I’VE got a humble pie in the oven, cooking away nicely, ready for me to eat tomorrow night. I, erm, may have been wrong about Pim. You might want to print this out and keep it. I don’t admit to being wrong very often.

Well, when I say “wrong”, what I mean, of course, is that I was right. Of course.

Pim said bringing out the Euroroos was impossible. And so did everyone else. I disagreed and said it was vital – but Pim has played it exactly right.

He gave the Aussieroos every possible chance to impress him and win a place in the Socceroos – but for the most part, he had to admit they just couldn’t guarantee success. More importantly though, by giving the Aussieroos an opportunity, he had more leverage to force the Euroroos to come back.

His appointment of Henk Duut as his Euro-based sidekick was inspired. While Pim might not have had much impact in Premier League boardrooms to demand the release, Quentin Tarantino-lookalike Henk would have put the fear of God in them.

If he strolled in wearing a black suit, white shirt and skinny black tie, I’d agree to anything he asked, just in case Samuel L Jackson was standing outside, waiting to come in and wreak God's great vengeance and furious anger upon me…

As a result, we now have almost every single Euroroo worth talking about back for the game.

Even Scott McDonald who has been a bit shy so far about coming back since he got good, even Tim Cahill who was under incredible pressure from boss David Moyes and had said he wouldn’t be playing as much for the Roos now. And even Brett Emerton who had all but ruled out himself and all the other Euroroos.

Harry Kewell was ‘dropped’ but that’s hardly a surprise. Apart from the crunch World Cup qualifier against Uruquay, Kewell hasn’t played in Australia since about 2004. Viduka’s missing as well but he’s almost surplus to requirements these days if McDonald, Kennedy and Griffiths (if he plays) can maintain their recent form.

So we’ve got the players, now all we need are tactics. Pim’s not giving much away about those. His final training session this afternoon will be held behind closed doors after the first 15 minutes to keep his strategy secret before tomorrow night.

Pim could have taken the easy option and tried to use the A-League players against Qatar, and given himself a ready-made excuse if he didn’t win. He’s not done that.

He has left himself with nowhere to hide if it now all goes wrong – but he has given himself, and us, every chance of winning. He’s passed his first test - but the real test comes tomorrow.

He has no excuses if we don’t win…but at least my humble pie will be well-cooked. Anyone else want a slice?

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MEMO TO FFA:
If you want to keep your new Socceroos shirt a secret until kick-off against Qatar, try NOT putting it on your website in advance...

THE NEW SOCCEROOS SHIRT

See more pics of it tomorrow in the latest issue of FourFourTwo magazine, on sale in the morning.