Australia 2 Serbia 1: match report

Nemanja Vidic led the Serbian cries of injustice after Tim Cahill came between them and the last 16 of the World Cup in more ways than one. Cahill roused Australia in the second half with a courageous headed goal to put them in front then kept Serbia out with his hand in the last meaningful action of the game.
Vidic and all of Serbia cried foul when the Uruguayan referee ruled the contact under pressure from the Manchester United defender in the Australian box unintentional and waved the protests away. A converted penalty would have been enough to send Serbia and not Ghana into the last-16 on goals scored.

At the final whistle the Serbian players surrounded Jorge Lorrionda making plain their frustration over a number of decisions they believed he had got wrong. They might have been better served taking to task their big centre forward Nikola Zigic for his profligacy, but that is not the way of it with beaten teams.
“You could see by my reaction what I thought of the penalty decision. I have to say I was very disappointed with some of the decisions. Our target was to go into the second round. We had big expectations coming into the tournament. We have not made it. We go home disappointed,” Vidic said.
He was joined in protest by Serbian coach Radomir Antic, who felt two legitimate goals were ruled out unfairly for offside. “We didn’t have fair treatment. We deserved much more. The first offside wasn’t an offside. We have shown we have a rightful place here [in last 16]."
A win for Serbia would have ended all the arguments and for an hour looked the more likely outcome until Cahill headed home a cross by Brett Emerton. Four minutes later Australia were two to the good after Brett Holman holed out from 25 yards. At that point Australia needed a two goal swing to go through at the expense of Ghana, who were losing 1-0 to Germany in Johannesburg.
Marko Pantelic shifted the dynamic back in Serbia’s favour slotting home with six minutes to go and setting up a right royal finale. Joshua Kennedy was unlucky to see his shot slip by a post and Pantelic spooned a straightforward chance. Cahill dismissed the penalty claims saying contact was unintentional and claimed Australia’s victory was the greater talking point.
“We answered lots of questions today not just to the media but to ourselves. We are a great bunch of lads that really cares for each other. We have just beaten Serbia 2-1 a fantastic result,” Cahill said.
“I said in the week that if we win this game and get knocked out we are very proud Australians. We beat a great team. It was up in the air today. We have won a big match. That’s a big thing for me.”
Had it not been for Mark Schwarzer, who made a number of astonishing saves, Australia would not have survived the first half battering. No wonder Arsene Wenger has his sights set on him. How much better these games become when the contest is defined by prior results.
The first chance fell to Serbia. The excellent Milos Krasic, who gave Manchester United nightmares in the Champions League, should have done better than blaze over with an empty net to fill having rounded Schwarzer.
Minutes later a brilliant three-touch dissection of Australia involving Aleksander Lukovic, the overlapping Branislav Ivanovic and finally Zdravko Kuzmanovic breaking into the box only narrowly failed to put Serbia ahead. Schwarzer then did brilliantly to block an Ivanovic volley when a slam dunk looked a given from close range.
Why didn’t Serbia play with this conviction in the opening matches? They might have been spared the tension of the roulette wheel in Nelspruit. The offside against Krasic in the 37th minute was marginal. Pantelic also netted in the second half and he, too, was perhaps unfortunate to be ruled offside.
The introduction of Holman and Scott Chipperfield had the greater impact for Australia in the middle of the park and within minutes Cahill headed them in front. It wasn’t pretty, but it counted. There were no such issues with Australia’s second, an emphatic 25-yarder from Holman.

Read More Here!

Dejan Stankovic fit to take on Socceroos

Serbia captain Dejan Stankovic has recovered from a minor calf injury and is ready for the team's World Cup Group D match against Australia in Nelspruit on Thursday morning (AEST).

Stankovic had cramps during Serbia's 1-0 win over Germany and partially missed training the following day.

"He trained normally with the rest of the team and was in top gear this evening so he will definitely start against Australia," coach Radomir Antic said.

"We've had three terrific training sessions in a row, the team has picked itself and I know what starting line-up I will field tomorrow.


"It's a great opportunity to reach the knockout stage of the competition and I don't need to put any more pressure on the players than they are already under."

Serbia will reach the last 16 if it wins and a draw could also be enough, depending on the outcome of the Germany v Ghana match in Johannesburg's Soccer City.

