Pim Verbeek is tipped confirm a FIFA World Cup berth for EG.

[TOPGUNJIMMYAUFC]

Verbeek an interested spectator tonight Val Migliaccio From: The Advertiser March 30, 2010 11:42AM


SOCCEROOS boss Pim Verbeek is tipped to arrive in Hiroshima this afternoon and appears set to confirm a FIFA World Cup berth for inform Adelaide United keeper Eugene Galekovic.

Verbeek last night confirmed to Reds officials that he will be an interested spectator as Adelaide prepares for tonight's AFC Champions League clash with an unchanged line up against Sanfrecce Hiroshima at the Big Arch Stadium.

The Socceroos chief is currently globetrotting around the planet, keeping tabs on his potential Socceroos World Cup squad members.

Galekovic appears to be in the box seat to win a Socceroos guernsey behind Fulham's Mark Schwarzer while Mathew Leckie ould be a young bolter for South Africa.

And Adelaide's injured trio, skipper Travis Dodd, Marcos Flores and Serginho van Dijk demonstrated they are fit enough to start tonight despite carrying niggling injuries.


The trio trained for the first time with the squad in Hiroshima last night and appeared ultra sharp during the Reds formation session at the Big Arch Stadium.

Adelaide coach Aurelio Vidmar alluded to making changes after Adelaide beat Sanfrecce 3-2 at Hindmarsh last week.

However it appears the 2009 A-League Coach of the Year will stick with the same side which has earned maximum points in its past three Asian clashes.

Adelaide can all but secure the next round of the Champions League with two Group H games to spare if it beats decimated Sanfrecce tonight.

[the_gun]

fantastic for eugene... he deserves it. what a great experience it would be

[Red-4-Life]

congrats to Eugene, has played 5 or so games now for the Socceroos and deserves it!!

[PhilDunphy]

what a great experience that would be for him

a fantastic goalkeeper that was a shining light in a dismal a-league season for the reds

no-one in the a-league deserves more to be apart of the south african squad than eugene