Australia coach Holger Osieck senses a height advantage could be crucial in next week's opening World Cup qualifier against Thailand and he could be right - the Changsuek have been rocked by a defensive injury crisis that former staff coach Steve Darby admits is ripe for the Socceroos to exploit.
Osieck yesterday named a virtually full-strength squad for the match in Brisbane on September 2, but his Thai counterpart, Winfried Schaefer, has been left scratching for alternatives after losing three key defenders - Nattaporn Phanrit (retirement), Panupong Wongsa (knee) and Natthaphong Samana (nose) - while first-choice goalkeeper, Kawin Thamsatchanan (elbow), is also in doubt.
The biggest blow for Schaefer was the shock retirement from international duty of popular skipper Phanrit, who appeared in the recent play-offs against Palestine. Phanrit, capped 67 times, has been troubled by a series of head injuries and has decided to focus on his club career with Muangthong United.
The likely reshuffle will leave the visitors with just one defender, Suttinun Phukhom, over 183 centimetres tall - handing a powerful incentive to two of the Socceroos most powerful headers of the ball, Josh Kennedy and Sasa Ognenovski.
English-born Darby, a former Australian national technical director who quit as Thailand's assistant coach two months ago, can see the Socceroos making the most of it.
''If Thailand had their first-choice back line available, it would have been a different story, but with the players that are missing, there's a real opportunity there,'' he said. ''If the Socceroos have got decent set-pieces they'll score goals. The Thai boys will give everything, but I'd be amazed if they got a result now.''
Osieck, meantime, gave an inkling on his likely strategy when asked whether he was plotting an aerial bombardment. ''That is definitely a thought that struck my mind,'' he said. Osieck will be in Bangkok tonight to watch Thailand's warm-up match against Singapore.
Osieck yesterday named a largely predictable 23-man squad for both the match against the Thais at Suncorp Stadium, and the subsequent qualifier against Saudi Arabia in Dammam four days later. There is only one uncapped player (Luke DeVere) on the list, which includes all 18 players involved in the recent friendly match against Wales.
Melbourne Victory's new signing Harry Kewell has again been omitted due to fitness concerns, with his Socceroos recall pencilled in for the World Cup qualifier against Oman in Sydney in October.
Asked whether Kewell's fitness was improving, Osieck said: ''Harry is definitely healthy, that is what I know, [but] to be physically healthy and to be match fit is always a gap.''
Kewell's international career is not under a cloud, with Osieck adding: ''We don't have to discuss Harry because whenever he played, as far as I am concerned, he performed. He played a good tournament [the Asian Cup] in Qatar, he had an excellent game against Germany and, when he's ready, he's definitely first choice for the team.''
Meanwhile, skipper Lucas Neill's decision to join United Arab Emirates champions Al Jazira has not fazed Osieck, despite his doubts about the standard of club football in the area.
'''When I said I don't rate the Middle East high, it was my personal opinion,'' Osieck said. ''I never wanted to be there, to work there as a coach, that was my point. [But] for players, it's a personal decision.''
In transfer news, veteran defender Simon Storey, who has been without a club since North Queensland Fury folded at the end of last season, has joined Indian giants Mohun Bagan on a one-year contract.
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