Socceroos' starting XI vs. England -- some fact, some conjecture (R., perhaps)

I posted this just about word-for-word on the main pre-match thread, but thought that it might deserve a thread of its own.

Before I write my last pre-game article, I thought I'd share with you all the lineup which Australia will be putting out. Some of this is what Soccer Australia officials have already said publicly this morning our time here, and some of the rest lies between the spectrum of educated guesses and pure conjecture.

So here goes...

------------------Kewell*-----------Viduka----------------

---------------------------Grella-------------------------

----Chipperfield--------------------------------Emerton---

----------------------------Okon--------------------------

---Lazaridis-------Moore----------Popovic--------Neill----

--------------------------Schwartzer----------------------

The asterisk by Kewell's name is contingent on him passing a day-of-game fitness test, which will be administered at 11 a.m. BST, according to Soccer Australia officials.

It has been admitted that Chipperfield and Lazaridis will start on the left, with Moore and Popovic in the centre of defense. Other than that, it's a given that Viduka goes up top, and Schwartzer is in goal.

Vince Grella deserves a shot at the #10 position in behind the front two, which leaves captain Paul Okon as the d-mid. Neill starts at right back based on his form with Blackburn, and I'm guessing that Brett Emerton starts on the right wing ahead of Marco Bresciano.

If Harry Kewell fails his fitness test, then look for John Aloisi-- in good form with Spanish La Liga side Osasuna-- to take his place.

This may not be gospel, but pretty close, to what I've been able to dig up.

Discuss...

Cheers,
William

 

Bump... with an update.

I got ten out of eleven right on the lineup-- SBS just broadcast the Socceroos' starting eleven on their nightly "World Sport" roundup TV show, and the only exception to what I predicted was that Josep Skoko has been deemed fit to partner Paul Okon in central midfield, thus forcing Vince Grella to the subs' bench.

To wit:

------------------Kewell*-----------Viduka----------------

--Chipperfield-----Skoko---------Okon-------Emerton-------

---Lazaridis-------Moore----------Popovic--------Neill----

--------------------------Schwartzer----------------------

Note that the midfield is flat, as opposed to a diamond-shape now, due to the chemistry involved under Frank Farina's systematics.

And still, everything hinges upon Kewell's fitness test in a few hours (before midnight AEDT here). We'll be waiting on that with baited breath...

Cheers,
William

 

I think you've hit on a good point, Sammy.

The one thing the Socceroos lack is a "true #10"-- the type of player who can be a "go-to guy" in the midfield, be a playmaker, and give the Socceroos another option rather than just going straight up and down the channels. Kewell might be just the same answer that Skoko or Grella might be, but he'd also provide Farina with a better scoring option from that position as well.

More to the point, I'd hate to see Aloisi left on the bench. But we'll see how well Kewell and Viduka do in the morning (knock on wood, for Kewell to be fit)...

Cheers,
William

 

That's true, I think Harry plays much better running at defenders and taking them on.

But at the same time, I don't think Farina has the luxury or the variety of having a "target man"-type of player, á lá a Brian McBride for the USA, for example.

I don't see Aloisi as that type of player either-- but among the three strikers we've mentioned, if anyone comes close to fitting that bill by default, it's Viduka.

Just to play devil's advocate, Kewell and Viduka already play together at Leeds, and have struck up a good and effective chemistry. Farina wants to exploit that against England-- and if they need a third striker late in the game, then bring in Aloisi.

Cheers,
William