sidelined the Everton star for six months last year.

“It’s a totally different injury. At this moment it’s much better to leave him in England because I have enough other players,” Verbeek said.

Verbeek said Neill, who is out of contract with England’s West Ham, was released so he could talk to prospective clubs and undergo medicals.

He included two A-League players, Jason Culina and Shane Stefanutto, along with Japanese-based striker Josh Kennedy.

Vince Grella returns from injury, with Michael Beauchamp, Mark Milligan and Michael Petkovic the other inclusions.

Verbeek said Kennedy and Celtic’s Scott McDonald were likely to play as dual strikers against South Korea.

Australia’s 24-man squad announced Wednesday for the September 5 friendly against South Korea in Seoul:

Michael Beauchamp (Aalborg/DEN), Mark Bresciano (Palermo/ITA), Nick Carle (Crystal Palace/ENG), David Carney (Sheffield United/ENG), Ante Covic (Elfsborg/SWE), Jason Culina (Gold Coast/AUS), Vince Grella (Blackburn/ENG), Brett Holman (Alkmaar/NED), Danny Invincibile (Kilmarnock/SCO), Mile Jedinak (Antalyaspo/TUR), Josh Kennedy (Nagoya Grampus/JPN), Harry Kewell (Galatasaray/TUR), Patrick Kisnorbo (Leeds/ENG), Scott McDonald (Celtic/SCO), Mark Milligan (Shanghai Shenhua/CHN), Jade North (Incheon United/KOR), Michael Petkovic (Sivasspor/TUR), Nikita Rukavytsya (FC Twente/NED), Mark Schwarzer (Fulham/ENG), Matthew Spiranovic (Nurnberg/GER), Shane Stefanutto (North Queensland/AUS), Dario Vidosic (Nurnberg/GER), Rhys Williams (Middlesbrough/ENG), Luke Wilkshire (Dinamo Moscow/RUS)

SYDNEY (AFP)

Tags: Aalborg, ante covic, AUS, Australia, brett holman, broken metatarsal, Captain Lucas Neill, david carney, England, Europe, fulham, goal hero, invincibile, Jade North, jason culina, Josh Kennedy, LEEDS, Liverpool, liverpool player, Lucas Neill, luke wilkshire, mark milligan, michael beauchamp, Moscow, Nagoya, nagoya grampus, nick carle, Nikita Rukavytsya, north queensland, Palermo, s scott, S. Korea, scott mcdonald, Shanghai, Sheffield, sheffield united, south korea, SYDNEY, tim cahill, turkish club, west ham

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Aussies hand ´severe´ lesson to Ireland

Republic of Ireland coach Giovanni Trappatoni described his team’s 3-0 international friendly defeat to Australia as a “severe lesson”.

Tim Cahill’s brace shortly before half-time, taking his international tally to 18 in 34 games, and David Carney’s wonder-strike from 30 yards dealt a psychological blow to Trapattoni ahead of their three remaining World Cup qualifiers.

The Italian coach believes the superior condition of Pim Verbeek’s side was the key factor in the visitors’ win.

“It was a severe lesson for us,” Trapattoni admitted. “I am a little bit disappointed like the team, but in pre-season this situation can happen.

“It is normal against a team that is 40 percent more fit. The players sometimes don’t understand that but in 30 years I know that.

“I questioned myself before how many players can play 90 minutes with a good performance.”

The lesson Trapattoni felt needed to be learned ahead of their World Cup qualifier in Cyprus on September 5 is likely to be a reference to the slack defending which left them two-down at the break.

In the 38th minute, Cahill took advantage of a two against two at the back, feeding Scott McDonald down the inside-right channel.

The Celtic striker passed back to the Everton midfielder 20 yards out and his low left-footed strike wrong-footed Shay Given to put his side in front.

Then a minute before the interval, Aiden McGeady lazily looked to take a ball in his stride on the left wing but was beaten to it by Rhys Williams who raced into box and turned Kilbane before firing a shot at Given.

The Irish keeper could only parry the ball back into the danger area and Cahill was there to power home.

