- Patrick Yazbek tipped to make his Socceroos debut against Lebanon
- Has Lebanese descent, decision has irked Lebanon coach Miodrag Radulovic
- The World Cup qualifier is on Tuesday from 7.45pm AEDT in Canberra
It is likely that Socceroos debutant Patrick Yazbek’s decision to pledge his international allegiance to Australia instead of Lebanon has been rejected by Cedars coach Miodrag Radulovic.
Socceroos coach Graham Arnold said former Sydney FC midfielder Yazbek had a “greater than 90 per cent” chance of making his national team debut against Lebanon in Tuesday night’s FIFA World Cup qualifier in Canberra.
Australia are chasing back-to-back wins over the Cedars, beating them 2-0 in Sydney last week.
“He’s Australian first and foremost,” Arnold said bluntly of Sydney-born, Norway-based Yazbek, whose ancestry is Lebanese.
‘His father and mother are from Lebanon, and he has that in him too. He’s a fantastic boy.
Patrick Yazbek’s loyalty to Australia is taken to task by Lebanon coach Miodrag Radulovic (Yazbek is pictured playing for Sydney FC in 2022)
Socceroos boss Graham Arnold pointed out Yazbek was “Australian first and foremost”.
Radulovic (pictured) said the young Australian’s decision to join the Socceroos means he will be lost on the bench instead of being a leader for Lebanon.
“Making his debut against Lebanon, it’s something great for him and his family that they will never forget.”
However, Radulovic said that 21-year-old Yazbek would have been better off playing for his team.
“I think it would be better to be one of the leaders in our team (instead) than to sit on the bench (for Australia), but this is his decision,” the Montenegro-born mentor said.
“I’m not interested anymore.”
Former Central Coast Mariners Academy player Jackson Khoury is part of the Lebanese squad
The Lebanese squad contains one player who was born in Australia: former Central Coast Mariners Academy striker Jackson Khoury.
‘He has great potential. He is the future of the Lebanese team,” Radulovic said of the 21-year-old Khoury.
Radulovic was ‘optimistic’ about Lebanon’s chances in Canberra and said his side’s performance in last Thursday’s defeat to the Socceroos in Sydney was ‘much better’ than the 2-0 scoreline indicated.
‘We will try to correct the mistakes we made and be much more effective in attack. “I expect a good performance and a much better result,” he said.
Radulovic said he was using the games against the Socceroos to prepare for June’s crucial World Cup qualifiers against Palestine and Bangladesh.
“We have to win those games in June, that is our goal,” Radulovic said.
It comes at a time when Arnold will play against a very different base in Canberra on Tuesday night as the national team take the next step in their bid to qualify for the World Cup.
The Socceroos – whose starting XI could have up to five changes from last week – will guarantee themselves a place in the next qualifying round with a win in Canberra.
However, Arnold is desperate to win not just on Tuesday night but in June, against Palestine and Bangladesh, to ensure the Socceroos have a perfect AFC second round qualifying record, which should see them become one of the three countries in pot one. for the third round qualifying draw.
“What’s important is that we win these three games,” Arnold said. “My focus is on the players and getting the job done for the nation.
‘It is important that we go out with the focus and the mentality, and especially the energy, in front of a full house to deliver a great performance.’