Bench shows we're out of our depth against big guns: Pim
June 19, 2010
SOCCEROOS coach Pim Verbeek believes reserve forward Nikita Rukavytsya reflects the real measure of the quality of his squad, telling a Dutch newspaper the contrast between his bench and that of the big nations is immense.
In the wake of last week's humiliation at the hands of Germany, he was asked by a reporter from Volkskrant if he envied his rival coach, Joachim Loew.
''Have a look who he [Loew] can bring in without weakening his team, look at his bench,'' Verbeek said. ''I have Rukavytsya, who wasn't good enough for FC Twente second team. Because I don't have any better, I have to use him as a substitute. That is the reality.''Pressed on the issue of depth, he was also asked why veteran defender Craig Moore started even though he is currently without a club.
''The boy [Moore] played last season only in the Australian league, not at Real Madrid,'' Verbeek replied. ''And he wasn't even the worst one [against Germany].''
Verbeek has long claimed Australian fans and the media have inflated expectations of the national team, but he remains optimistic the Socceroos can turn their campaign around against Ghana. ''Most of the Asian opponents are afraid of us and walk backwards,'' he said. ''But, of course, Germany is a different story. We could have lost with big numbers. Maybe I should have intervened earlier. A striker for a striker exchange is not difficult. I had to adjust our playing style, and it's better to do that in the quiet of the locker room. But I consider Germany a fantastic team, they are one of the possible winners of the World Cup.
''… Now the mission is simple - we must beat Ghana. It will be difficult, but the Australians always have a strong mentality.''
Michael Cockerill
http://www.watoday.com.au/world-cup-2010/world-cup-news/bench-shows-were-out-of-our-depth-against-big-guns-pim-20100619-yn4f.html