It seems Socceroos coach Pim Verbeek’s no-nonsense attitude is dripping down to his players.

Over the last ten months, we have become accustomed to the Dutchman’s “tell it like it is” approach to the game, with his bold statement that he’d rather pick players who were training in Europe than playing in Australia the most controversial.

But his players have always been a bit more circumspect when it comes to proclamations, even more so after the disappointing showing in the Asian Cup.

So when captain Lucas Neill – a thoughtful and respectful professional not prone to the sensational quote – tells us that he wants to see qualification to the World Cup “in the first five games”, the only logical explanation has to be that Verbeek’s influence is being felt as much mentally as it is on the pitch.

“We want to get to the World Cup as quick as possible,” Neill tells Australian FourFourTwo. “We need five wins and we want to do that in the first five games.”

It’s a bold statement – especially when you consider in order to achieve this we’d need victories against Bahrain, Japan and Uzbekistan – but it’s the tone in which it’s said that’s the most telling.

There’s a belief in Neill’s voice that it’s possible, and not just the usual “we’re going to do it for the lads/the country/the fans” bluster. It’s a statement backed up by results so far and from the obvious influence Verbeek has on his charges.

“We don’t want to leave anything to chance and we don’t want it to come down to needing to win games at the end to get through. We want to get it done as soon as possible. But of course things don’t always go to plan, so the more points we can accumulate now, the better we’ll be if we do experience a blip along the way.”

FFT caught up with the Socceroos captain the day after the wet and wild victory over Qatar in Brisbane to find out his thoughts on Pim’s influence, working with Gianfranco Zola and captaining club and country.

At the moment the Socceroos seem to be playing to a plan that’s working well.
I think that’s down to both Pim in how he plans and works with us before the game and also the
(continued on next page)players going out there and making it happen. He prepares us during training in the week in a certain way. He’ll always put forward two or three different options on how we are going to approach the game, so we can change things during it if need be. But it’s also about how we go out and put that into practice. The way we have executed that in our first two games has been spot on. In Uzbekistan we tried to play in a specific way and we did exactly what we wanted to do and we got the result. And again against Qatar, we had a few things that we had to focus on in the game and we did that, we got our breakthrough and we made sure we punished them when our chances arose. The gameplan was perfect and well executed.

One thing you seem to be doing well is guarding against complacency, both on and off the pitch. Is that something you’re conscious of as a team now?
Definitely. For example when we played Qatar, beating them twice previously could have lulled us into a false sense of security and we had to guard against that. A few of the more experienced players rallied around the younger ones to try and make sure they remained focused on the task ahead and remained sharp.

The two wins have put us in a great position and it’s helped to neutralise the threat of the other big team in the group, Japan. Does that put you at ease?
We’re not concerned about anyone else in our group, we’re just focused on ourselves. If we win the majority of our games then we have insurance in case we trip up and lose a game in the group. We’ve done enough elsewhere that we’re covered. But as I said we want to get there as quick as possible and let everyone else worry about fighting for second.

What is the big difference between this team and the one that went to the World Cup in 2006?
I think we were a lot younger and inexperienced going into 2006 and we had a “no fear” attitude about us. We were going into the unknown, no-one had ever been there or experienced a World Cup before as a player. Now we have a group of players who have experienced it and want it again and another group who saw what happened and are desperate to get a taste of the action. As a result we’ve got a collective hunger from those who’ve been there and want some more and those who are desperate to experience it for themselves. That hunger makes everybody – and I mean everbody, the players, the staff and the Australian public – really determined to get Australia to the World Cup again. We all want the experience that we had in 2006 again.

How much does the support of the fans help spur you on?
They do a great job. We all appreciate and realise how much of an honour it is to play for our country. We’re getting people turn up to our games who idolise us and cheer us because we’re doing something that they all dream about doing – representing their country at the highest level. And I never take that for granted. It’s one thing that I think we can all be proud of as a nation that we are always looking to do our best for the country. They want to be staying up late cheering us on, experiencing the highs and lows of supporting their country in the World Cup.

