Radomir Antic in confident mood

Three impressive training sessions have Serbia primed to become the executioner to Australia's faint hopes of reaching the last 16 of the World Cup, coach Radomir Antic said on Tuesday.

Serbia are favourites to beat off the challenge of the Socceroos at Mbombela Stadium here and reach the knockout phase, along with either Germany or Ghana, who play simultaneously in Johannesburg on Wednesday.

Antic appears to have steadied his team after their surprise opening 1-0 loss to Ghana which was rectified by a 1-0 win over a 10-man Germany.

The Serbs are on three points along with Germany, one point behind Ghana, with the Australians trailing in Group D on one point.

"I am an optimist because I know how my boys have performed at their last three training sesssions," Antic told a pre-match press conference at Mbombela Stadium.


"The training has been our best ever and this shows there is a spirit within the team and there is an opportunity to seize.

"Each one of my players did his best and that is why I can expect we will have no problems tomorrow, I'm feeling very optimistic."

Antic, exuding confidence, said Serbia had an opportunity of "historical value" against the Socceroos to reach the last 16 for the first time.

"We know that we have an opportunity of historial value tomorrow and we will try to do our best," he said.

"I wouldn't like to put any additional pressure on my boys, but I believe my boys will do the job."

Antic, one of only two men to have coached at both Barcelona and Real Madrid, said he had decided on his starting eleven.

"I have tried to have a balance in my team and I think in the previous game against Germany I was right in this approach," he said.

"I always deal with ourselves, not the opposing team. I want a collective team."

Antic said he and his coaching staff had examined Australia's last two games on video and was confident he had the game plan to beat them.

"There was nothing in particular we saw because we knew how they played and we examined their game in detail and we have enough information on them," Antic said.

"Australia has a lot of potential and I can expect how they will play. Tim Cahill and maybe Josh Kennedy will be in the starting 11, but it's their decision.

"Australia has a very great spirit. I am sure Australia will be fighting with a great motivation. Australia has a solid team, very stable, and I expect them not to change the way they play."