Australia World Cup bets

Manager: Pim Verbeek
Captain: Lucas Neill
FIFA Ranking: 16
World Cup Appearances: 2 – 1974, 2006
Best World Cup: 2006 – Last 16

Australia Team Profile

Australian manager Pim Verbeek will be aiming to eclipse the 2006 World Cup which seen Australia go as far as the last sixteen under former manager Guus Hiddink. Australia had to contend with the likes of Brazil, Croatia and Japan in group F and yet Guus Hiddink guided the ‘Aussies‘ out of a very tough group with their only defeat in the group stage coming against the classy Brazilians.

The 2006 finals was just Australia’s second world cup appearance but football has really started to take off down under and for a country that went over 40 years without a world cup apperance before the 2006 finals, the ‘Aussies‘ have now reserved a place in their second successive World Cup. That’s a massive achievement for a country that has only just come to light in terms of producing some players with real quality.

Australia go into the World Cup as the 20th best team in the world according to the FIFA World Rankings. They certainly have the right form heading into the finals but they have one huge weaknesses and that’s their lack of strength in depth. Their first eleven could push even the top teams close but they only have a team right now, not a squad. They have a great chance of bypassing the group stage but when it comes to competing against the classier countries, after some gruelling group games, we expect the Australians to unfortunately come up second best.

Nicknames: Socceroos

Manager

Pim Verbeek is a Dutch manager who spent most of his playing career in the Dutch league with Sparta Rotterdam, Roda JC and NAC Breda. However, Pim Verbeek made a name for himself when aiding South Korea to the Semi-Finals in the 2002 World Cup when he was assistant manager under Guus Hiddink. Before taken over as manager of Australia in 2007, Pim Verbeek led South Korea to a third place finish in 2006 at the AFC Asian Championship and has now guided Australia to their third world cup appearance.

Pim Verbeek prefers to play with two holding midfielders and concentrates his attacking emphasis down the flanks. He tends to employ just the one front man with the tactic of overloading the opposing defence with crosses from the wings. Pim has been criticised back in Australia for playing ‘Dull football’ but remains adamant that as long as his team reaches the finals, it doesn’t matter what style of football they play.

Australia Key Players

Tim Cahill

The Everton maestro has been the best player to come out of Australia for some time, and with the likes of Mark Viduka and Harry Kewell bracing the Premiership in recent years, that’s some statement to make. Not only can the former Millwall play-maker create a goalscoring opportunity out of nothing but he’s made a reputation from being a nuisance in the oppositions penalty area, especially from set-pieces. Despite not being the tallest of players at 5ft 10in, he has an immense talent for putting himself in the right place at the right time and defenders often struggle to pick the little ‘Aussie’ up. Cahill has become a talisman for Australia and he will be crucial to their chances in south Africa.

Mark Schwarzer

The Fulham goalkeeper has bags of experience on his C.V. and has been a sought after keeper throughout his career. When Middlesborough let Schwarzer leave, some Australian critics thought Mark would find it hard to remain as the ‘Aussie’ number 1 in goal but he’s made that position his own and his performances, not only for his country but for his club as well, has reinstated his stance as the best goalkeeper in Australia at current. Schwarzer is the most capped player in the squad with 68 caps and his experience and quality at the back will be a huge boost for manager Pim Verbeek.

Australia Qualification for the World Cup

Sector: Asia
Group: 1
Position: 1st
Win-Draw-Lose: 6-2-0
Goals Scored: 12
Goals Conceded: 1

World Cup Potential: 3/5

Football, or Soccer as it’s referred to over in Australia, is growing at a rate of knots ‘Down Under’ and it’s easy to see why when you see the national team performing so well, encouraging the younger generation to take up a sport which had been overshadowed by a number of other sports for decades. The country got right behind their team when they made their first ever appearance in a World Cup back in 2006 and they’ll do the exact same the second time around.

In fairness, Australia don’t have a particularly bad set up considering they’re one of the outsiders to win the competition. They have a world-class goalkeeper in Mark Schwarzer, a super shot-stopper and a man who commands his box with authority. Their defence doesn’t have many household names but the ones they do have tonnes of grit and determination, and a heap of experience needed on the big stage; Lucas Neill (53 Caps), Brett Emerton (72 Caps) and Scott Chipperfield (63 Caps) three of the more experienced Australian defenders. With Tim Cahill (19 Goals), Harry Kewell (13 Goals) and Scott McDonald (0 Goals) all strutting their stuff in the final third of the pitch, the Australians might just have enough to etch enough points to sneak through what is a difficult Group.

