The Socceroos have clearly bought themselves some breathing space going in ahead of two tough away games on the road to South Africa.
And despite a fifth successive clean sheet under Verbeek, the defence looked at sea last night, with Iraq arguably having the better chances in match.
Marking and positioning were sloppy, especially given the Iraq side were playing with just one forward.
The 1-0 score line flattered the Australian side, and only a good amount of luck helped them secure the win.
Obviously the absence of Lucas Neill is going to have an impact on the team, but the Socceroos must have numerous options in the position.
Since the last World Cup the performances from Neill, Beauchamp, Milligan, Kisnorbo and North have all been patchy.
The importance of the centre backs is heightened by the continual inability to find a specialist left-back in Scott Chipperfield’s absence.
The result is leaving the side with deficiencies in both defence and up front, with a second disappointing display from Scott McDonald.
While McDonald is clearly one of the team’s in-form players, he only seems to fit in to the system if Josh Kennedy is also available.
Unfortunately for McDonald, the creativity of Bresciano, Kewell, Cahill (when available) and Carle are the real strengths of the team.
And it was clear when the more solid Bruce Djite was brought on, the Socceroos attack looked far more potent.
Unless Verbeek can have an alternate system to suit McDonald, he might follow the fate of Archie Thompson – a good player that isn’t suited to the national side’s style.
While Verbeek had a very difficult assignment recently against China, it is the next three weeks when he will really earn his money. It is this stretch with a close-to full strength squad that he can impose his style on the team.
And in McDonald and the central defensive problem he will have his work cut out for him.
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