Socceroos hit Brisbane for Qatar preparations
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The Socceroos arrive in Brisbane today to prepare for next Wednesday's World Cup qualifier against Qatar at Lang Park.
Coach Pim Verbeek yesterday trimmed his squad to 28 players for the Brisbane camp.
Harry Kewell, Mark Bresciano and Vince Grella will miss the game because of injury.
Verbeek says everyone will be fighting for a place in the final team.
"If you start with 28 then still 10 players will not be in the final 18," he said.
"So there will be tough competition in the coming days in Brisbane and I think it will be a fantastic game.
"Great stadium, the field, what I said already two weeks ago was already outstanding."
Verbeek admits Qatar's appointment of a new coach has made it hard to plan for next week's game.
He has been watching tapes of Qatar but says the visitors could have a different approach under new coach Bruno Metsu.
"That doesn't make it easier for us because we had all kinds of reports and analysis and we know the previous games and we know how they like to play with a former coach," he said.
"Metsu's coming in, probably he will make some changes, maybe in tactics, maybe in the line-up, so we have to wait for that."
