BRISBANE, Australia -- As monikers go, 'Wizard of Oz' was a
fair one to describe Harry Kewell when he signed to play for
Liverpool in 2003.
While his stock has dipped and risen as he's struggled with
ankle and groin injuries since joining the Reds from Leeds United,
the 27-year-old midfielder has remained a favorite Down Under.
Australia's prospects at the World Cup might hinge on how he
recovers from his latest setback.
Kewell aggravated adductor muscles in his left groin early in
the second half of Liverpool's come-from-behind FA Cup final win
over West Ham last weekend and is expected to be sidelined for
three weeks.
"It's been about a year, a year and a bit with me stop-starting
with this injury," Kewell said. "It's a difficult time for me at
the moment, but you can't cry -- there's times when you want to --
you've just got to get on with it."
Kewell will miss Australia's friendly against European champion
Greece in Melbourne on Thursday and likely another against the
Dutch in Rotterdam.
Still, Kewell should be on the field for Australia's World Cup
opener against Japan on June 12 and subsequent Group F matches
against defending champion Brazil and Croatia.
Kewell said he's working "24-7" with medical staffs from
Liverpool FC and from Australia to ensure he heals.
With an instinctive game, speed and the ability to create and
score goals, Kewell is as important to the success of Australia's
first World Cup campaign since 1974 as Ronaldinho is for Brazil's
title defense.
Despite making his international debut in 1996, he's only played
19 times for the Socceroos and scored six international goals. But
he's easily Australia's marquee player and can fit into a formation
equally as well on the left wing or up front.
Kewell came back from groin and hernia surgery last year to help
Australia reach the World Cup with an intercontinental qualifying
series upset of Uruguay.
After being relegated to the bench to start the critical return
leg in Sydney, Kewell had an immediate impact when inserted in the
lineup in the first half. He set up a goal and then calmly led
Australia through the tense shootout as the Socceroos won on
penalty kicks.
Kewell missed the Confederations Cup in 2005 to recover from his
operations, and Australia struggled for direction.
That problem should've been rectified anyway when Australia
recruited Guus Hiddink, who guided his native Netherlands to the
World Cup semifinals in 1998 and South Korea to the final four in
2002, to mold the Socceroos into a more cohesive combination. But
wherever Kewell fits into Hiddink's World Cup plans, he's destined
to have a big impact.
Craig Johnston, Australia's greatest soccer export, believes
Kewell -- if fit -- has the caliber to shine among the stars of the
tournament.
"There's none better in the game, I think, than when Harry's on
song. He has a lethal left shot," Johnston, who won a European
Cup, an FA Cup and English league titles with Liverpool in the
1980s, told The Australian newspaper.
Johnston said Kewell had even started winning back Liverpool
fans in the year since he hobbled off the field to a chorus of boos
from Reds supporters during the 2005 Champions League final win
over AC Milan in Istanbul.
Kewell's commitment to the club was seriously questioned before,
during and after that match. He said he's reminded of that most
days, and uses it as motivation.
"I believe I've turned the corner, and you have to," Kewell
said.
Australia assistant coach Graham Arnold has been a longtime
admirer of Kewell's abilities and would never question his resolve
where the national team is involved.
"Harry's been down this path before with injuries and he knows
what has to be done. He'll stay positive and so will we," Arnold
said. "Knowing the sort of guy he is, I'm sure he'll respond
well."