Australia too has an outside chance of advancing into the second stage and Antic said he expected a tough battle against a team of impeccable morale.

"The Australians have everything to play for, they will have Tim Cahill back (from suspension) and I expect a difficult match against a very resourceful team," he said.

Read More Here!

It's now or never for Socceroos

Australia are confident of the miracle they need against Serbia for the Socceroos to advance to the last 16 of the World Cup 2010 finals online live in Group D on Wednesday. The Australians will need to beat their group rivals and hope for a huge win by either team in the other Group D fixture for them to get through on goal difference.

Midfielder Brett Emerton has dismissed reports that the Australians are not in the best of shape physically to take on the Serbians. With the Socceroos also missing Harry Kewell – possibly their most naturally creative player in the squad – after getting sent off in the previous game, although Tim Cahill will be back after serving a one game suspension, they could be short of options going forward against the Europeans.

In short, the Asian football kingpins will need nothing short of a miracle to qualify but Emerton is confident that the players will be fit both physically and mentally for the game of their lives.

“If we can play a game with 11 men, we will probably feel like we’re running on air,” joked Emerton. “I think physically the team’s in very good shape, all the boys have worked exceptionally hard coming into this World Cup, so I can’t see that being a problem.”


Emerton maintained that Australia have not had the decisions going their way despite their government telling the players to stop “whinging”, but claimed that the Socceroos will hit the ground running.

“We know we haven’t got the rub of the green, which is disappointing, we’ve played the majority of this World Cup with 10 men so far and both have been very, very harsh red cards,” Emerton added.

“It’s disappointing to lose Harry, but we get Tim back and after our good performance against Ghana, we should go into this match full of confidence.”

Prediction: Serbia were made to look rather good by their misfiring opponents in the last game, but Australia are made of equally stern stuff. The Socceroos may not win, or could snatch a goal on the break to pip Serbia, but it is unlikely for the Europeans to have it so easily. Go for Australia on the Asian Handicap at +0.5.

You can tune in and watch Australia vs Serbia 2010 live stream streaming online broadcast coverage without the need to miss any of the action, including goals and controversies that might happen on the field. There is no match that comes closer and get better quality and connection than when Serbia vs Australia 2010 live streaming and commentary for free is marked down by fans. Where can you watch Socceroos Australia vs Serbia live soccer online – click the link above to watch now.

Read More Here!

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."

Read More Here!

Watch Australia v Serbia Live Streaming Online for Free

Watch Australia v Serbia Live Streaming Online for Free


Link 1

Link 2

Link 3

Link 4

Link 5

Read More Here!

Australia v Serbia: match preview

Group D

Australia v Serbia
Mbomela Stadium, Nelspruit
Kick-off: Wed June 23, 7.30pm BST
TV: ITV4 7pm

Prediction: After a rare defeat, by Serbia, the Germans will be like a wounded animal with Ghana the prey.

Australia can still qualify, but can they finish a game with 11 men? To have any chance they must do that for the first time. Serbia have three points despite being an underwhelming presence in this World Cup.

On the grounds that no assumption is safe in this competition neither team can rely on a German win, which the form book suggests is the likely outcome at Soccer City if they can keep all their players on the pitch. That should produce an open game in Nelspruit with both teams going for victory.

Australia are without suspended Harry Kewell and defender Craig Moore, while Serbia are concerned at the number of players on a yellow card, including the whole back four.

A draw will be good enough for Serbia if Ghana turn up a shock. A win will take them through. Tim Cahill returns after missing the Ghana match through suspension to give the improving Aussies a last crack at glory.


Touchline duel

Pim Verbeek v Radomir Antic: This could be the last game in charge for Verbeek, who is quitting his post after the World Cup. The former understudy at South Korea to Guus Hiddink and Dick Advocaat did his job guiding Australia to the finals.

Like Verbeek assumed the Serbian national post at the start of the qualifying campaign. No stranger to working with star names after spells in charge at Real Madrid and Barcelona. Could do with a few more in this side.

Talking tactics

Nothing but a win will do for Verbeek. Discipline has been his problem but an improved showing against Ghana has boosted belief. Expect a quick start.

Naturally cautious, Serbia rely on Nemanja Vidic to keep it tight at the back and to hit teams on the break through lamppost Nicola Zigic. That won’t change.