Australia were drawn in a tough group back in 2006 and they battled their way through adversity. They’ve  been put in a similarly difficult group this time around as well. However, while the group does look tough on paper, it’s mainly because it’s a competitive group and that’s good news for the Australians as it means they have just as much chance of making the knock-put stage for the second World Cup running as the rest in Group D; Germany, Serbia and Ghana, of making the last-sixteen. The Aussies could be South Africa’s Dark Horses.

Australia World Cup Betting Odds

Australia to win the World Cup: 500/1 Bet365

Before the World Cup the odds on Australia were 150/1 

Official Australia World Cup Squad

Goalkeepers

Mark Schwarzer (Fulham)

Brad Jones (Middlesbrough)

Adam Federici (Reading)

Defenders

Craig Moore

Lucas Neill (Galatasaray Istanbul)

Luke Wilkshire (Dynamo Moscow)

Scott Chipperfield (FC Basel)

David Carney (FC Twente Enschede)

Mark Milligan (JEF United)

Michael Beauchamp (Al-Jazira)

Midfielders

Jason Culina (Gold Coast)

Tim Cahill (Everton)

Brett Emerton (Blackburn Rovers)

Mark Bresciano (Palermo)

Vincenzo Grella (Blackburn Rovers)

Brett Holman (Alkmaar)

Carl Valeri (Sassuolo)

Mile Jedinak (Antalyaspor Kulubu)

Richard Garcia (Hull City)

Dario Vidosic (MSV Duisburg)

Strikers

Harry Kewell (Galatasaray)

Josh Kennedy (Nagoya Grampus)

Nikita Rukavytsya (Twente Enschede)

last update: 18 June 2010

World Cup 2010 Australia Fixtures – Group D

World Cup 2010 Group D - Table

World Cup Fixtures and Results

Australia v Serbia Betting Odds

Serbia to win – 10/11 at Bet365
Draw: 11/4 at BetFred
Australia to win: 7/2 at Victor Chandler

Serbia

Serbia will be looking to wrap up qualification from Group D with a strong finish against the rugged Australians. Serbia were strongly tipped in World Cup betting to be a strong dark horse and push Germany all the way for top spot in the group. But Serbia find themselves down in third with African nation Ghana leading the way. This is all because Serbia blew their lines in their opening fixture against Ghana, pretty much handing their opponents three points after losing their composure in their latter stages of the match. The strong, physical and swift passing of the Serbians was there to be seen, but suffering a red card and then giving a penalty away ruined their World Cup opener. But the Serbians showed a lot of mettle in their second match, turning tables on their fortunes to beat the strong looking Germans. Those three points were necessary to keep Serbia in the hunt for a qualification point, and while Germany and Ghana will be battling it out amongst themselves, Serbia, with a win over Australia will guarantee their place in the last sixteen of the 2010 FIFA World Cup.

A draw may even be enough for Serbia, if Germany lose to Ghana. Serbia coach Radomir Antic will get back the services of Aleksandar Lukovic, who was shown the red card in their first match, the first incident which put the Serbians under pressure. Serbia have a strong back line, and that will put them in good stead against an Aussie team which like a good battle themselves. Along with Chelsea’s Branislav Ivanovic, Manchester United’s Nemanja Vidic keeping things tight at the back, when they press forward a lot of the play moves through Milan Jovanovic, who could easily become one of the stand out stars of the 2010 FIFA World Cup. He grabbed Serbia’s vital winning goal against Germany, and is hugely influential to the Serbian side. There is a good balance of speed, power and control with the Serbians, and while they are not among the elite group in Europe, the gap surely cannot be that wide. They can impress again with a good solid win against Australia.

