Verbeek has forged a reputation for his frank assessment of both the standard of the A-League and its players and while admitting he had to be careful in criticising his men, he was clearly unsatisfied with Allsopp and Thompson's efforts in the 0-0 draw in Jakarta in late January.

"If I say anything, people start saying that I abuse players and I abuse the A-League, so I have to be careful," he said. "They were hopeless in Indonesia."

"I have to be honest, they were absolutely hopeless in Indonesia but the last games I have seen (in the A-League) they were very good. Maybe it was because it was Indonesia and it was a long trip. They are doing very well in their club and that's the most important thing."

Thompson and Allsopp were both named in the 24-man squad to take on Kuwait next Thursday, having combined for 22 goals at club level this season, including three goals between them in the semi-final tie against Adelaide. Thompson is one of only two players to have scored a goal at international level in the squad.

But Verbeek said he had plenty of options in attack for the Kuwait game and wanted to see at some stage what the other players had to offer.

"Mitch Nichols is doing very well. Matt Simon is a very interesting player, so I have four possibilities for strikers and I'll wait till Wednesday to pick the best XI," he said.

"I select only players who have a chance to play in the starting XI. All these players have the possibility."

"I have to disappoint a few players, but they can show me on Saturday and in training what they can do."

Thompson responded by saying that all he can do is go out on Saturday in the Grand Final and show his best and that there were other circumstances surrounding the performance oin that Indonesia game.

"Obviously it wasn't the result he wanted. In saying that I can say, we played two holding midfielders, we had no support," Thompson said. "We'll see what happens. Hopefully I can put a show on Saturday. Hopefully I have a good week in the lead-up to the Kuwait match and we'll see what happens."

Meanwhile, Verbeek denied he ever considered asking overseas-based Socceroos to return for this match after an underwhelming performance by the A-League-based side against Indonesia.

"I have no idea where that came from ... Wishful thinking maybe, but we always planned on only A-League players playing here. I think we'll do well, I think we have a good selection. We are good enough to beat Kuwait," he said.

"We have to win the game. If you want to qualify, it's draw away and three points at home," he said.

He confirmed that the 12 squad members from the A-League Grand Final would be given an extra day and would not be expected to join the squad until Monday night and start training again on Tuesday.

"They have to focus on their game. It's the biggest game of the season for them. They should not have to think for one second about the Kuwait game, they have to go for it, then they come into the training camp," he said.