Canberra's Carl Valeri set to start for Socceroos?
Canberran Carl Valeri is set to make his home debut when the Socceroos take on old friends, Uruguay, in a friendly at the Telstra Stadium Sydney on Saturday night.
This is the last Socceroo game before the squad is announced for the AFC Asia Cup 2007, which is being held in Thailand, Indonesia, Vietnam, and Malaysia from July 7-29. Coach Graham Arnold says, “There are six place up for grabs.”
Mark Viduka, Mark Scharzwer, Harry Kewell, Vinny Grella, Marco Bresciano, Craig Moore, Scott Chipperfield, John Aloisi and Tim Cahill are just some of last year’s World Cup squad to miss Saturday’s game. The match will give Coach Graham Arnold a chance to assess, who of the younger players can make the Asian Cup squad, and more importantly the talent pool available for 2010 South Africa World Cup qualification.
World Cup Coach Gus Hiddink used only 17 players in the World Cup. At least twelve of that squad may have retired by 2010.
With the Socceroos playing many more games in Asia over the coming years, Arnold will need to spread the travel and match load over a bigger group of players.
So who will step up? Canberra’s Carl Valeri is one set to benefit. Valeri, fresh from winning the Serie C in Italy with his club Grosseto, is expected to make his home debut on Saturday night.
Arnold describes Valeri as a ‘mini-Vinnie,’ referring to established Socceroos and ex-Canberra Cosmos star Vince Grella.
Valeri may play in the same defensive role as Grella, but unlike Grella he can score goals. Valeri’s goal in Grossetos 1-0 win away to Padova, on the last day of the Serie C season, secured the championship and promotion.
Valeri made his Socceroos debut against China earlier this year. He produced a strong performance in Australia’s 2-0 win.
The Canberrans career is on the rise.
Valeri is only 23. He has represented Australia at all four levels. Under 17 FIFA World Cup in Trinidad, World Youth Cup in UAE, and with the Olyroos in Athens. His Socceroo caps complete the set.
Valeri’s club contract is equally owned by Inter Milan and Grosseto. His current contract ends in June, and a strong Asian Cup performance may add to his ability to secure a permanent contract in a bigger league.
The game on Saturday will not be easy. Uruguay has a full-strength squad including Alvaro Recoba (Inter Milan) and Diego Forlan (Villareal) and they will give the next generation of Socceroos a severe test.
The Australian national team’s starting line-up is expected to be;
Brad Jones (Middlesboro, England); Brett Emerton (Blackburn, England), Lucas Neill (West Ham, England), Patrick Kisnorbo (Leicester City, England), Michael Thwaite (Wislaw Krakow, Poland), Carl Valeri (Grosseto, Italy), Luke Wilkshire (FC Twente, Holland), Mile Sterjovski ( Basle, Switzerland), Jason Culina (PSV Eindhoven,Holland); Brett Holman, (FC Nijmegen, Holland); Scott McDonald. (Celtic, Scotland).
The game will be showed live on Fox Sports. Telecast starts 7pm on Main Event Channel.
This is the last Socceroo game before the squad is announced for the AFC Asia Cup 2007, which is being held in Thailand, Indonesia, Vietnam, and Malaysia from July 7-29. Coach Graham Arnold says, “There are six place up for grabs.”
Mark Viduka, Mark Scharzwer, Harry Kewell, Vinny Grella, Marco Bresciano, Craig Moore, Scott Chipperfield, John Aloisi and Tim Cahill are just some of last year’s World Cup squad to miss Saturday’s game. The match will give Coach Graham Arnold a chance to assess, who of the younger players can make the Asian Cup squad, and more importantly the talent pool available for 2010 South Africa World Cup qualification.
World Cup Coach Gus Hiddink used only 17 players in the World Cup. At least twelve of that squad may have retired by 2010.
With the Socceroos playing many more games in Asia over the coming years, Arnold will need to spread the travel and match load over a bigger group of players.
So who will step up? Canberra’s Carl Valeri is one set to benefit. Valeri, fresh from winning the Serie C in Italy with his club Grosseto, is expected to make his home debut on Saturday night.
Arnold describes Valeri as a ‘mini-Vinnie,’ referring to established Socceroos and ex-Canberra Cosmos star Vince Grella.
Valeri may play in the same defensive role as Grella, but unlike Grella he can score goals. Valeri’s goal in Grossetos 1-0 win away to Padova, on the last day of the Serie C season, secured the championship and promotion.
Valeri made his Socceroos debut against China earlier this year. He produced a strong performance in Australia’s 2-0 win.
The Canberrans career is on the rise.
Valeri is only 23. He has represented Australia at all four levels. Under 17 FIFA World Cup in Trinidad, World Youth Cup in UAE, and with the Olyroos in Athens. His Socceroo caps complete the set.
Valeri’s club contract is equally owned by Inter Milan and Grosseto. His current contract ends in June, and a strong Asian Cup performance may add to his ability to secure a permanent contract in a bigger league.
The game on Saturday will not be easy. Uruguay has a full-strength squad including Alvaro Recoba (Inter Milan) and Diego Forlan (Villareal) and they will give the next generation of Socceroos a severe test.
The Australian national team’s starting line-up is expected to be;
Brad Jones (Middlesboro, England); Brett Emerton (Blackburn, England), Lucas Neill (West Ham, England), Patrick Kisnorbo (Leicester City, England), Michael Thwaite (Wislaw Krakow, Poland), Carl Valeri (Grosseto, Italy), Luke Wilkshire (FC Twente, Holland), Mile Sterjovski ( Basle, Switzerland), Jason Culina (PSV Eindhoven,Holland); Brett Holman, (FC Nijmegen, Holland); Scott McDonald. (Celtic, Scotland).
The game will be showed live on Fox Sports. Telecast starts 7pm on Main Event Channel.
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