Serbia World Cup 2010 Stats
Played: W1, D0, L1
GF/GA: 1/1
Cards: Y6, R1
Most Shots: Three players, 3
Top Scorer: Milan Jovanovic, 1
Shots/On Goal: 22/5
Fouls Committed: 20
Total Passes: 906
Pass Completion: 72%

Australia

Australia have never gotten the better of European opposition at the World Cup and their task will be made harder by the fact that they will be without Harry Kewell and Craig Moore who will both be missing through suspension. Discipline has been a problem for Pim Verbeek’s men at South Africa 2010, and after receiving a red card in their opening 4-0 defeat by Argentina, Everton’s Tim Cahill will be back in the side. If Cahill gets on the score sheet then the Aussies will be full of hope, as they have never lost a competitive match when Cahill has scored. Their talismanic midfielder is key to any Aussie success, but they will face another tough task against Serbia. The Aussies can probably count themselves lucky that Ghana did not fully press home their man advantage against the men from Down Under, as the African nation never really grabbed enough initiative in attack to really punish the Australians.

Australia reached the second round at Germany ‘06 by avoiding defeat in their final group match against Croatia. But they have to go one better this time around, as they need all three points to be in with a chance of sneaking through again. A victory would leave them on four points, which is the total group leaders Ghana have a the moment. Australia will also be banking on a Ghana win, because if Germany sneak a point and the Aussies win, then Germany will go through on a far superior goal difference. So while the chance for the green and gold is pretty slim, they will have heart. They will have plenty of spirit in the match, but as seen already, that has not quite been enough. After being destroyed by Germany and let off the hook against Ghana, the Australians are justifying their standings in the World Cup Betting as rank outsiders to get out of Group B. They will be disappointed with themselves, but will fight and hustle to the end. It is unlikely to be good enough against strong European opposition again though.

Australia World Cup 2010 Stats
Played: W1, D1, L0
GF/GA: 2/1
Cards: Y4, R2
Most Shots: Three players, 2
Top Scorer: Brett Holman, 1
Shots/On Goal: 18/7
Fouls Committed: 37
Total Passes: 1005
Pass Completion: 72%

Asian Handicap Betting Tip: Physical endurance could play its part again here, as the Australians are likely to run out of steam at the end of the match. They have had to play most of their tournament with 10 men, and that will not have helped their cause. They have an uphill battle to try and get out of this one though, and a Serbian win looks on the cards.
Serbia -1 for 7/4 at BetFair

Current Australia V Serbia Odds:

Backing the Black Stars for bright World Cup betting outcome

Ghana, the only African nation to pick up three points from the first round of group matches, will again be feeling the pressures of expectation as they go up against underdogs Australia in their second match. The Black Stars seemed to be heading towards a comfortable 0-0 results against tough European side Serbia in their first match, until the Serbian’s capitulated in the last fifteen minutes. A red and a cheap penalty, gave Ghana the chance they needed to walk out of the match victorious. Striker Asamoah Gyan dispatched the penalty with great aplomb, giving the African nation, a somewhat surprise victory, considering how hotly the Serbians had been tipped in World Cup betting odds. Not that Ghana really outplayed Serbia or anything, but the strengths of Ghana were again evident, even though they were missing their star midfield man, Chelsea’s Michael Essien. Ghana are an organised, solid side, which like to control the ball and pass it around. They are not a cautious side, but a sensible one, which knows how to apply pressure to the opposition in a careful manner, without exposing themselves at the back. Ghana are a relatively young side, and they have not been afraid to draft in their young stars this year, as the nation continues to grow as a football power. They have been living under the shadow of the Ivory Coast, simply because they do not have as many household name stars as the Ivorians. But that does not mean Ghana are pushovers, and in fact, they play more of a controlled European style than any other African nation. This has rewarded them well, with some impressive performances, and for a young, growing side, there is clearly potential there. Now a six point total after their opening two matches is a real reality for Ghana, a victory which put them in great standing to reach the second round. The Aussies are battered and bruised after taking a hammering from Germany, and Ghana should be ready to pounce, and press home their clear advantage in quality, composure and style.

Ghana World Cup Betting: Ghana really should beat Australia, but it probably will not be by a big margin to be honest. The African’s do not look that explosive of a side, but good enough to be good 1-0 winners. They do have the edge in youth and enthusiasm, and should be able to use that to their advantage. They will know that they were lucky to come out of their first match with all three points, and may again have to work just as hard to get the next three. They will have the legs over the slower Aussies, as well as superior passing skills, which all points to it being a comfortable, if not expansive Ghana win.

