Sleepless nights for Socceroos
* Stephen Rielly
* From: The Australian
* May 22, 2010
MILE Jedinak isn't sleeping well.
Some, who believe he is vying with Carl Valeri for the last of the midfield slots in Pim Verbeek's 23-man World Cup squad, would say they know why.
Verbeek has of late praised the versatility of defenders Luke Wilkshire and Rhys Williams, prompting speculation that he may take three, rather than four, holding midfielders to South Africa. If that was to be the case, either Jedinak or Valeri would almost certainly be left at home, given the certain selections of Vince Grella and Jason Culina.
The truth , though, is somewhat more prosaic.
While Jedinak doesn't know whether a ticket has been written in Verbeek's mind that has his name on it, his fitful nights have a lot more to do with his relatively late arrival in Melbourne last Monday from Turkey.
Jedinak said yesterday he was still setting his body clock to Australian time, after waiting to complete his season in Turkey with Antalyaspor before joining the Socceroos for Monday night's friendly against New Zealand.
People familiar with Jedinak's poise on a football pitch and mild, almost dreamy manner off it, have never worried about him losing his equilibrium over selection, which will be finalised in eight days. Yesterday, he typically offered a philosophical view of the situation before him and, perhaps, nine of the other 31 players in Melbourne.
"Everyone goes about their business, doing what they normally do, giving themselves every opportunity, training hard and having confidence in themselves," Jedinak said. "At the end of the day it's going to be the coach's decision and we've all just got to accept it. If it's good enough it's good enough, if it's not it's not. We have to understand that."
What Jedinak does know is that he has enjoyed and been recognised for a fine season with Antalyaspor after making a loan move from Genclerbirligi last August. It was a move calculated to provide as much first-team football as possible, one as deft as his positioning in front of the back four often is.
When Verbeek announced the provisional squad almost two weeks ago, he was particularly charitable to the 25-year-old who made his national debut in 2008 but only two years before that was picking up month-long injury replacement deals with the Central Coast Mariners. "He has had a great season in Turkey and has made unbelievable progression in the last two years. He is one of the most solid players we have in our selection. He still has a game to go and we hope and pray he survives," Verbeek said at the time.
In fact, the argument for greater versatility within the team, which has been used to bring Jedinak's selection as a holding midfielder into question, was lent to his cause by Verbeek on the day. "Mile has had a really good season in Turkey, a really good season," the coach said.
"He can be versatile because I think he could also be great as a central defending (option)."
As it happens, Jedinak and Valeri are friends. They played together in the same national under-20 team in 2003 and, in time, may succeed Culina and Grella as the first-choice combination in the middle of the pitch. It isn't, therefore, easy for Jedinak to think of his prospects of selection in terms of one or the other. He chooses not to.
"Carl's a great player and he's done exceptionally well when he has come in for the Socceroos, but I try and worry about my own business," Jedinak said.
"People can say it's between me and him, but I just try and focus on myself and hopefully I can stake my claim like that."
He will be trying to do exactly that against the All Whites on Monday night, an occasion which will allow the Australian public to divine a little of what Verbeek has in mind for the World Cup.
"It's not just me, it's a good opportunity for everyone to stake their claim and to try to impress the coach," Jedinak said. "If his mind's not made up, which I'm sure it's not, to push for that 23."
http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/sport/sleepless-nights-for-socceroos/story-e6frg7mf-1225869814577