Schwarzer out of New Zealand game

23 May 2010 08:27
A sprained thumb will keep Australia goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer out of Monday's friendly against New Zealand.[LNB] But Socceroos coach Pim Verbeek is confident he will be fit for the next World Cup warm-up match against Denmark on June 1 in Johannesburg.[LNB]Schwarzer suffered the sprain in training earlier this week, sending a scare through the Australia camp just three weeks ahead of the Socceroos' first match of the World Cup against Germany in Durban.[LNB]Schwarzer is Australia's most experienced player and is considered vital to the Socceroos' hopes of making it through a tricky group stage which involves matches against Germany, Ghana and Serbia.[LNB]Verbeek said he would not be taking a risk with Schwarzer or Harry Kewell ahead of the match, while Rhys Williams and Richard Garcia will also miss out after playing only minor roles in the training camp leading up to the match.[LNB]"I have 31 very good players, but I won't take any risks with players that I think can't handle. I've said already Harry Kewell will not play. The second one that won't play is Mark Schwarzer, because he has a small sprain in his thumb," he said.[LNB]"It's not serious, but serious enough not take any risk with him, which is a pity, because we like to see him on the field. But it gives me the opportunity to see my other goalkeepers."[LNB]Verbeek has complete confidence that Schwarzer will be ready to resume his spot in the Australia goal in the next warm-up match against Denmark.[LNB]"There is no doubt about that. The medical staff are 100% convinced. It's just too early now. Why should we take a risk in a game when we still have three weeks? He has played enough games, so it's not about rhythm, it's about getting his hand 100%," he said.[LNB]Adam Federici and Brad Jones will contest for Schwarzer's spot in the team to face New Zealand, with Verbeek saying he will make up his mind when he has a final discussion with goalkeeping coach Tony Franken.[LNB]"Tony is the one who is working mostly with the goalkeepers," he said. "Adam is doing very well. It's him or it's Brad. I haven't made my mind up, I'll make it up when I've spoken to Tony after the training tonight."[LNB]Verbeek indicated that Garcia and Williams, who are recovering from knee and groin injuries respectively, would be part of the squad which is going to South Africa, despite missing out tomorrow's game.[LNB]"Once they get to South Africa, they can have five days to show me they can make the final 23."[LNB]Meanwhile, Verbeek denied he was set to experiment with his line-up, saying the time for tinkering had passed.[LNB]"There are no experiments, because I know all my players. I know exactly what they can and exactly what they can't do," he said.[LNB]He will finalise a squad of 27 to take to South Africa after Monday's match but he said that his decision would not be solely based on how players performed in the match against the All Whites.[LNB]"For me, the game tomorrow is one of eight sessions. For me, the training sessions we had this week are as important as the game we have tomorrow evening," he said.[LNB]"I have to make a few decisions before we go to South Africa and they have to tried to do everything to show us, the staff, that they are ready and they want to be part of the World Cup selection.[LNB]"They are doing a great job so far, it's been a fantastic training camp."

Source: Team_Talk