Ghana World Cup 2010 Stats
Played: P1, W1, D0, L0
GF/GA: 1/0
Cards: Y2, R0
Most Shots: Asamoah Gyan, 5
Top Scorer: Asamoah Gyan, 1
Shots/On Goal: 16/3
Fouls Committed: 15
Total Passes: 467
Pass Completion: 73%
Last 5 Form: LLLWW

Aussies look for a way back from German bombardment

Australia simply did not show up and perform in their opening group fixture against Germany. A red card for Everton’s Tim Cahill did not help their cause much either, as they were outplayed, outclassed and outscored by an impressive looking German side. The Socceroos lost 4-0 and would probably have been hanging their heads in embarrassment at their display on the world stage. While rank outsiders in the group, they would not have expected to be such pushovers, as the green and gold are known for their defensive approach to the game. The Aussies like to tackle hard, and defend staunchly, and even though their style is not the prettiest to watch, it is one which has worked for them up until now. Now they must find a way to shake off the disappointment and find a way to get three points against Ghana, even if it means a radical shake up of the team. But the question is, is there enough quality in the team to even compete with one of African’s top nations? On the evidence of their first match, the answer to that would be no, and while they may not get as constantly exposed by Ghana, who will take a more cautious and calm approach to the game, the Socceroos will know that they are underdogs. Something needs to be done to change that on the team sheet, but what can Australia really bring to football’s premier global tournament? They will be missing the key figure of Cahill, who is now serving a one match ban for his indiscretions against Germany, and now Australia will really be struggling to find any positives to take with them into the Ghana match. Cahill’s absence will illustrate further the major problem with Australia, that they lack the punch and firepower up front to go out and outscore teams. Aussie Coach Pim Verbeek has mighty task on his hand in getting his side to rebound back from that defeat. There is now the problem of having to go for a win, which could expose them further at the back.

Australia World Cup Betting: If you are looking and believing that the Aussies can get something out of this fixture and keep their World Cup 2010 hopes alive, then you will be best served by backing them in an Asian Handicap with a plus advantage. There’s probably no need to go too big, as Ghana don’t look as if they have a lot of goals in them. Anywhere from between +1 and +2 goals should give decent value for backing the Aussies. It is hard to see where the goals will come from though for the Socceroos, and a draw is probably the best they can hope for, even though that really won’t be good enough for them.

Australia World Cup 2010 Odds
Played: P1, W0, D0, L1
GF/GA: 0/4
Cards: Y3, R1
Most Shots: Two players, 2
Top Scorer: N/A
Shots/On Goal: 10/2
Fouls Committed: 19
Total Passes: 530
Pass Completion: 72%
Last 5 Form: DWWLL

Ghana v Australia Betting Odds

Australia to win: 3/1 at SkyBet
Draw: 5/2 at Stan James
Ghana to win: Evens at Bet365

Asian Handicap Betting Tip: So, would back the outcome of Ghana winning this one, even if it is just by the odd goal. The Aussies, will, hopefully from their perspective, have tightened up, but still look goal shy. Therefore one of the best value bets for this one is
Ghana -0.75 Asian Handicap for 7/5 at Paddy Power
 

Current Ghana v Australia Odds:

Loew Looking for High Return from Klose

Germany begin their World Cup campaign on Sunday, in what will likely be a tough and bruising encounter against Australia. Germany have had their share of injuries ahead of the World Cup, with Chelsea’s Michael Ballack, number one keeper Rene Adler and full back Heiko Westermann among the prominent omissions from the World Cup squad. However, Germany coach Joachim Loew will be able to put out a side that will contest well against any opposition in the World Cup. They have the qualities to dig deep and grind out results, as well as put their foot on the gas and tear teams apart comfortably. They showed, in a tough qualification group against Russia, that they can go into tough matches and come out triumphant in the end. Even with the absentees from the squad, there is a lot of promise about the Germans, even though they have not crept to the fore of World Cup betting. They won eight and drew two of their qualification games, conceding just five goals along the way. The Germans have had a pretty decent run up to the World Cup, only suffering one defeat, which was against Argentina in their international friendly matches.

