Group D
Manager: Pim Verbeek
Star Player: Tim Cahill
Number of Previous World Cup Appearances: 2
Best result: 2nd round (2006)
All-time record: 7 games played, 1 win, 2 draws, 4 losses
Goals for: 5, Goals against: 11
Biggest victory: 3-1 vs. Japan in 2006
Biggest defeat: 3-0 vs. West Germany in 1974
Top scorer: Tim Cahill (2 goals)
Most appearances: Several players (4 matches)
Hosted the World Cup: Never
CLICK BELOW TO WATCH LIVE AUSTRALIA MATCHES
June 13, 2010 @ 19:30UK Group Stage Group D
Germany vs Australia
at Moses Mabhida Stadium
June 19, 2010 @ 15:00UK Group Stage Group D
Ghana vs Australia
at Royal Bafokeng Stadium
June 23, 2010 @ 19:30UK Group Stage Group D
Australia vs Serbia
at Mbombela Stadium
TEAM PROFILE OF AUSTRALIA:
After a 32-year absence from the world stage, Australia made a strong statement at the 2006 FIFA World Cup™, reaching the knockout stage where it took a last-minute goal from eventual champions Italy to eliminate Guus Hiddink's team. The squad, now under another Dutchman, Pim Verbeek, features many of the Germany 2006 personnel and is a battle-hardened and experienced group.
Unlike four years ago when Australia qualified through via the Oceania zone, and finally a dramatic play-off against Uruguay, the preparation for the Socceroos this time is very different following a lengthy campaign across the length and breadth of Asia.
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Australia Squad:
- Adam Federici Goalkeeper 1.88m 90 kg January 31, 1985
- Eugene Galekovic Goalkeeper 1.88m 91 kg June 12, 1981
- Brad Jones Goalkeeper 1.91m 76 kg March 19, 1982
- Mark Schwarzer Goalkeeper 1.96m 90 kg October 6, 1972
- Michael Beauchamp Defender 1.91m 85 kg August 3, 1981
- David Carney Defender 1.80m 70 kg November 30, 1983
- Shane Lowry Defender 1.86m 82 kg June 12, 1989
- Mark Milligan Defender 1.78m 78 kg August 4, 1985
- Craig Moore Defender 1.85m 80 kg December 12, 1975
- Lucas Neill Defender 1.85m 74 kg March 9, 1978
- Rhys Williams Defender 1.87m 72 kg July 14, 1988
- Mark Bresciano Midfielder 1.82m 73 kg February 11, 1980
- Tim Cahill Midfielder 1.78m 65 kg December 6, 1979
- Scott Chipperfield Midfielder 1.80m 80 kg December 30, 1975
- Jason Culina Midfielder 1.75m 72 kg August 5, 1980
- Brett Emerton Midfielder 1.85m 88 kg February 22, 1979
- Richard Garcia Midfielder 1.80m 72 kg September 4, 1981
- Vincenzo Grella Midfielder 1.82m 79 kg October 5, 1979
- James Holland Midfielder 1.80m 70 kg May 15, 1989
- Mile Jedinak Midfielder 1.89m 81 kg August 3, 1984
- Harry Kewell Midfielder 1.80m 78 kg September 22, 1978
- Thomas Oar Midfielder 1.70m 64 kg December 10, 1991
- Carl Valeri Midfielder 1.78m 70 kg August 14, 1984
- Dario Vidosic Midfielder 1.84m 74 kg April 8, 1987
- Luke Wilkshire Midfielder 1.75m 74 kg October 2, 1981
- Brett Holman Forward 1.77m 75 kg February 27, 1984
- Joshua Kennedy Forward 1.94m 84 kg August 20, 1982
- Nikita Rukavytsa Forward
Appearances at finals:
1974 - First round
2006 - Second round
Overall record at finals: Played 7, Won 1, Drawn 2, Lost 4.
Best performance: Second round in 2006.
Most appearances at finals: Lucas Neill (2006), Craig Moore (2006), Vince Grella (2006), Mark Viduka (2006), Luke Wilkshire (2006), Jason Culina (2006), Tim Cahill (2006), John Aloisi (2006), Mark Bresciano (2006), Scott Chipperfield (2006) - 4.
Most goals at finals: Tim Cahill (2006) - 2.
