SOCCEROOS coach Pim Verbeek is urging his players to be patient and not fall for the sucker punch against Iraq in Brisbane.
To see all the pictures of the Socceroos training on Saturday...
Verbeek has forged a reputation for his honest appraisals of both his own side and opposition and while he is far from underestimating the Iraqis in Sunday's match, he does expect them to look to grab a point.
"They've come with one striker and they will defend and wait and wait until they get one or two chances and if they score one goal they will be very happy. So that's what we expect. They will defend and we will attack and it's our job to be alert and make sure we don't let them get us on the counter," he said.
Verbeek said it's important his players remain disciplined in their adherence to the game plan throughout and not get frustrated by Iraq's tactics.
"They are very dangerous with counters. That's the way they like to play. We all know how good their striker (Younes Mahmoud) is. We are prepared for that, and patience is the best word to describe what we will need. But we will have to attack as well."
Australia lost to Iraq in the group stages of the Asian Cup last year, a defeat which ultimately saw the Socceroos finish on the wrong side of the draw and bow out to Japan on penalties in the quarter finals.
But Verbeek said that while revenge is far from his players' minds in the build up to the match, his team had learned a lot from that 3-1 defeat in Bangkok.
"We know what we have to do. We have to win this game. Revenge, or not revenge, I think it's good maybe that we lost in the Asian Cup. They know they can never underestimate Iraq. We should not underestimate Iraq at all." he said.
"They are the Asian Cup winners and they deserved to win that game (against Australia). We are prepared, we know what to expect."
Australia currently leads Group 1 on four points and a win on Sunday would put it in a strong position to progress to the final group stage. Verbeek doesn't believe that the game is must win, but says a victory will set up his side well for a busy month which features four qualifiers in as many weeks.
"We need two wins and we still have four games to go. If we don't win this game, then we still have a chance to win the others. But it makes life easier if you win this one," he said.
Verbeek is confident that ten points should be enough to get Australia through to the final stage which will feature two groups of five with the top two from each earning a berth at South Africa 2010.
To see all the pictures of the Socceroos training on Saturday...
Verbeek has forged a reputation for his honest appraisals of both his own side and opposition and while he is far from underestimating the Iraqis in Sunday's match, he does expect them to look to grab a point.
"They've come with one striker and they will defend and wait and wait until they get one or two chances and if they score one goal they will be very happy. So that's what we expect. They will defend and we will attack and it's our job to be alert and make sure we don't let them get us on the counter," he said.
Verbeek said it's important his players remain disciplined in their adherence to the game plan throughout and not get frustrated by Iraq's tactics.
"They are very dangerous with counters. That's the way they like to play. We all know how good their striker (Younes Mahmoud) is. We are prepared for that, and patience is the best word to describe what we will need. But we will have to attack as well."
Australia lost to Iraq in the group stages of the Asian Cup last year, a defeat which ultimately saw the Socceroos finish on the wrong side of the draw and bow out to Japan on penalties in the quarter finals.
But Verbeek said that while revenge is far from his players' minds in the build up to the match, his team had learned a lot from that 3-1 defeat in Bangkok.
"We know what we have to do. We have to win this game. Revenge, or not revenge, I think it's good maybe that we lost in the Asian Cup. They know they can never underestimate Iraq. We should not underestimate Iraq at all." he said.
"They are the Asian Cup winners and they deserved to win that game (against Australia). We are prepared, we know what to expect."
Australia currently leads Group 1 on four points and a win on Sunday would put it in a strong position to progress to the final group stage. Verbeek doesn't believe that the game is must win, but says a victory will set up his side well for a busy month which features four qualifiers in as many weeks.
"We need two wins and we still have four games to go. If we don't win this game, then we still have a chance to win the others. But it makes life easier if you win this one," he said.
Verbeek is confident that ten points should be enough to get Australia through to the final stage which will feature two groups of five with the top two from each earning a berth at South Africa 2010.
To see all the pictures of the Socceroos training on Saturday...
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