Socceroos coach Pim Verbeek set to overlook Tommy Oar for World Cup squad

* Marco Monteverde
* From: The Courier-Mail
* May 08, 2010

CRAIG Moore's bags are already packed, Dario Vidosic is an all-but-certain selection, but for Tommy Oar, a place in Australia's 23-man World Cup squad is perhaps a bridge too far despite his prodigious talent.

For the three former Roar players, Tuesday is their first date with selection destiny, when national coach Pim Verbeek announces an extended 27-man squad - which should include Oar - for the Socceroos' South African adventure.

But come the start of next month, four players will be cut from the squad, with Oar looming as one of the unfortunate quartet who will fall victim to the selection axe.

The mathematics work against the 18-year-old winger, who starred in his Socceroos debut in March when an A-League-dominated Australian side beat Indonesia 1-0 in Brisbane to qualify for next year's Asian Cup.

Despite Oar's stellar performance - which helped the young gun secure a deal with Dutch club FC Utrecht - Verbeek played down the teenage sensation's World Cup hopes after the match.

"If you're good enough you're old enough, but I cannot say after one game he is the next generation for the Socceroos," Verbeek said.

"Don't mention him as the next Harry Kewell, please."

Barring injuries, Kewell is one of 13 certainties in Australia's 23-man World Cup squad. The others are Moore, veteran goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer, skipper Lucas Neill, Scott Chipperfield, Luke Wilkshire, David Carney, Vince Grella, Jason Culina, Mark Bresciano, Brett Emerton, Tim Cahill and Josh Kennedy.

That leaves 10 spots up for grabs, two of which will be filled by keepers. Reading's Adam Federici should be Schwarzer's deputy, with Brad Jones (Middlesbrough), Michael Petkovic (Sivasspor) and Eugene Galekovic (Adelaide United) battling for the remaining custodian position.

Now we're down to eight. Defensive back-up is expected to be provided by Mark Milligan and Rhys Williams.

Six to go. Hard-working midfielder, Holland-based Brett Holman, a Verbeek favourite, will be one, as should 23-year-old attacking utility Vidosic, who since leaving the Roar has plied his trade in the German first and second divisions.

It's now crunch time for Oar, with four spots left. Two of those positions in my squad would go to defensive pair Carl Valeri and Mile Jedinak.

That allows two more attackers to be named. Despite his lack of goals in Socceroo colours, Boro's Scott McDonald surely must be one of them. Let's not forget that this man has played UEFA Champions League football for Celtic.

And the other spot? Most likely Nikita Rukavytsya, the 22-year-old former Perth Glory star, on loan to Belgian club KSV Roeselare from Dutch champions FC Twente.
Marco Monteverde's 23-man Socceroos World Cup squad:

Goalkeepers: Mark Schwarzer (Fulham, England), Adam Federici (Reading, England), Eugene Galekovic (Adelaide United, Australia)

Defenders: Lucas Neill (Galatasaray, Turkey), Craig Moore (No club), Luke Wilkshire (Dinamo Moscow, Russia), Scott Chipperfield (FC Basel, Switzerland), David Carney (FC Twente, Holland), Mark Milligan (JEF United, Japan), Rhys Williams (Middlesbrough, England)

Midfielders: Tim Cahill (Everton, England), Mark Bresciano (Palermo, Italy), Brett Emerton (Blackburn, England), Vince Grella (Blackburn, England), Jason Culina (Gold Coast United, Australia), Brett Holman (AZ Alkmaar, Holland), Carl Valeri (Sassuolo, Italy), Mile Jedinak (Antalyaspor, Turkey on loan from Genclerbirligi, Turkey)

Attackers: Harry Kewell (Galatasaray, Turkey), Josh Kennedy (Nagoya Grampus, Japan), Scott McDonald (Middlesbrough, England), Nikita Rukavystya (Roeselare, Belgium on loan from FC Twente, Holland), Dario Vidosic (Duisburg, Germany on loan from Nuremberg, Germany)

Extra four players Marco Monteverde would name in extended 27-man squad: Tommy Oar (FC Utrecht, Holland); Nicky Carle (Crystal Palace, England); Simon Colosimo (Melbourne Heart, Australia); Joel Griffiths (Beijing Guoan, China)

http://www.couriermail.com.au/sport/socceroos-coach-pim-verbeek-set-to-overlook-tommy-oar-for-world-cup-squad/story-fn4l5oxy-1225863797195

i'd rather mile jedinak over carl valeri imo

Aye. And if Harry is injured & can't go then perhaps Tommy WILL be the next Harry Kewell :-"

We don't need both of Jedinak and Valeri, if we are to have Wilkshire and Williams on the plane. They can both play centre mid/defensive mid, so IMO that is enough and therefore makes room for Oar.

Valeri in
Oar in
Jedinak out

Sigh... Joel Griffiths and Sasa Ogenovski didnt even get mentioned.

Culina shouldn't be on the plane to South Africa. But he will be because Pim is a dunce.

There's no reason why he shouldn't. He's been best on ground for Australia each time we play an A-League based side and he's fit.