Key clash

Nemanja Vidic v Tim Cahill: Cahill was mortified at being sent off against the Germans and is fired up for this one. He is Australia’s most accomplished player in the final third and the key to their chances.

Vidic doesn’t miss much in the air but he is vulnerable to pace. A brilliant organiser he will fancy himself to snuff out Cahill, but will not want to get drawn out of position.

Cahill is particularly dangerous from set-pieces, is good in the air and attacks the ball late. Vidic has his hands full but should be able to cope.

What they say

Nemanja Vidic: We can be confident, we must do the right things against Australia. They didn’t play great in the first game like us. Anything can happen in one game, we need to be focused.

Lucas Neill: We want Germany to go out and perform the way they did against us. Create lots of chances, be clinical and score lots of goals. Hopefully that brings Ghana's goal difference into the minuses and then we have to do our bit.

Teams

Australia (4-5-1): Schwarzer, Wilkshire, Neill, Beauchamp, Chipperfield; Emerton, Culina, Holman, Valeri, Bresciano; Cahill
Suspended: Kewell, Moor
Subs: Federici, Galekovic, Milligan, Carney, Grella, Jedinak, Vidosic, Rukavytsya, Kennedy, Holman, Garcia
Serbia (4-4-2): Stojkovic, Ivanovic, Vidic, Lukovic, Kolarov; Krasic, Kuzmanovic, Stankovic, Jovanovic; Zigic, Lazovic
Subs: Djuricic, Isailovic, Subotic, Rukavina, Obradovic, Kacar, Tosic, Ninkovic, Petrovic, Milijas, Mrdja, Pantelic.
Referee: Jorge Larrionda (Uruguay).

Previous meetings

None

Fact: Six red cards have been shown in the last four World Cup matches involving Australia.

Prediction: All to play for with the Serbians just a little stronger.

Read More Here!

GERMANY coach Joachim Low is confident

The Germans, with youngsters such Sami Khedira, Mesut Ozil, Thomas Muller and Holger Badstuber given key roles, could hardly have had a better start to the competition as they thumped Australia 4-0 in their opening match.
Yet Low's team were brought crashing back to earth in their next game as they lost 1-0 to Serbia in a clash which saw Miroslav Klose sent off and Lukas Podolski miss a penalty.

The defeat left Germany level on three points with the Serbians and one point adrift of Group D leaders Ghana — meaning they could be a shock early casualty if they fail to win at Soccer City.
But Low said: "When I talk to the players I do not get the impression they are nervous or worried after the defeat against Serbia.
''Although it is very young, the team has this confidence and inner conviction that it can beat Ghana.
"I think we've digested and worked on the defeat to Serbia in the last two or three days, we're focused. We've prepared for the game against Ghana, a match which will not be easy.
"Ghana are a good team who have played well but we are convinced we can win this game and can get into the next round."
He added: "I believe the pressure is always there in any game.
''Lots of teams are in a similar situation and need to win their third game, England, France, Italy — they all have a lot of pressure and have to win their third game.
"Our players can deal with the situation, as far as I can see. I don't see a lot of nervousness, I feel concentration and conviction.
"Players like Philipp Lahm, Bastian Schweinsteiger and Arne Friedrich all give me the impression they can lead the team. We know we have the potential, the quality and the ability to beat Ghana."

Read More Here!

Ghana 1 Australia 1: match report

One of of football’s enduring one-man soap operas offered another dramatic episode in Rustenburg when Harry Kewell’s brief World Cup odyssey ended with a desperately unfortunate red card and plenty of red mist.
A nation which has never truly taken its most talented soccer son to its bosom had to rub along without Kewell once again before just about salvaging their World Cup hopes with 10 men, while also regaining the pride they had squandered with their quite un-Australian capitulation to Germany.

