The Socceroos exceeded all expectations in the 2006 World Cup, making it out of their group into the knockout rounds before being beaten by eventual champions Italy on a questionable penalty kick. This year, the Aussies are back and better than they have ever been before. Led by 3 year coach Pim Verbeek, a Dutchman who values solid defense and goalkeeping above all else, the Socceroos will try to score early on opponents and then "close up shop" (a term applied when a team pulls its strikers back and focuses on not conceeding goals rather than scoring them). Despite being a country with very little, if any, history of World Cup success, watch the "boys from down under" fight their way out of Group D.
Australia's greatest strengths, their backend and midfield, are headed up by keeper Mark Schwarzer, defender Lucas Neill, and creative middie Tim Cahill. Schwarzer is thought to be one of the best goalies in the world. As a player for English club Fullham FC, he helped lead them very deep into the Champions league (with the help of American midfielder Clint Dempey). Schwarzer is known for his savvy at stopping penalty kicks and held seven of the eight opponents Australia faced scorless on the team's way to qualifying. Lucas Neill, the backbone of the Socceroos strong defensive unit, has captained the team for 4 years. At age 32 he is nearing the end of his international career, but don't write off this center back. Neill is an incredibly strong precense in the middle of the field and looks to mesh right in with Verbeek's defensive scheme in the 4-2-3-1 set. Australia's "Golden Boy" Tim Cahill is the team's biggest star and most vocal leader. Although not a strker, he may very well lead the team in goals this World Cup venture. The Everton middie was second on his club in goals, with 8, and uses his speed and creative ability with the ball to burn by defenders and create opporunities for his teammates. Other players to watch on this dark-horse Socceroo squad are midfielder Brett Emerton, striker Harry Kewell (who is the lone attackman in the starting line up), and defender Craig Moore.
The main question mark for the Aussies is their lack of a top line striker. The 31 year old Kewell has been plagued by injuries for the past few years. As of now he is trying to get back into match fitness from a groin injury. Everyone is Australia is hoping he recovers fully, because if not they will have trouble scoring goals relying on Brett Holman or youngster Nikita Rukavytsya. Harry Kewell is one of the most talented Australian strikers in history, and with this being probably his last World Cup, look for him to score the majority of goals for the Socceroos if healthy.
Group D perhaps could be the toughest foursome to advance from in the entire tournament, but also the most difficult to predict. Germany is favored to win the group, a large part because of their dynamic scoring duo of Lukas Podolski and Miroslav Klose. The Germans have been ravaged by injuries though, losing captain Michael Ballack along with Christian and Adler Traesch. Ghana is without their superstar Michael Essien, and will have trouble advancing to the next round. The Serbians are experienced and have a good defense, but their midfield is in question and social unrest in their country could prove too much to cope with.
-JS
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