Neill ´led World Cup mutiny´

Captain Lucas Neill has been accused of leading a mutiny against then Socceroos coach Pim Verbeek ahead of the disastrous opening to the 2010 World Cup.

Australian football broadcaster and member of the FIFA ethics committee, Les Murray, wrote in his book The World Game that Neill told his Socceroos team-mates minutes before the 4-0 drubbing by Germany in Durban that Verbeek’s tactics were ‘bullshit’ and they should play their normal style.

While there has been widespread rumour about a split between coach and players ahead of the Germany match, especially after it was evident Harry Kewell would be left out, this is the first time that a player has been identified as leading a mutiny against Verbeek.

Murray claims that Neill, the former Blackburn, West Ham and Everton defender, had asked Verbeek to leave the room because he wanted to address the players. The captain then erased the coach’s notes and told them to ignore what he had said.

“That meant defying Verbeek’s utterly defensive strategy and going for a win,” Murray wrote.

“The problem was that the team had already been named, and it contained not a solitary forward with Harry Kewell, Mark Bresciano, Josh Kennedy and Brett Holman, accomplished attacking players, all omitted.”

“In the confusion there was so much delay that the point was reached when a FIFA match official knocked on the Australian change-room door and, pointing to his watch, warned the Australians that if they didn’t take to the field immediately they would have to forfeit the match.”

“The Aussies went out a mess and were slaughtered.”

Murray stuck by his comments on Tuesday adding he believed there was some justification for the alleged actions.

“Australian players don’t like to just lie down. They believe they can beat just about anybody. Guus Hiddink understood that but Verbeek never did,” he said.

“I just believe he never understood the Australian mentality, which is quite unique in the world.”

“That’s 4-0 result as the reason why we didn’t advance.”

“It was just a bad case of misreading the psychology of the players.”