You’ve even gone so far as to ask fans to keep a check of their emotions. Is there a heavier weight of expectation this time?
There’s certainly a different mindset now. Before it was let’s hope we get to the World Cup and let’s see what comes of it. Now it’s we have to get to the World Cup because we are good enough. And we have to put that kind of pressure on ourselves. We’re ranked 30th in the world now and we want to get into the top 20, and when we get there then we’re going to try to break into the top 10. We’ve got to keep raising our level and not just be happy with going to the odd World Cup now and again. We’ve got to keep improving and making sure that the game in this country is progressing. And that starts with keeping the A-League strong and building for the future and eventually we can be seen as a country that can host the World Cup.

So you feel there’s a real chance to improve on the performance of 2006?
Well there’s not much point in playing if I don’t think we can improve. The way we experienced the World Cup last time, all the “what ifs” that were thrown out there. What if Italy didn’t get a penalty? What if we’d won the game? What if we’d beaten Ukraine, we could’ve got to the semi-finals of a World Cup. It proved that all you have to do is get there and then anything is possible. And with this team we’re building something here and we’ve still got two years until it reaches its peak. We’ve got so much more to learn but at the moment, we’ve got the hunger, determination and desire to become a really good outfit.

You said the sign of a good captain is to take them to a World Cup… What would that mean to you when you look back at your career that not only did you captain a team in the World Cup but that you led them there?
To be captain of your country is the greatest honour you can have in your football career. To captain your country and lead them to the ultimate tournament in the game – the holy grail – it doesn’t get any bigger or better than that. To be able to walk your team out in front of the world to take on the best teams, there can be no greater privilege. For me that’s the dream now. It’s to get to the World Cup, but it holds extra special value for me because I’m the guy that gets to walk out first, I’m the guy that wears the armband that represents the entire nation. Even now talking to you about it, it makes me tingle.

How has it changed you as a footballer being a captain, with the added responsibility?
I’ve become a little bit more vocal, in the changing room and also more so out on the pitch. But I like that, I relish that. I’m also aware now that all eyes are on me. That just makes you become more professional, which I’d like to think I always was, but you know you’re always being analysed and there are a lot of people looking up to you and looking for guidance. You’ve always got to be at your best, always be positive. You’ve always got to be there to advise people if they need it, to kick people up the bum if they need it too. I’ve got to man manage as well as worry about my own performance. When you say all that it sounds like a hard task but being the captain of the Australian team is a pleasure because of the talent I have around me.

Was that something you always had in you or was it something that you’ve had to work at?
I’d like to think that it’s a natural thing that I have. But I’ve also played on some (continued on next page)teams with some experienced players that I’ve learnt a lot from along the way. And coaches too, especially someone like Guus Hiddink, who has inspired me to want to take a leadership role. Most important is my family, the upbringing from my family.

As for Pim Verbeek, do you think he doesn’t get the respect he deserves as the coach. A win away to Uzbekistan by Hiddink would’ve been hailed as a master stroke… Is he flying under the radar in terms of respect?
Well, he’s certainly not flying under the radar within the team. We think he’s been absolutely fantastic. How he’s portrayed outside the team in the media or in public, it’s not really what we’re in it for. We all know how good he is – I’ve already gone on record to say what a good man manager he is. His preparation before games is second to none, the way he tactically advises you and prepares you for each game. I think he has been almost flawless in this second round of qualifying so far. He’s backed his own judgement and everything he’s asked us to do we’ve executed and ended up with two wins in our group.

And he got a sense of the Australian mentality quickly too, which helps.....
He has and it was something Guus did well too. What Hiddink found out early on was what big hearts we have and that he could push us and push us and push us and we still wouldn’t give up. We would just continue to work harder and go stronger. Pim has inherited that and has recognised that in us early. And he’s just tweaking a few things here and there and making sure that we’re not just playing with our hearts but with our heads as well.

Going onto the Premier League, it’s been a tough start to the season for the Hammers off the pitch but satisfying on it. Is that strange when you’re called a club in crisis when your in sixth?
Not just sixth position but with two games that I’d call blips, two games that we were expected to win and should have won. We’ve got a new manager in Gianfranco Zola and we’re working very well with him. His experience and passion for the game is brilliant and training has been a really fun environment. There’s a real feeling of determination and a will to succeed this season because last season we were fairly average. This year, everything that happens off the field is not the player’s concern. Unfortunately it’s the board and the fans that hurt in that respect but the players have the escape of just being able to go out and play football. With everything going on around you, it’s great to be able to just go out and kick the ball. The training ground is where you work and where you can switch off to everything else.

