Pim downplays complacency

Socceroos coach Pim Verbeek has distanced himself from suggestions that his players need reminding about the challenge on hand to qualify for the 2010 World Cup.

Socceroos coach Pim Verbeek has distanced himself from suggestions that his players need reminding about the challenge on hand to qualify for the 2010 World Cup.

Australia will be looking to score a vital home victory when it takes on Qatar next week at Brisbane Stadium in a vital World Cup qualifier.

While the Socceroos recorded major wins over the Qataris in both the home and away legs of the last round of qualification, Verbeek has no illusions about the importance of next Wednesday night's match.

Verbeek was blunt when quizzed at a promotional event in Brisbane on Friday about whether he needs to ensure his stars keep their feet on the ground.

"I don't think I have to tell my players how important the game is on Wednesday," he said.

"It's an important game, it's a difficult game, we need all the support we have and we have to give everything we have and then we will get the result."

"They all look very ready to do a job on Wednesday, they look fresh, they look fit, they look sharp, so I'm a happy coach."

Aside from keeping a lid on things, the other major problem facing Verbeek is how to handle the injury-enforced omissions of Vinnie Grella, Mark Bresciano and most likely Harry Kewell.

If Verbeek held any concerns about who would step up in the trio's absence, he was not about to show it.

"I have 25 players and 3 goal keepers, so I think I have enough players."

"I have enough players who can do a great job, we have confidence that they are going to a great job."

Qatar recently had a change in mangers with Frenchman Bruno Metsu taking over from the ill Jorge Fossati, while Verbeek admitted the move could cause issues for the Socceroos, he was not overly concerned.

"It's always the problem if you change coach, we have no idea what they're going to do."

"But I don't think it's a real problem for us, we focus on our own team, we have fantastic players, and we're going to play our own game and we are going to win the game."

The playing surface at Brisbane Stadium came under fire from some players and sections of the media after Australia's World Cup qualifier against Iraq in June this year.

Verbeek wasn't worried when asked about the condition of the surface for this Wednesday's game.

"I saw it two weeks ago and it was already fantastic, I think it's a great stadium."