Though 2-0 was flattering enough at the break, it could have been an even greater lead for the visitors had Harry Kewell not headed over Mark Bresciano’s free kick at the back post, after which the Galatasaray man pleaded for a penalty for Damian Duff pulling his shirt.

Verbeek was understandably delighted with his team’s performance though he admitted it flattered them a little.

“We played well defensively we were well organised, we won most of the first balls and were in control,” Verbeek said.

“We have players who work hard and have special abilities. I’m very pleased with the result, but I think 3-0 was too much.”

The nearest Ireland came to getting on the scoresheet was when substitute Keith Andrews’ low 88th minute strike from the edge of the area came back off Mark Schwarzer’s right post.

Prior to Cahill’s first strike, the game was an even affair with McGeady the best player on view. Twice midway through the half he created openings, moving inside from the left flank to set up Irish chances.

A measured cross-field ball enabled Duff on the right wing to cut inside the area onto his left foot, but Carney deflected his effort wide. ‘

Then a neat pass into the box found Robbie Keane, but after turning Patrick Kisnorbo well he was denied by Schwarzer.

Ireland created few chances in the second half with Stephen Hunt’s left-footed effort, after Robbie Keane’s neat backheel, which skewed wide summing up a very disappointing first international football game for the home fans at Thomond Park.

LIMERICK, Ireland (AFP)

Tags: Australia, Cyprus, damian duff, danger area, david carney, Duff, everton, free kick, giovanni trappatoni, harry kewell, international tally, Keith Andrews, left wing, Limerick, Mark Bresciano, mark schwarzer, mcgeady, Patrick Kisnorbo, pim verbeek, republic of ireland, rhys williams, Robbie Keane, scott mcdonald, shay, Shay Given, slack, Stephen Hunt, striker, thomond park, tim cahill, world cup qualifier, world cup qualifiers

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You´re on your own in Socceroo attack, McDonald told

Australia coach Pim Verbeek has warned Scott McDonald to get used to playing as a lone striker and suggested he will have Mark Viduka to compete with for this role in next summer’s World Cup finals.

Speaking ahead of Australia’s game with Republic of Ireland at Limerick’s Thomond Park, Verbeek rebuffed McDonald’s earlier suggestion that he will look to alter the team’s style to be more of an attacking threat before the tournament in South Africa.

With no other senior strikers available McDonald is set to play up front on his own, supported by Mark Bresciano, Tim Cahill and Harry Kewell.

“You should not change too many things that are good and I think we had a very good campaign…and the players know exactly what I like,” Verbeek said.

“I’m not going to use too many friendly matches for changing the system because I think we’re doing well with the system we are playing.

“We have the players to play 4-2-3-1 so why should I change that? It’s up to Scotty and all the other players to pick up a spot in that selection.”

Verbeek was more encouraging to Viduka. The veteran striker is expected to seal a move to Portsmouth in the coming days, but once his future is assured, and assuming he returns to full fitness, Verbeek expects him to return to the Socceroos fold for the first time since the 2007 Asia Cup.

“I think the only motivation for him to start playing football again is to go to the World Cup so that’s good for us,” Verbeek added.

“I did everything to at least get him in the squad (for the June World Cup qualifiers) but at that moment he was so disappointed about what happened in Newcastle…so he said: ?mentally I cannot do it again and come into the Middle East at 40 degrees – I need time to think about my future.’

“The door is open for him, not because he’s Mark Viduka but because he is a good football player and he has ten months to show me that he is good enough to be a part of the selection.”

Verbeek is meanwhile confident his makeshift defence will be competitive against the Irish strike pairing of Robbie Keane and Kevin Doyle, who is over a hernia injury.

Rhys Williams will play his second game at right back and, with Lucas Neill looking some distance from match fitness, Jade North will partner Patrick Kisnorbo in the heart of the Australian defence, with David Carney slotting in at left back.

Just as importantly, with holding midfielder Vince Grella out, Mile Jedinak plays in front of the back four.

“We miss some central defenders because they’re all injured or they play in Australia,” Verbeek insisted.

“We will give everything to make it a very interesting game for the fans and a fantastic test for Ireland for their very important game they play next month in Cyprus.”