For Ghana , in the 100th World Cup finals game played by an African nation, there was nothing but frustration that they could not take advantage of Kewell’s 25th-minute sending-off for handball on the line nor of the subsequent penalty they converted through Asamoah Gyan to home in on a place in the last 16.
Instead, perhaps paying the penalty for being a little too conservative, they will be left with a daunting last-match task against Germany at Soccer City on Wednesday, while Australia play Serbia in Nelspruit, with all four teams still in the qualification hunt.
So should England qualify – and, of course, you wouldn’t wager a farthing on that – it is still impossible to gauge which one of those Group D teams are likely to be their opponent in the last 16.
In all likelihood, the Socceroos will not make it with only one point but the fact they are still in the hunt is astonishing after the drama which enveloped the most enigmatic and talented player they have ever produced.
“It’s a shocker; we’re all devastated,” Kewell said afterwards. “It was a harsh refereeing decision. Was it a penalty? Maybe. Was it deliberate and did it deserve a red card? Of course not.”
Australia had been leading 1-0, through an 11th-minute Brett Holman goal, which had been gifted to him on the rebound after yet another error from a goalkeeper who found the Jabulani ball as slippery as a bar of soap. Marco Bresciano’s free-kick bounced up into Richard Kingson’s arms and out again.
But after 23 minutes, calamity struck for the Australians, when Jonathan Mensah smashed the ball from eight yards into Kewell’s upper arm and chest as he stood on the line. There was really no time for him to react but the experienced Italian referee, Roberto Rosetti, felt he had no alternative but to both award the penalty and give the former Liverpool star a straight red.
For Kewell, it was too much. He has battled for months to get fit for one last World Cup assault only for this desperate conclusion and he was still complaining vigorously for several minutes, while the Ghanaians celebrated Gyan’s perfectly executed penalty conversion with a perfectly executed dance routine.
Pim Verbeek, Australia’s coach, thought the referee had made a mistake, too because Kewell’s handball had not been deliberate. “He will be devastated,” said the Dutchman, who had answered a nation’s call to reintroduce the Galatasaray striker into the fray even though he was desperately rusty after a season in Turkey largely spent fighting injury.
In the build-up to the game, Kewell had lambasted the Australian press about their panning of the team after the Germany defeat, during which Verbek had been labelled “Pimbecile”. After Kewell’s exit, though, the Aussies certainly regained the respect of a nation as they fought tooth and nail to keep the Black Stars at bay, with the brilliant Gyan coming close on several occasions to finishing the job.
“Yeah, we all know the Australian spirit. The players told me about it – they said 'we’ll show everybody’ and they did,” Verbeek reckoned. “Great spirit was shown.” So great that there were moments, against all the odds in the Royal Bafokeng Stadium which had been turned green and gold for the afternoon, when they almost came close to snatching victory with chances squandered by Scott Chipperfield, Luke Wilkshire and Joshua Kennedy.
After surviving one final Ghanaian assault, they are still alive, just, which is astonishing considering how unlucky they have been to play 100 minutes over two games with just 10 men, following Tim Cahill’s harsh sending off against Germany. “We’ll have to go for it against Serbia,” Verbeek said. “All’s not lost yet.”

Read More Here!

Ghana v Australia Live Streaming Online for Free

Watch Ghana v Australia Live Streaming Online for Free


Link 1

Link 2

Link 3

Link 4

Link 5

Read More Here!

Ghana v Australia: match preview

Ghana v Australia
Royal Bafokeng Stadium. Rustenburg
Kick-off: Sat June 19, 3pm BST

Ghana can go a long way to becoming Africa’s first qualifiers in the first African World Cup with defeat over an Australian side still licking its wounds after the mauling from Germany. This fascinating encounter, made more intriguing by Germany’s defeat by Serbia, pits one of the oldest teams in the tournament, who frankly looked their age against Germany, against one of the youngest, buoyed by their opening win over Serbia.