World Cup high: The dramatic comeback as three goals in the final eight minutes saw Australia come from behind to secure a famous win over Japan in Kaiserslautern in 2006.
World Cup low: The exit from the 1974 World Cup with no goals and only one point from three games.
World Cup legend: Johnny Warren, member of the 1974 squad and FIFA Centennial Order of Merit holder, was famous as a tireless advocate for Australian football until his death in 2004.
The story so far: Australia's two World Cup finals appearances came 32 years apart but are connected by the location of the tournaments - West Germany in 1974 and Germany in 2006. Australia's first finals appearance ended mostly in disappointment as the team failed to register their first goal or win, leaving the class of 2006 to set all the records as they reached the second round.
The Socceroos' controversial exit at the hands of eventual champions Italy in 2006 was considered harsh, and who knows how far Guus Hiddink's magic could have taken them? Qualification is now a minimum expectation in Australia since the team switched to the Asian confederation.
Qualification: Australia's disastrous Asian Cup in 2007 was the warning shot required to approach their first qualification campaign in their new confederation with the right mindset.
The experienced Socceroos line-up achieved a level of consistency and solidity under the guidance of Dutch coach Pim Verbeek that saw them cruise to South Africa on the back of a stellar defensive record. Australia's European-based stars dominated most Asian opponents, but the question is now whether they can evolve their style to compete with better and more diverse nations at the finals.
Qualifying record (final group stage): P8, W6, D2, L0, F12, A1, Pts20.
Most appearances: Mark Schwarzer (8).
Top goalscorer: Tim Cahill (3).
MORE TO KNOW ABOUT AUSTRALIA ? continue Reading :)
The road to South AfricaThe Socceroos impressed in a 14-match Asian qualification campaign overcoming some of the continents best to finish top of Group 1 and be one of the first nations to reach South Africa 2010. Australia also finished top of the previous qualifying stage ahead of Qatar, China and Asian champions Iraq, despite losing matches to the latter two. The next and final stage proved a triumph for Pim Verbeek's tactical acumen as the Socceroos remained undefeated across eight matches, five points clear of Japan, with Bahrain, Qatar and Uzbekistan trailing well behind.
The star players
Undoubtedly Tim Cahill has become a talisman for the national team, with the attacking midfielder recording a remarkable goal return for the national team thanks to an uncanny positional sense and aerial ability. Galatasaray wide-man Harry Kewell provides a source of inspiration on the left, with Brett Emerton playing an equally important role on the opposite flank, while in the centre of the park, the under-rated duo of Vince Grella and Jason Culina are a well-oiled and invaluable engine room. The current side are renowned for their defensive capabilities with central defender Lucas Neill and goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer an essential cog as the Socceroos leaked just four goals, including a record run of seven matches without conceding, en route to South Africa.
The coach
After a lengthy apprenticeship under Guus Hiddink, Pim Verbeek stepped out of the shadows to take Korea Republic to the 2007 AFC Asian Cup before assuming the reins of Australia in December 2007 just prior to the commencement of the 2010 FIFA World Cup qualifiers. Verbeek has brought a pragmatic approach to the team, built on a thrifty rock-solid defence, but also with capabilities going forward on the flanks. Highly respected by the players, Verbeek has instilled a strong sense of team in what is a highly motivated and focussed unit.
Previous FIFA World Cups
Australia have appeared on the world stage just twice, but are now making up for lost time by claiming a second consecutive qualification. Following a breakthrough showing in 1974, where a team of amateur players were far from embarrassed despite a first-round exit, the sports-mad nation had to wait another 32 years for a return to the FIFA World Cup. The revisit to Germany proved a success with Australia finishing second in their group behind Brazil and ahead of Croatia and Japan. It took a penalty deep into injury-time for Italy to overcome the Socceroos in the Round of 16 and continue their run to the crown.
Records
* Australian goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer claimed a national record as the team maintained a cleansheet for seven consecutive FIFA World Cup qualifiers.
* Goalscoring honours in qualifying were shared by Brett Emerton and Tim Cahill with four goals apiece.
What they said
"We have to go there and do it better than last time. I think you have to make targets in life and the players are going to do that also. We want to do better than last time, and we will do everything possible to do that," Australia coach Pim Verbeek.
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