Verbeek looking forward to time well spent

One thing Socceroos coach Pim Verbeek is particularly looking forward to when his squad comes to together for the 2010 FIFA World Cup™ qualifying game against Uzbekistan on April 1, is actually spending time with his squad.

One thing Socceroos coach Pim Verbeek is particularly looking forward to when his squad comes to together for the 2010 FIFA World Cup™ qualifying game against Uzbekistan on April 1, is actually spending time with his squad.

The past four internationals, he has had less than 10 days combined preparation time with his squads, a situation that he is not happy with, but cannot do anything about.

However Verbeek and his coaching staff will be blessed with at least a seven-day preparation camp in the lead up to the match at Sydney-s ANZ Stadium. Verbeek is relishing the opportunity to work with his players and knows the last time he had this amount of time with the players, they responded with an emphatic win in Brisbane.

“Yes I am looking forward to it,” he said. “That-s the same preparation time as we had against Qatar and we did very well in that game.

“It has everything to do with getting the players to work on the system; try to find out which players are in good shape, because that is what you can see in the training and then you can find out what the best structure is. You can practice in the training to beat a team like Uzbekistan.

“Everything is there, the boys can get used to the time difference and then we have to ready.”

The Dutchmen knows the importance of winning at home and believes a big crowd at ANZ Stadium can make a big difference, just like it did at Suncorp Stadium, when Australia spanked Qatar 4-0.

“It-s a big stadium and hopefully a big crowd will be on hand to watch and that-s all we need, because there are no easy games in this group.

“We still have to have points and that-s the first thing we have to do against Uzbekistan, win our home games.”

For many of the Aussie squad, it will be there first visit back to the 80,000 former Olympic Stadium, where the Socceroos recorded their famous win against Uruguay in 2005 that sent Australia to the 2006 FIFA World Cup™ finals.

Verbeek is hoping those good vibes will also carry over to the Uzbekistan, especially when the stakes are just as high against Uzbekistan.

“Definitely; there is a lot at stake, as it was four years ago and we know they will have special feelings for a game like that.

“If we get three points out of this game, it-s a big, big step to the next World Cup and it-s more or less the same at stake as it was against Uruguay. So let-s make it easier for ourselves and let-s go for the three points in front of another big and fantastic crowd here in Sydney.”

Tickets for the match at ANZ Stadium are still available and can be purchased by clicking here..