Australia, without the suspended Tim Cahill and the injured Vince Grella, may have to gamble on the gangling attacker Joshua Kennedy and the extremely rusty Harry Kewell in the last chance saloon. Gahan’s final training session at Rustenberg was delayed by two hours due to frozen pitches, but coach Milovan Rajevac is expected to name an unchanged side.
Key clash
Asamoah Gyan v Craig Moore: Australia’s defence looked ragged in the opening game with the vastly experienced Craig Moore and Lucas Neill exposed consistently during the Germany match. They will have to up their game considerably to handle the Black Stars' match-winner against Serbia, striker Asamoah Gyan.
Touchline duel
Milovan Rajevac v Pim Verbeek: Dutchman Pim Verbeek must feel like one of the most beleagured coaches here after being panned back in Australia as “Pim-becile” following the Germany game while Serbian Milovan Rajevac is enjoying hero status in Ghana while hardly being flavour of the month back in his native land following the victory over Serbia.
Talking tactics
It appears it is win or bust time for Verbeek so he may be compelled to introduce both Kennedy, Australia’s gangling answer to Peter Crouch, and Kewell, who has only played two minutes of football in six months because of groin problems.
What they are saying
Milovan Rajevac: "For us this is the match of the season, so we need to be very focussed and at our best because we know this is Australia’s last chance.”
Pim Verbeek: "We were all disappointed but we are all men and we take it on the chin. There’s still two games left and anything’s possible still.”
Teams (probable)
Ghana (4-2-3-1): Kingson; Pantsil, Mensah Vorsah, Sarpei; Annan, Boateng; Tagoe, Asamoah, Ayew; Gyan.
Australia (4-5-1): Schwarzer; Wilkshire, Neill, Moore, Chipperfield; Emerton, Culina, Garcia, Valeri, Kewell; Kennedy.
Referee: Roberto Rosetti (Italy).
Previous meetings P6 Ghana 1, Draws 1, Australia 4
1995 (Sydney, friendly): Australia 2 Ghana 1
1995 (Adelaide, friendly): Australia 1 Ghana 0
1995 (Perth, friendly): Australia 0 Ghana 1
1996 (Durban, friendly): Australia 2 Ghana 0
2006 (London, friendly): Australia 1 Ghana 1
2008 (Sydney, friendly): Australia 1 Ghana 0
Fact: Australia have won just once in eight games in the World Cup finals.
Prediction: Ghana would move close to qualifying with a win and given Australia’s poor showing against the Germans, go for another African victory.

Read More Here!

Group D Betting Preview

Group D Outright Odds
Germany - 12.0
Australia - 151.0
Serbia - 67.0
Ghana - 81.0

Tournament specialists Germany are the favourites to top this tricky group where there is plenty of potential for the Nationalmannschaft to come unstuck. While it would be foolish to write off the Germans they are not the same force as in 2006 and the absence of captain Michael Ballack is a major blow. Expect six very hard fought games.

Australia remain seething after their controversial exit to Italy four years ago. Coach Pim Verbeek has set a target of reaching the last 16 but Socceroos fans are frustrated at his tendency to play 4-5-1 against stronger opponents. Most of the heroes of 2006 will feature with the motivation of facing England in the second round their main incentive.

Germany will cope without Ballack, who was one of their more experienced players, and have a squad full of young talent. Joachim Low has been loyal to stalwarts Miroslav Klose and Lukas Podolski, who have both had dismal domestic seasons, but also has Bundesliga hotshot Stefan Kiessling to call upon. The Bayer Leverkusen star scored goals for fun last season and could be one of the stars of the World Cup if given a chance.

Ghana, just like Germany, have lost their own Chelsea star in Michael Essien. The Black Stars surprised many by reaching the African Cup of Nations final featuring several players from their World Under-20 winning team from last year. Coach Milovan Rajevac will have done his homework on his home country Serbia, but this team is likely to lack the savvy and experience to make it out of the group.



Serbia are dark horses to make a big impression in the World Cup. They finished ahead of France in the qualifying process and have some outstanding players like Nemanja Vidic, Milos Krasic and Dejan Stankovic, plus a super manager in Raddy Antic who has coached Real Madrid and Barcelona and knows how to get the best out of his gifted squad.

Betting Potential
While the bookies are naturally backing Germany to progress there is some value if you search around like a Serbia/Germany dual forecast to progress first and second at 6.50. Serbia to beat Ghana at 2.05 is super value as is over 2, 2.5 goals in the same game at 2.07. Expect goals in that opening match. Serbia are a tasty 4.51 to beat Germany with the draw an intriguing 3.43. Lots of value in other words.

To Qualify
Germany 1.17
Serbia 1.75
Ghana 2.40
Australia 3.50

Not to qualify
Australia 1.28
Ghana 1.67
Serbia 1.75
Germany 4.32

Best Bet
Over 2, 2.5 goals in Australia Ghana match at 2.08. Australia are a generous 3.10 to beat Ghana who are 2.29 with the draw at 3.12. Given that we expect both teams to lose their opener against Germany and Serbia respectively this will be a high tempo game with both teams needing to win to give themselves any chance of progressing. Picking a winner is tough but I expect goals and at better than evens odds snap this one up.

