FIFA 2010 World Cup Preview: Australia

Before I begin my analysis of Australia and their place in the FIFA 2010 World Cup picture, I wanted to go ahead and write up an interesting prelude.

The LA Galaxy (who I am still disappointed with in terms of making penalty shots...especially Landon Donovan's high ball from hell) invited me to a viewing party for this event at L.A. Live. Now they said the first 100 people to RSVP get a free breakfast.

Not like I'm going to need the extra calories because I would eat my meal beforehand. So I thought, why not, I'll go ahead and do so.

Next day comes by, they said, "Unfortunately, your RSVP was not received in time to get a complimentary breakfast. However, the Galaxy would still like you to come down to the event."

The hell? Now they tell me I have to essentially pay for a meal at a place where you would not even be allowed to stay if you don't make an order. I mean, this is bloody ESPNZone! It's like Hooters: a dump made to look like a cheap sports-themed restaurant. (I'm not even gonna go bother talking my recent experience at the Long Beach Hooters, because the male staffers there ought to be shot.)

I then tell the intern: "Send an e-mail to the 100 lucky freeloaders that the USA will NOT make it past the first round. Otherwise, take the RSVP up your posterior cause if I ain't getting my morning bite, I ain't going until I get a morning bite at the freeloaders who do get a morning bite!"

She forgot. Whatever. I'll have my turkey noodle soup over an $8.99 special any old day, thank you very much.

So that's the end of that story. Now it's on to the preview of my beloved Socceroos.



It sure feels great to be in a new confederation. In 2006, after Australia broke their 31-year hoodoo (a now-enduring piece of Aussie sports lexicon), they officially joined the Asian Football Confederation. With their 2006 campaign ended at the hands of eventual champions Italy, the Socceroos found a new sense of purpose and a resolve to return to football's biggest stage.

The journey started more than two years ago, on Nov. 25, 2007. Australia was placed in the third round of qualifying in the Asian zone with Qatar, Iraq, and the People's Republic of China.

Australia's first match was a 3-0 victory over Qatar at Etihad Stadium on February 6, 2008. This was followed up by a draw with China (0-0, March 26), a 1-0 victory (June 1) and defeat (June 7) to Iraq, a 3-1 victory over Qatar (June 14), and a 1-0 defeat to China on June 22 in Sydney.

Australia advanced to the fourth round with 10 points from six matches (3-1-2, +4 differential)—and Pim Verbeek's Socceroos imposed their will.

The Roos began their fourth-round jaunt with a 1-0 victory over Uzbekistan at Tashkent's Pakhtakor Stadium on Sept. 10, 2008. Their next match was a 4-0 battering of Qatar on Oct. 15 at Brisbane's Suncorp Stadium.

Australia wanted to finish 2008 with a bang, and they did it with help from the most unexpected of heroes: Mark Bresciano. A bad deflection by Bahrain saw the Palermo midfielder steal 1-0 victory over the Bahrainis at the National Stadium in Madinat 'Isa on Nov. 19.

2009 arrived...but Australia scrapped out a scoreless draw against Japan at the Yokohama International Stadium on Feb. 11. They made up for it in a big way: a 2-0 victory over Uzbekistan at Stadium Australia on April 1.

Qatar fought well to also hold the Socceroos scoreless on June 6, but their dreams to be in South Africa were already dashed. Australia would confirm their return with a 2-0 victory over Bahrain in Sydney on June 10.

It was surely a different feel than the tension before John Aloisi's spot kick less than four years ago on Nov. 16, 2005.

Just for good measure, the Socceroos decided to banish the ghosts that had haunted them during the France '98 campaign by holding the finale against Japan at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on June 17.

Even though they had already qualified, and it was surely not the Iranians they were facing, Australia wanted to prove once again to the world that the nightmares that have plagued many of their qualification campaigns are no longer tormenting this sports-crazed nation.

And who better to affirm that proof than the man who had been a thorn in Japan's side in Kaiserslautern and would continue to be so—Tim Cahill?

After Marcus Tulio Tanaka chopped down Mark Schwarzer's long goalless streak in the 39th minute, Cahill fired back with goals in the 59th and 77th minutes to send the decisively green-and-gold crowd of 69,238 happy as can be.

A 2-1 victory over Japan saw Australia finish as the top qualifier in Asia with 20 points from its eight matches (6-0-2, +11 differential) while conceding just one goal.

AUSTRALIA'S GROUP OPPONENTS

Germany

The Socceroos' toughest opponent in this group will be Die Mannschaft. Australia's best result against Germany was a 4-3 defeat in the 2005 Confederations Cup. Ranked sixth in the world in the recent FIFA/Coca-Cola World Rankings, Germany allowed only five goals against their competition in qualifying action.

Miroslav Klose is the team's biggest threat, with seven goals. Lukas Podolski also tallied six goals in 764 minutes of action for Germany.

Ghana

Out of all the teams in Group D, the Black Stars of Ghana are the team the Socceroos have had the best success against, with a 4-1-1 record. The Socceroos will have to be mindful of Michael Essien's ability to set up scoring opportunities for Manuel Agogo and Matthew Amoah, who have tallied a combined nine goals.

Ghana is ranked 37th in the FIFA/Coca-Cola World Rankings.

Serbia

This will be the first-ever meeting for Australia against Belo Orlovi (The White Eagles). Ranked 20th in the FIFA World Rankings, this match on June 23 will make or break the Socceroos' World Cup campaign. Serbia is led by Milan Jovanovic, who scored five goals in World Cup qualification.

Prognosis

The Socceroos should be able to make it past the group stages with a close victory over Serbia and a win over Ghana. They will have difficulty making it past the second round. Victories over Germany and possibly England in the knockout stages would be impressive enough for Pim Verbeek's Socceroos.

Australia head-to-head

vs. Germany
0-3-1

vs. Ghana
4-1-1

vs. Serbia
First Meeting

13 June 2010
GERMANY     v      AUSTRALIA     Moses Mabhida Stadium, Durban
SERBIA      v      GHANA     Loftus Versfeld Stadium, Pretoria

18 June 2010
GERMANY     v      SERBIA     Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium, Port Elizabeth

19 June 2010
GHANA      v      AUSTRALIA     Royal Bafokeng Stadium, Rustenburg

23 June 2010
AUSTRALIA      v      SERBIA     Mbombela Stadium, Nelspruit
GHANA      v      GERMANY     Soccer City, Johannesburg