Verbeek fears dirty tricks

Still some 50 hours before kick-off, it was quite clear Verbeek had already put on his game face after ramping up the pressure on the Asian champions before Sunday`s vital World Cup qualifier at a sold out Suncorp Stadium.

Having experienced first-hand how Iraq like to play their football, the Dutchman is not about to allow them to turn the match into a marathon of dives, faked injuries and incessant delays aimed at breaking up the rhythm of his team.

"The boys are very focused on the game and they know what they have to do," Verbeek said in his Brisbane hotel.

"I did not see their win against Australia (in the Asian Cup last year), but I know how the Iraqis like to play and what they will do.

"They`ll try and delay the game, fake injuries, do everything to kill the game. But we have to be mentally prepared for this."

He admitted the referee, Ravshan Irmatov from Uzbekistan, will have an important role to play.

"One of his jobs is to keep awake. The referee should know ... they have done it before. It`s football and you can can do whatever you like, but it is up to the referee to draw the line and say this is as far as you go."

Verbeek said he had spoken to his players and his simple message is to "be patient", although he admitted he wouldn`t mind the players getting into the referee`s ear.

"I have spoken a few times to them about it this week," he said.

"Iraq will do everything possible and as long as the referee allows it there is nothing we can do, just be patient.

"My feeling is they don`t need to do these sort of things because they have good players. I don`t know why they do it, but they do it.

"They also do it with their Olympic team - same tricks, same things, delay the game for minutes and minutes. It is especially the case with the goalkeeper. When an outfield player is injured they can take him off the field and play on, but you can`t do it with the goalkeeper.

"We know what will happen and have to be prepared for that and hopefully the referee will be awake to it."

Verbeek`s stinging comments are certain to fire up the Iraqis and add to the animosity that has developed between the two teams.

The Australians have not forgotten how their goalscorers celebrated by imitating a kangaroo hop after scoring each goal in the 3-1 win in an Asian Cup finals preliminary match in Bangkok last July, while the Iraqis have accused the Socceroos of a lack of respect and taking them too lightly in the past.

Verbeek, who managed a win and two losses against Iraq when he was coach of South Korea, believes the team will be happy with a draw on Sunday and knows exactly how they will approach the game.

He was non-committal when asked if he will employ the same attacking tactics he used in the opening qualifying match 3-0 win against Qatar earlier this year, but was more forthcoming in discussing Sunday`s opponents.

"We have to win the game but let`s not forget the quality on Sunday is completely different to when we played Qatar," he said. "I know how dangerous they are on the counter-attack. They will come for a point, they will be happy with a point.

"Against South Korea when I was there they showed how dangerous they are waiting for just one chance. They have players who can decide a game with just one or two chances.

"We have to be patient but at the same time have to take risks at the right moments to score goals. It`s about (striking a) balance. It`s one of the things we discussed and what we worked on at training. Sometimes we have to play pressure, sometimes we have to keep control."

Verbeek wasn`t giving much away regarding tactics and team formation, but it is believed he will use the same 4-4-2 tactical formation he used against Qatar.

That means Celtic striker Scott McDonald won`t be left alone up front, with Harry Kewell expected to play alongside or just behind him in attack as the Socceroos attempt to break down the Iraqi defence.

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