Outside Bet
Serbia to win the group at 4.14. This is their first World Cup as an independent nation and just like Croatia in 1998 hearing their own national anthem should provide even more incentive for them to perform. More importantly they have the players to cause any team problems and like the Croats 12 years ago will play with a fearlessness against the fancied Germans.

Read More Here!

Watch Germany v Australia Live Streaming Online for Free

Watch Germany v Australia Live Streaming Online for Free


Link 1

Link 2

Link 3

Link 4

Link 5

Read More Here!

Germany v Australia: match preview

Group D
Germany v Australia
Moses Mabhida Stadium, Durban
Kick-off: Sun June 13, 7.30pm BST.

It would be an exaggeration to term this a grudge match, but a degree of festering antipathy has been evident between Germany and Australia during the pre-match exchanges. Germany have already vocally questioned the Australian’s style; a tactic which suggests a certain apprehension about how easy it will be to create chances against disciplined and well organised opponents.

In that regard, Joachim Low faces a huge decision over whether he goes with the proven tournament experience in attack of Miroslav Klose or the rather more mercurial talents of Cacau, the Brazilian-born Stuttgart forward.


Australia also have a dilemma over their strikers, although Harry Kewell has declared himself fully fit following recent injury and faces competition from Josh Kennedy to start in attack.

Touchline duel

Joachim Low v Pim Verbeek: Verbeek was assistant to Guus Hiddink at South Korea during the 2002 World Cup and so already has direct experience of helping to steer a tournament outsider to previously unforeseen heights.

Similarly, Low was the right-hand man to Jurgen Klinsmann as Germany reached the semi-finals as hosts at the last World Cup.

Verbeek will be taking up a role overseeing youth development at the Moroccan Football Federation after this World Cup and, for both men, this tournament represents a further chance to step out of the shadow of their more illustrious predecessors.

Talking Tactics

A contest between a German team that is already being lauded for its attacking, passing philosophy and an Australia side who are expected to pack the midfield while attempting to inflict occasional damage on the counter-attack via Tim Cahill and Harry Kewell.

Key Clash

Tim Cahill v Bastian Schweinsteiger: The star player in either team will go head to head in a central midfield clash that should go a long way to deciding the outcome.

Schweinsteiger will be asked to play in a more deeper-lying midfield position for Germany during this World Cup and it will be vital that he picks up the runs of Cahill, who is Australia’s obvious danger-man with a record of 20 goals in 40 internationals.

What they say

Philipp Lahm: "This is no longer a typically German side. I think this is the best team, with the most quality of all the ones I have played in.”

Pim Verbeek: “Our target is to make the last 16 and from then on everything is possible. What we would like, and what we would hope, is to do better than last time.”

Teams

Germany (4-2-3-1): Neuer; Friedrich, Mertesacker, Badstuber, Lahm; Khedira, Schweinsteiger, Muller, Ozil, Podolski; Cacau
Australia (4-2-3-1): Schwarzer; Wilkshire, Neill, Moore, Chipperfield; Grella, Culina; Emerton, Cahill, Bresciano; Kewell
Referee: Marco Rodriguez (Mexico)

Previous meetings

P2: Germany 2, Draws 0, Australia 0

1974 (Hamburg, WC): West Germany 3 Australia o
2005 (Frankfurt/Main, Confederations Cup): Germany 4 Australia 3

Fact: In seven games in two World Cup finals, Australia have won just one game – against Japan four years ago.

Prediction: Australia are confident but Germany have won their last five opening fixtures at World Cup finals and will win this one.

Read More Here!

Photos: John Travolta visits the Socceroos' base camp

John Travolta flew into South Africa in his own jet to boost the Australian team here on Friday ahead of their opening World Cup match against Germany. He is in South Africa for five days with his his pregnant wife, Kelly Preston, and their daughter, Ella.

Travolta was presented with a personalised Socceroo shirt bearing the No.10 of one of his favourite players, Harry Kewell.

With Qantas chief executive Alan Joyce on hand, Travolta posed for photos with the whole Socceroo squad and support staff. Here are the photos, enjoy!!

(more photos after "Read More Here!")

