Aussie coach Verbeek defends tactics in German rout

Under-fire coach Pim Verbeek on Monday defended his selection and tactics in the wake of Australia’s humiliating 4-0 opening loss to Germany at the World Cup.

The Socceroos suffered their heaviest defeat at a World Cup when they succumbed to the three-time world champions in the Group D match in Durban on Sunday.

Dutchman Verbeek was heavily criticised in the Australian press, with commentators questioning why he did not use senior Socceroo Harry Kewell and other World Cup regulars, Mark Bresciano and Josh Kennedy, against the Germans.

All three players remained on the substitutes’ bench as Verbeek turned to other less experienced players to try and stop the rampant Germans.

Verbeek was also lambasted for playing Jason Culina and Richard Garcia in unfamiliar roles, while star midfielder Tim Cahill was played up front where he was nullified by the German defence.

Verbeek said Kewell was in his plans to play, but once Cahill was red-carded in the 58th minute for a challenge on Bastian Schweinsteiger leaving the Australians a man down, he changed his mind.

He said that Kennedy and Bresciano had not pressed their claims in training and in two leadup games to earn their place.

“The moment we started to play with 10 players, you need different players on the field from Harry Kewell,” Verbeek told reporters.

“That was the only reason I didn’t bring him in. Against 10 men with a team that was already better than us, you have to make different decisions.

“If you lose 4-0 you can always say it didn’t help, but nobody can prove we would have won if we had those players on the field.

“The players who were on the field were the better players — that’s the reality.”

Verbeek now has to assess his options for Australia’s must-win game against Ghana in Rustenburg on Saturday.

Ghana beat Serbia 1-0 in Sunday’s other Group D match and with a vastly superior goal difference need only a point to eliminate the Socceroos from second round contention.

Verbeek said in the wake of Cahill’s suspension that he would consider at least one change for the Ghana showdown.

“Now we have to go for the next six days and find what’s the next starting 11 to beat Ghana,” he said.

“You cannot compare this (Germany) game with the next game. We have to learn from this game.

“We have to score in the next two games, that’s clear.”