Keeper 'not on Pim's radar'.......Eugene Galekovic

[TOPGUNJIMMYAUFC]

VAL MIGLIACCIO
June 23, 2009 12:30am
ADELAIDE United goalkeeper Eugene Galekovic has written off his chances of being amongst Socceroos boss Pim Verbeek's 2010 South African-bound FIFA World Cup squad.

Galekovic said a World Cup berth would only beckon if he moved abroad to play regularly in a reputable "Verbeek-approved" foreign league.

FIFA has just two transfer windows in place before the World Cup - July/August and January, 2010 - which would potentially allow Galekovic a foreign move before his United contract comes to an end.

"The only (World Cup) chance I'll get is to go overseas and get a contract at that sort of level," said Galekovic, who was on Kyoto Sanga and Sanfrecce Hiroshima's J-League radar last year.

Despite earning a Socceroos Asian Cup qualifying cap under Verbeek after performing extraordinary heroics during United's run to the 2008 AFC Champions League final, Galekovic was certain foreign-based Australian keepers would continue to attract World Cup attention.

He said Verbeek was likely to choose his World Cup squad's three keepers from the realm of the European leagues rather than hand any A-League shot stoppers a Socceroos shirt.

Mark Schwarzer's No. 1 Socceroos keeper status is unlikely to be challenged in the next 12 months, but it appears the door is open for Verbeek's No. 3 shot-stopping shirt, Galekovic said.

United's 2009 club champion and the A-League's "keeper of the year" believed Savasspor's Michael Petkovic would be Schwarzer's No. 2 while Middlesbrough's Brad Jones and Reading's Adam Federici would be competing for the remaining World Cup squad jersey.

"Third spot, it kinds of depends on Federici and Brad Jones and if they're playing (regularly) I've got to kiss my World Cup chances goodbye," Galekovic said.

"They're playing a lot more games than in the A-League, the competition is better and obviously the standard is better.

"Jones and Federici will be up in the pecking order.

"Even (English) Championship players will have a better chance of getting picked for the World Cup squad over the A-League players."

Galekovic said United's friendly against Perth at Hindmarsh on Friday would start a year-long fight for Socceroos World Cup spots ahead of the A-League season's start on August 6. the Reds face Glory at home a day later.

"We've had a long pre-season and we've played games against Super League teams and going back to the grassroots which has been great," Galekovic said.

"I'm just looking forward now to facing Perth."