Despite winning 2-1 with a last minute goal to Brett Holman, the Socceroos looked off the pace in the first half at the MCG against a lively Kiwi side.

There was a general improvement in the second half but Verbeek said fatigue may have been a factor.

"I've thought about and maybe we trained too hard, maybe I let them train too hard before this game," he said today. "Maybe they were too tired when they started the game. 

"But okay, a pre-World Cup game, we have to build up tactically, physically, mentally before the World Cup and we only have four weeks.

"So we had to rush a few things in the week. If I could change anything, then if it was a game for real results then I should not let them train so hard.

"That's the conclusion I made but that's why it's good to play games like that.

"A rusty start but we started to get better during the game and a better balance but physically for some players it was good to play for some the first game in many weeks and you could see that.

"But I'm happy that the biggest  game is on June 13 (June 14 Aus) and not next Saturday. Because then I should be worried - now I'm not at all."