By DPA,
Sydney : Australian football fans were told Thursday to stop worrying about striker Harry Kewell not overcoming a groin injury in time to play in the Socceroos’ opening World Cup match against Germany in Durban June 14.
The 31-year-old former Leeds and Liverpool star was left out of the team that chalked up a 1-0 warm-up win over Denmark this week and is again likely to be a spectator at Saturday’s friendly against the United States in Roodepoort.
“Harry is OK, Harry will be ready,” a grumpy Pim Verbeek responded when the Dutch-born coach was asked about Kewell’s fitness. “What it is about Harry? Who cares about Harry? It’s the only thing you are writing about for the last 10 days.”
“Don’t worry about Harry. Harry will be on the field.”
Fans were given hope that at least Brett Emerton will have recovered from a calf injury and will take to the pitch on Saturday.
“For us, every player is fit,” Verbeek told The Australian newspaper. “They are tired, but good, ready for the upcoming 10 days. That’s perfect for us.”
Verbeek was full of venom for Middlesbrough manager Gordon Strachan for allowing Rhys Williams to play on while suffering a pelvis problem.
Williams was one of five players that lost out when the Socceroos were whittled down to a 23-man World Cup squad.
“I think Gordon Strachan let him play four weeks with an injury and Gordon Strachan let him play with injections every day,” Verbeek said. “If you do that with a 20-year-old player I think you take a risk.”