Schwarzer urges Aussies don´t take win for granted

Goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer has cautioned Australia not to take their World Cup qualification for granted with a win in Wednesday’s qualifier against Uzbekistan potentially clinching their ticket to South Africa next year.

The Australians, who were among the last countries to qualify for the 2006 World Cup in a penalty shootout win over Uruguay, could be the first to claim a place in next year’s finals if results go their way here on Wednesday.

The Socceroos are unbeaten on 10 points from four matches in Asia Group A and have a game in hand on group leaders Japan (11 points).

With the top two teams in the two Asia groups automatically qualifying, Australia can go through with a win over the Uzbeks (four points).

Pim Verbeek’s team would also need Bahrain and Qatar, both on four points, to draw their game in Manama later Wednesday to be mathematically secure of World Cup finals qualification.

Since Australia were forced to play defensively to prise valuable away points in Bahrain (1-0) and Japan (0-0) from their last two qualifiers, there has been a media push for a more assertive display against Uzbekistan.

Uzbekistan have largely underperformed during the final qualifying phase, dropping their opening two home games, but they turned it around with a 4-0 win over Qatar in Tashkent last Saturday.

Fulham goalkeeper Schwarzer said the Uzbeks’ victory would make them a dangerous opponent before an expected 60,000 home crowd in Sydney.

“We said from day one that Uzbekistan are a dangerous side and definitely up until Saturday, had underperformed and were really not in the position they really should have been in,” the 64-capped Schwarzer said Tuesday.

“It just ratifies how important Wednesday’s game is and how we can’t take anything for granted.

“We’re in a great position, but we need to make sure that we capitalise on the position that we’re in and not get too frustrated if things don’t go our way immediately.”

Australia’s defence, well marshalled by West Ham defender Lucas Neill, have yet to concede a goal in four qualifiers and Verbeek is likely to play either Celtic’s Scott McDonald or Karlsruher target man Josh Kennedy up front in the search for goals.

McDonald, who has scored 16 goals in all club competitions for Celtic this season, including a stunner against Manchester United in the Champions League, has yet to score for his country in 10 internationals, while Kennedy has five goals from 11 outings.

“I’m here for a reason and I’ve proved over the last few years that I’ve played at the top level, whether that be playing for Celtic in the league or the Champions League,” McDonald said.

“It’s another big game and it would be nice to start or come off the bench and get that winning goal.”

The Australian team are entirely drawn from their large pool of Europe-based players and will be strengthened by the availability of Everton midfielder Tim Cahill, Galatasaray’s Harry Kewell and FC Basel wing-back Scott Chipperfield.