New Australian coach Pim Verbeek sees convincing Newcastle’s Mark Viduka to prolong his international career as a top priority ahead of next February’s 2010 World Cup qualifiers.

The Dutchman has taken over the Socceroos and says European-based players are vital to helping Australia overcome Qatar, China and Iraq in their tough World Cup qualifying group.

Verbeek will have to balance the needs of his team against the demands of the European clubs where the majority of Australia’s stars play their football.

“When I travel to Sydney on Thursday I will watch as much A-League football as I can because it’s these players who will be so important to us, especially in the first two games,” Verbeek told Sydney’s Sun-Herald newspaper.

“But the European players are also absolutely crucial for us and I want to contact Mark Viduka, for one, because I need to know what his thoughts are.

“It’s not about the age of players, it’s about their quality. He has so much of that and I hope he will stay involved.”

Viduka, who led Australia at last year’s World Cup and this year’s Asian Cup, has been toying with retirement from the international game after 14 years to concentrate on his club career with Newcastle United in England’s Premier League.

Viduka, 32, has only scored six goals in 32 internationals, but he has been prolific in club football with 158 goals in 302 league appearances, going back to 1995.

Verbeek, who coached South Korea to the semi-finals of last July’s Asian Cup, has been appointed largely on his record in Asian football.

“We are in the hardest World Cup group of all but we must not be afraid. We are good enough to win every game,” Verbeek said.

“At the very least we have to win all our home games. That is absolutely vital.

“Fortunately, I know a lot about the countries we are about to face. During my time with South Korea we played against Qatar at the Asian Games and the Olympics.

“Iraq beat us in the semi-finals of the Asian Cup and, of course, also beat Australia, and we also faced them in the Asian Games and a friendly.

“So I am aware of the strengths and weaknesses of both Qatar and Iraq. I have also studied China closely for many years.”

Source:Soccer News