Irish coach Giovanni Trapattoni for his part rebuffed suggestions from his assistant Liam Brady that his first eleven will be the same which take the field in the World Cup qualifier in Nicosia in three weeks.

“It is not the team that will play in Cyprus,” Trapattoni said. “Don’t think ahead to the future.”

Trapattoni insisted the door is not shut on the senior players not in his squad such as Steve Finnan, Lee Carsley and Clinton Morrison, but suggested that the latter will struggle to be included in future squads because he is similar in style to Doyle.

“My rule is never say never. I don’t forget Steve Finnan. At the moment we have to play with 11 players. (Caleb) Folan is a different type of striker, for playing a different way. Morrison’s movement is like Doyle.”

LIMERICK, Ireland (AFP)

Tags: asia cup, Australia, Clinton Morrison, Cyprus, david carney, Don, football player, giovanni trapattoni, harry kewell, Jade North, kevin doyle, lee carsley, Liam Brady, Limerick, Lucas Neill, many things, Mark Bresciano, mark viduka, Middle East, Morrison, motivation, NEWCASTLE, Patrick Kisnorbo, pim verbeek, Portsmouth, republic of ireland, rhys williams, Robbie Keane, scott mcdonald, South Africa, steve finnan, strikers, thomond park, tim cahill, veteran striker, vince grella, world cup finals, world cup qualifiers

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Aussies limp bast Bahrain

SYDNEY (AFP) – Australia laboured to beat Bahrain 2-0 in a muted celebration of their World Cup Asian qualification here on Wednesday.

The Socceroos, fielding only four survivors from the team that booked their ticket to South Africa 2010 in Qatar at the weekend, were frustrated by the fast-breaking visitors and needed second-half goals to grind them down.

Mile Sterjovski broke the deadlock in the 55th minute after he punished a defensive error inside the six-yard box and beat goalkeeper Sayed Mohamed for his eighth top-level goal.

David Carney doubled the lead in the 88th minute after Jason Culina’s spectacular overhead kick ricocheted off an upright for Carney to ram the ball home for his second international goal.

Bahrain had the ball in the net during the second half from an Abdulla Marzooq header but the defender was ruled offside.

It would have been the first time Australia had conceded a goal in their last seven qualifying games.

Australia hold on to their lead at the top of Asia Group A and will play regional rivals Japan in Melbourne next Wednesday, with both teams already through to the World Cup finals.

The Socceroos could have had a third goal but incredibly the ball stayed out after Harry Kewell and Sterjovski had goalbound chances blocked on the line in the 75th minute.

But for the most part, before just under 40,000 fans at a half-filled Olympic stadium, the Australians played like strangers, with little rhythm and wayward passing.

The surprise omissions from the Australia team were English Premier League stars Tim Cahill and Vince Grella, with Cahill left out entirely and Grella on the bench. Grella came on in the 62nd minute.

Coach Pim Verbeek said Cahill had stiff muscles and would not be risked.

Bahrain, needing a point to lock up third spot in the group and with it a potential World Cup playoff against Oceania champions New Zealand, looked the livelier in the first half.

Skipper Mohamed Salmeen had a free header off an Abdulla Abdi corner in the 24th minute but the chance went over the bar.

Celtic striker Scott McDonald had a glorious chance to break his international goal drought in his 12th game minutes later after being put clear by Brett Holman but he blazed his volley over the bar for the hosts.

Bahrain continued to press and Mahmood Abdulrahman’s free-kick was flicked on, only for goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer to fumble the ball and regather at the second attempt on his line.

Sterjovski had a free header comfortably taken by goalkeeper Sayed Mohamed before Salman Isa blazed just over the bar nearing halftime.

Tags: abdulla, Abdulla Abdi, Abdulla Marzooq, asia group, Australia, australia team, bahrain, david carney, English Premier League, harry kewell, international goal, Japan, jason culina, league stars, mark schwarzer, Melbourne, mile sterjovski, New Zealand, offside, olympic stadium, overhead kick, Qatar, Salman Isa, scott mcdonald, South Africa, south africa 2010, stiff muscles, SYDNEY, tim cahill, time australia, vince grella, World Cup, world cup finals

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