What’s been the key to your success so far this season?
I think it’s a confidence thing. We’ve worked in training and have been putting that into games in playing a certain style of football and it suits a lot of players we have in the squad. The majority of our players are fit now and you can see that they’re playing with a little bit of confidence about them. We’re going to come unstuck every now and again because we’re going to make mistakes but overall I think we’re coming together as a team at the moment. And I’m sure over the course of the season, we’re only going to play better football.

Now you have Gianfranco Zola as your coach. What has he bought the team?
The way he was as a player, he’s the same as a manager. He’s so passionate about the game and enthusiastic. He loves an attractive style of football and is determined to become a good manager in the Premier League. His drive then has an effect on the team and makes us want to become better players. He wants to emulate the success he had as a player as a manager.

How good is the team that you have at the moment. Are you aiming for a Champions League spot or is that beyond you?
It’s a hard ask. I think we have to make baby steps first and aim to get into the top seven. That was the target that was set last year but with key players getting injured that hurt our campaign, but this year I truly believe that it is reachable. All the other teams in the league have targets for success as well so it’s about finding consistency and getting the results.

Hammers fans can be hard to please at times. How have they taken to an Australian as club captain?
I think I have a good rapport with the fans, more often than not. Last season, like me, they were frustrated and it wasn’t my best season ever form wise and I’ve still got a few people to please there. I’m determined to put that right this year and be a leader of a team that wins a lot more games than it loses. And somewhere along the line I hope we can be successful.

You’re nearing the end of your contract and have said that you want to stay in East London. Do you feel there’s more work to be done?
I’m on the last year of my contract and I’ve expressed an interest in staying as long as possible. There has certainly been some positive feedback from the board side of things. However, no-ones holding anyone to ransom and I’m not being pushed into a corner. Over time it’s going to sort itself out. For now all I have to worry about is playing football.

You’ve said that you would like to play in the A-League before you finish playing but you’re also said to be involved in a bid for an A-League team. Do you see yourself as a bit of an Abramovich then?
[laughs] Nah, not really. I’ve always wanted to give something back to Australian football and I do a little bit of work with my local Manly team with my Lucas Neill scholarship. On a bigger scale I’m trying to look into the possibility of being involved in an A-League franchise. It’s early days at the moment but I like the idea of it and I certainly think I’ve got something to offer as far as running a club. It’s something I’ll definitely not say no to, I’ve got a lot of passion for the game and I need to find something to do when I have finished playing the game.

There’s talk of other players coming home a little sooner than expected. Has the age an Aussie footballer returns home shrunk a little with the quality of the game improving so much over here?
The A-League is going really well and when you look at what Adelaide have achieve in Asia’s premier tournament, it’s really exciting. The reason people go away is to try and carve out a career for themselves, make good money and win honours with their club side. Now if you can do that in Australia and enjoy a fantastic lifestyle, why would you want to leave? Australians enjoy a great lifestyle and as a footballer if you can earn a good living, win things and get the excitement of going into the Asian Champions League, then a lot of guys are questioning why they wouldn’t want to come back. Certainly for me, heading towards the end of my career, I definitely want to come back to the A-League and experience it.

Finally talk to us a little about your foundation. It’s obviously something that means a lot to you to give something back to the game and Australian footballers in general.
Hopefully my scholarships can open some doors and every year, I’ll try and take one or two kids over to England and get them training with various Premier League teams for three weeks. Just to open their eyes and show them how hard a level it is to reach. Maybe highlight what they need to do to make themselves good enough to play at the top level in England. It’s not about them going over on trial and landing a contract – if that happens, it happens – but it’s more about them coming back and telling their teammates how amazing it was. And of course in the lead up to finding the winners of the scholarship, it’s giving kids something to aim for at the end of the season.

Do more players need to be doing things like this to develop youth football further in this country?
I think everybody’s different. Some people want to do it and have a passion, others are shy and just want to live the quiet life. I respect both sides but for me I realise I’m in a position of leverage and I have a lot to give. I want to give back and help build a legacy and help Australian football nurture young talent for years to come.