- scooper9
- Youth Academy
- Joined: 15 Dec 2005
- Posts: 506
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 Posted: Fri Jun 02, 2006 3:46 pm |
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Kewell in line for Liechtenstein - SBS
> Harry Kewell trains in Mierlo, Netherlands. Photo AAP
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Harry Kewell is back training with his Socceroos teammates for the first time since the Liverpool midfielder tore a groin muscle playing for the Reds in their FA Cup final victory nearly three weeks ago.
But Kewell, who had been training solo for the past four days at the team's Dutch training camp in Mierlo, has "zero" chance of playing any role against the Netherlands in a World Cup warm-up match on Sunday AEST, according to Socceroos assistant coach Graham Arnold.
"Harry has had a chronic problem for quite a while with his groin so it’s not like a one-off situation, so I think Holland will come too early for him," Arnold told SBS-TV's Toyota World Sport reporter Simon Hill.
"We've done a lot of work with him individually.
"He hasn't fit into the team environment yet, on the field structurally, so to throw him in straight away would be pretty silly from us."
Kewell is likely to see some action in the Socceroos' final lead-up match against Liechtenstein in Ulm, Germany on June 7 instead.
"The main goal is Japan, that he's ready for that in some way, and the rest of the World Cup," Arnold said.
"We would, hopefully, like to get him on the field against Liechtenstein for sure."
Meanwhile Guus Hiddink put to use some of the intelligence gleaned from watching the 2-2 draw between Germany and Japan earlier in the week.
The Dutchman fine-tuned the set-pieces which worked against Greece, and may also work against the vulnerable Japanese.
He mulled over his midfield options - first Josip Skoko, then Luke Wilkshire and finally Tim Cahill came into the central midfield area.
Zeljko Kalac and Mark Schwarzer alternated in goal, while Michael Beauchamp stepped into the backline - when Craig Moore found the pace a little too much - and then dropped out again as Hiddink reverted to a back three.
Kewell's absence should mean Marco Bresciano continuing his duties on the left in support of Mark Viduka - a role he enjoys, though he admits he'd prefer Kewell to be fit.
"He's such an important player to us," Bresciano said.
"He's someone that can win games and come on and make a difference so he's one player we want back on the park."
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