Vidosic fights for Cup spot as cut looms

MICHAEL COCKERILL
May 30, 2010

JOHANNESBURG: A week after scoring his first goal for the national team, Dario Vidosic is fighting to save his World Cup dream.

Vidosic and another youngster, defender Shane Lowry, are looming as the most likely casualties as coach Pim Verbeek prepares to swing the axe for the last time and cull his squad to the final list of 23.

But all may not be lost for Vidosic, whose intensity at training has been impressive. Verbeek can change his squad for medical reasons right up until the day before the tournament opener against Germany on June 13, and with both Harry Kewell and Mark Bresciano still not fully fit, he might yet get a last-minute reprieve.

Advertisement: Story continues belowKewell and Brett Emerton were yesterday ruled out of the friendly against Denmark on Tuesday, but Verbeek remains confident they are well on track for World Cup action. Verbeek admitted neither of the injured duo would be ready for the match in Roodepoort. Both were unable to train fully with their teammates on Saturday - Emerton a virtual spectator during another tough session as he nurses a calf niggle.

Kewell's groin was being worked on by medical staff, though he joined in training during the two sessions on Friday. Verbeek says both will be in the frame to play in the final pre-World Cup friendly against the United States on June 5.

Eagle-eyed observers would have noticed Verbeek's whiteboard in the background of last week's media conference in Melbourne to announce Nicky Carle, Jade North and Scott McDonald wouldn't be going to South Africa.

On it, he had bracketed one shadow player for each position in the team.

That is, except in the case of Vidosic and Lowry, who were both put in a group of three players for one spot.

Vidosic was third in line behind Tim Cahill and Brett Holman, while Lowry was bracketed with Lucas Neill and Michael Beauchamp.

Vidosic can also play wide on the right, where he faces competition from Richard Garcia for the role as understudy to Emerton.

While Lowry wasn't given a chance to advance his claims in the farewell match against New Zealand, Vidosic was handed an opportunity. In his first start for his country, the 23-year-old Nuremberg player also scored his first goal.

But despite that contribution, he seems certain to lose out to the more experienced Garcia and/or Holman. Even if that's the case, he intends to fight for his cause right until the end.

''As a footballer, to go to the World Cup is a dream come true and everyone's fighting for it,'' he said.

''But we're a very strong team, and everyone's helping everyone. No one is just looking after themselves. It's a team effort, and that's what's going to help us achieve our goals. At the end of the day, it's all about what you've done. If I can look back and know I did everything I could, then I suppose I've got to be happy. Pim knows who to take, and who the best 23 are.

''He's been around football a long time, he knows what's best for Australia and what's best for the team.''

with AAP
http://www.smh.com.au/world-cup-2010/world-cup-news/vidosic-fights-for-cup-spot-as-cut-looms-20100529-wmel.html