Socceroos to clash with Netherlands in Sydney friendly

[TOPGUNJIMMYAUFC]

Tom Smithies

May 21, 2009 11:47am
THE Socceroos' first major warm-up for the World Cup will be a rematch with the Netherlands in Sydney in October.

And coach Pim Verbeek is expected to deploy his big guns to prepare to put Australia's Asian Cup campaign back on track.

A glamour friendly with the Dutch on October 10 will be twinned with Australia's third Asian Cup qualifier four days later at home to Oman, with a full-strength squad for both.

Assuming the Socceroos get the point they need for World Cup qualification from their three remaining games next month, the Netherlands' visit to Sydney will be a major preparation for South Africa, with the Dutch itching to avenge a 2-1 defeat in September in Eindhoven.

The venue for the Oman game is yet to be decided after officials successfully lobbied the Asian Football Confederation to bring the game forward a month.

In contrast with the World Cup qualifying campaign, Verbeek has seen an all-A-League Socceroos side lose 1-0 to Kuwait in Canberra and draw 0-0 away to Indonesia in 2011 Asian Cup qualifying.

Another Asian Cup qualifier is scheduled for November 14 in Muscat, Oman, only an eight-hour flight from London.

That means a strong European-based squad is highly feasible for another game Australia must win to make progress towards the 2011 tournament in Qatar.

The Dutch friendly will give Verbeek another gauge of his side's level.

The Netherlands were drawn in Europe's only five-team group for a World Cup spot, meaning their fixtures finish in September