EXCLUSIVE: Socceroo supremo Pim Verbeek leaves for Europe today with the mission to convince in-form Newcastle United striker Mark Viduka to board the Socceroo express bound for South Africa.
And at least two local experts are hoping he’ll succeed.
“When I was Socceroo coach I was nearly hung, drawn and quartered for suggesting he should be able to pick his games, but that’s what Pim is now finding out,” Frank Farina, former Socceroo coach, told au.fourfourtwo.com today.
“You can’t bully these players when you speak to them. They appreciate honesty and need to feel a sense of ownership.
“It’s the age old problem...It’s up to Mark but I think he has a lot to offer.”
Former AC Milan star Andrea Icardi added: “Viduka must play. They need him in the team. We have Aloisi, Kennedy, Thompson but Viduka we must also have.”
Icardi knows all about brilliant strikers having marked the likes of Maradona and Falcao during his 13 seasons in Serie A, six of them with AC Milan, in the 1980s.
“The Australian squad is full of potential. It’s developed well and I’m really pleased.
“But so far, I have not been impressed with the teams Australia has played in their group.
“But I think if they meet Japan in the future it will be difficult – maybe their technique level is higher than Australia,” added Icardi, a staff coach at the AC Milan junior academy in Sydney.
“When I was Socceroo coach I was nearly hung, drawn and quartered for suggesting he should be able to pick his games, but that’s what Pim is now finding out,” Frank Farina, former Socceroo coach, told au.fourfourtwo.com today.
“You can’t bully these players when you speak to them. They appreciate honesty and need to feel a sense of ownership.
“It’s the age old problem...It’s up to Mark but I think he has a lot to offer.”
Former AC Milan star Andrea Icardi added: “Viduka must play. They need him in the team. We have Aloisi, Kennedy, Thompson but Viduka we must also have.”
Icardi knows all about brilliant strikers having marked the likes of Maradona and Falcao during his 13 seasons in Serie A, six of them with AC Milan, in the 1980s.
“The Australian squad is full of potential. It’s developed well and I’m really pleased.
“But so far, I have not been impressed with the teams Australia has played in their group.
“But I think if they meet Japan in the future it will be difficult – maybe their technique level is higher than Australia,” added Icardi, a staff coach at the AC Milan junior academy in Sydney.
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