Bozza blasts negative Socceroos
June 14, 2010 - 3:05PM

Former Socceroo captain Mark Viduka with Mark Bosnich before the World Cup.

Former Socceroo captain Mark Viduka with Mark Bosnich before the World Cup. Photo: Helen Nezdropa

Former Socceroos goalkeeper Mark Bosnich has slammed roles played by coach Pim Verbeek and skipper Lucas Neill following Australia's 4-0 World Cup humiliation by Germany.

Verbeek's decision to pick a five-man defensive midfield and play winger Richard Garcia in an unfamiliar lone striking role backfired badly as the three-time champions ripped the Socceroos apart in Durban on Monday (AEST).

Former Manchester United, Aston Villa and Chelsea stopper Bosnich said the team went into the game with a negative mindset and Neill had contributed to that with pre-match comments talking up the Germans.

"This game was lost before a ball was kicked ... to go out before the game and make out your opposition is superior at a pretty big press conference is a self-fulfilling prophecy," Bosnich told Fox Sports outside the stadium.

"Tonight was an embarrassing defeat.

"I am not having a go at Lucas personally, and I count him as a friend, and I don't know if he was told to say it, but to come out to say a team is superior before playing against them gives away your psyche to the opposition."

Bosnich said the thousands of fans who had travelled to South Africa to support the Socceroos had been let down and they deserved answers about Verbeek's extraordinary match selections.

"We can't build up a wall here, questions need to be answered. Why was Richard Garcia played up front?" he asked.

"What happened with Harry Kewell and Mark Bresciano [who didn't play]? Why was Tim Cahill made to do a press conference in the week when he plainly didn't want to?

"These people have paid good money to come out here and they deserve a good performance against Ghana."

Former Socceroos striker and fellow Fox Sport commentator Robbie Slater was equally critical of Verbeek and labelled the performance "un-Australian".

"We played with six midfielders and no recognised striker, you at least have to go out and try and win the game and we never did that," Slater said.

"You don't mind losing if you give it a shot, but we never did.

"Verbeek has done a great job getting us here and the Asia Cup, but he has to take much of the blame responsibility for this result."

AAP

Tim Cahill: "It's one of the lowest points of my career. But this is the beauty of football. One day you are a hero, the next day you are at the bottom."

Vince Grella: "F..ck no-one died. It's a game of football. They are very good. We knew they were going to be a tough opposition. We just have to sleep it off and start again tomorrow."

Lucas Neill: "We conceded an early goal. A goal that we were very disappointed with against a very, very good team and then we made it an uphill battle."

Luke Wilkshire: "We've got to pick ourselves up. There is two games to play for. Six points and two games we must win."

Scott Chipperfield: "It was a hard game. They were too good today. They had good movement, we lost the midfield. We had a good start. We could have scored the first couple of minutes. But the first goal was a killer."

Craig Moore: "We shot ourselves in the foot really. The second goal probably killed it off. Overall, we were certainly outplayed by a far better side."

Brett Emerton: "I thought they were a very good team, but I don't think we helped ourselves either. When we got possession of the ball we gave it away cheaply and they seemed to cut us open really easily. Hopefully we learn a lesson from it."

Mark Schwarzer: "Devastating, obviously. It was not what we planned and not what we expected. It was a bitter situation to be in and obviously it's very, very hard to take. "

J-Dog: "F&*# S#!% Pim Verbeek C&%# #&%* piece of $#!% C&%#."

Vince Grella: "F..ck no-one died. It's a game of football. They are very good. We knew they were going to be a tough opposition. We just have to sleep it off and start again tomorrow." Ha ha love vinnie, his just cut he wasnt sent off 1st.

Its true nobody died.

But SomeTHING died.

RIP Vinnie Grella's international career. Vinnie was quality. But that quality ran out about 4 years ago.
LOL @ Galatasaray if they have already signed him.

I wonder how much of a difference it would have been with Spiranovic in the team and a bit of speed in certain areas.