To see the latest training session...

Culina will end his association with Dutch club PSV Eindhoven at the end of the current European season, linking with new A-League franchise Gold Coast for the start of the 2009/10 campaign.

Verbeek made it clear he wanted his European-based players to stay put heading into a World Cup year, but Culina is adamant a return home will not jeopardise his position in the national team.

"It won't affect my (World Cup) chances at all," the classy midfielder said on Thursday.

"Pim made it clear very early on where he prefers his players to be playing, but ultimately I've made the decision to come back."

"That's something I always wanted to do - it wasn't necessarily that I targeted this particular season to come back - it just happened to fall at a time just before the World Cup."

"I've made the decision and Pim stands by it. I'm happy with it."

Verbeek argues the A-League's short season - August to March - is not the ideal preparation for a World Cup campaign.

He also has concerns over the standard and intensity of the domestic competition compared to the high-octane European leagues.

But Culina, back in Australia for the Socceroos' World Cup qualifier against Uzbekistan next Wednesday, declared: "I'm not worrying about it too much at all."

"My first focus is on my new club Gold Coast, to have a good season and hopefully win things with Gold Coast."

"Then we can worry about other things after that."

Turning his sights to Uzbekistan, Culina welcomes the challenge of meeting the football public's demand for victory with style.

"I think they should have high expectations because we do," he said.

"With the extra preparation we are all very confident it's going to be a good game, an exciting game for the fans, and hopefully a lot of goals."

To see the latest training session...