Read More Here!

Team Profile Australia

Confederation: AFC

Star Players: Harry Kewell, Mark Schwarzer

Best World Cup Finish: Second Round (2006)

Current FIFA Ranking: 20

Strengths: Strong back line

Weaknesses: Finding the net

Fans: Socceroos growing in number



Coach: Pim Verbeek
Confederation: AFC
FIFA Ranking (Apr 10): 20
Previous Appearances: 2 (1974, 2006)


Background

Australia emerged out of the wilderness at Germany 2006, ending a 32-year long wait for World Cup football. Talk to any Australian football fan about their most memorable Socceroo moment and it will definitely be those eight made minutes in Kaiserslauten, when a spectacular 3-1 comeback win over Japan in the dying stages of the match started the Aussies on their way to getting out of the group stages. They suffered a heartbreaking and controversial exit at the hands of Italians in the first knockout round via a late Francesco Totti penalty. The pioneers though will always be the men who first qualified in 1974.

How They Qualified

It was a far cry from the emotional penalty shootout victory over Uruguay in 2005, when Australia became the last nation on the planet to book its place at football’s showpiece event. That night will largely remain a blur for most Australia fans and is a stark contrast to the clinical manner in which Pim Verbeek has steered the Socceroos through their first Asian qualification path. They came through two groups, with Iraq and China headlining the first and Japan the second. They topped both of them and lost just one out of their fourteen matches, conceding only four times.
Strengths

Hyper-organized and unified, as their defensive record suggests. This is a team in which the players know each others playing styles intimately, having largely all been together when they first broke the nation’s World Cup drought four years ago. They have become masters at grinding out results late in the game, which suggests determination and fitness are their backbone.

Weaknesses

Goal scoring is a major problem and the placebo is currently Tim Cahill. But once the world’s better defenders catch on that setting two defenders on Australia’s main man will largely nullify the Socceroo goal-scoring threat, who is there to step up? The absence of a prolific forward, proven at international level, is conspicuous. Also the squad lack pace all over the park.

The Coach

Pim Verbeek was largely an unknown when he was handed the job as a second – or possibly, third – choice by the FFA (Football Federation Australia) around 18 months ago, with his appointment questioned by analysts and commentators before he had even taken charge of his first game. The Dutchman has silenced all of his critics however with a near-perfect qualifying record and some impressive competitive and non-competitive results along the way against the world’s bigger teams. He is an honest character who has a wonderful relationship with his players. His coaching style is a conservative one that prioritises discipline over aesthetics.

Star Men

Tim Cahill (Everton, England)
Does he even have to be mentioned? Scored Australia’s first ever World Cup goals with that stunning brace off the bench against Japan in 2006 and since then has been this squad’s most prolific goal scorer. It’s no exaggeration to say that the Socceroos always look to Cahill when they need to find the back of the net – and he almost always delivers, usually in the most dramatic fashion. Is the team’s X-Factor.

Mark Schwarzer (Fulham, England)
On countless occasions throughout qualifying, Schwarzer stepped up to save the Socceroos when they were nowhere near their best. A penalty save early in the campaign in the final minutes of a scoreless away draw against China set the tone as he went on to single-handedly at times keep Verbeek’s superb defensive record in tact. The talisman at the back.

Harry Kewell (Galatasaray, Turkey)
Say what you want about Kewell’s fitness and his decision to leave the English Premier League for Turkey; he still retains the ability to produce moments of absolute quality at the highest level. Always seems to step up against the best opposition, the closest thing to Cahill in terms of unpredictability. Still the most recognisable name in Australian football to most outsiders.

Best Footballing Moment

The last few minutes of the match against Japan have been etched into Australian football folklore but in terms of historical significance, it has to be qualifying for the World Cup for the first time ever in 1974 and going on to face the eventual champions in West Germany; that feat was performed by essentially amateur players and through a hellish Asian qualifying route.

Off The Pitch
Famous For: Beer, supposedly breeding large animals as pets (Crocodiles, sharks and kanagaroos among them) and AC/DC.

Most likely to: Leave other nations trailing in its wake in terms of beer consumption per capita during those four weeks in South Africa.

World Cup Objective

Getting out of the group stage will be a minor miracle – though the average fan might be quietly confident if the draw is kind.

Read More Here!