One thing Germany do have, is pace, and that comes from Loew having assembled quite a young side, with an average age of 26. They also have Miroslav Klose up front, who hit seven goals in eight matches during qualification, but had a bit of a stuttering season on the domestic front for Bayern Munich. Because of his great record for his country though, he will, more likely than not retain his starting place and will carry the weight of goal scoring on his shoulders. So Germany have had to re-shuffle their pack, but Coach Loew has done well in not letting the disappointments of injuries upset his preparations to much. They still look an organised side, and their pedigree in the World Cup alone should mean that they are fairly battle hardy, even if they don’t have the full experience of past Germany squads. Sitting around the fringe of the World Cup outright betting market, the Germans are looking like a strong outside bet. They should easily be good enough for a least a quarter final place, and this opening match will be a good test of the balance of the side. Known for being slow starters, a good win would help them build that all important momentum ahead of tougher groups tests in Serbia and Ghana.

Schwarzer Keeper of the Australian Rear Guard

Australia in contrast, have older heads on their shoulders, and therefore older legs. They will know that the Germans are a much stronger side, so it could be a backs to the wall effort from the Socceroos for most of the ninety minutes. The Aussies have had their injury worries, with forward Harry Kewell being involved in a big race to be fully fit for the 2010 FIFA World Cup. But while Kewell has apparently won his race, the Socceroos are awaiting to see if influential midfielder Tim Cahill will be fit after picking up a neck injury. Cutting to the chase, the Australians are not a pretty side to watch. They play on the borderline of being over physical and they adopt a very defensive approach to the game. They switched to the Asian qualification zone in order to help their development in playing supposedly tougher opposition, but they have put up defensive walls for some reason. The Australia you may have seen in the past as their status grew, the one with gusto and bravado, has gone into its shell a little and like to squeeze out matches.

Australia coach Pim Verbeek will simply set Germany the tough task of breaking down their defensive barriers, including goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer who is one of the best in the world. The question surrounding this game, is whether or not Germany have enough creativity and drive to break down the Australians. Put frankly, they should have, especially if they are serious about going deep into the competition. It is a little hard to put a finger on how this one will go. There should be enough quality for goals, but at the same time, the defensive corps could just as easily get the upper hands. It probably won’t be the most open of games, more of a midfield battle with Germany having a lot of possession. In a tough group, the Australians are the outsiders, and have the toughest start against one of the top European sides.

Germany v Australia Betting Odds and Stats

Last 5 Matches
Germany 3, Bosnia 1
Hungary 0, Germany 3
Germany 0, Argentina 1
Germany 2, Ivory Coast 2
Germany 1, Finland 1

USA 3, Australia 1
Denmark 0, Australia 1
Australia 2, New Zealand 1
Australia 0, Netherlands 0
Korea Republic 3, Australia 1

Last 5 Match Goals
Germany: 9 For, 5 Against
Australia: 5 For, 7 Against

Recent Stats
Germany: P50, W33, D10, L7 with a 66.0% win percentage
Australia: P30, W14, D8, L8 with a 46.7% win percentage

World Cup Stats
Germany: P92, W55, D19, L18, GF190, GA112
Australia: P7, W1, D2, L4, GF5, GA11

Last 10 Match Form
Germany: DWWWWDDLWW
Australia: WDWWWLDWWL

Match Odds
Germany to win: 8/15 at Paddy Power
Draw: 10/3 at BetFred
Australia: 29/4 at Bwin

Asian Handicap Betting Tip: Germany should win the match, as seeing Australia break ranks very often to get forward with consistent pressure is difficult to picture. Nevertheless, stubborn they are, and Australia +1 at 21/20 at Bet365 is decent value.
 

World Cup Group D Teams: Germany, Australia, Ghana, Serbia. This is a fascinating group, and well worth following as you plan your World Cup Betting. Germany have had their problems during their build up, and this group contains one of the strong dark horse bets of the 2010 FIFA World Cup. The big kick off is nearing, and punters across the world should be finalizing their betting strategies. The World Cup brings together 32 teams, 736 players all for the chance to play in the World Cup final at Soccer City Stadium in Johannesburg on July 11th, 7.30 pm GMT. Here we continue our World Cup betting guide to help you find the best value bets in Group D.

Win Market: Germany 10/11 at Blue Square
They have had so many problems during their build up with injury to players, most noticeably Chelsea midfielder Michael Ballack, that some shadows were being cast over their progress in the competition. With Philipp Lahm instilled as captain, the Germans are showing a great deal of resilience and have being looking unfazed through their international friendlies being played as tournament warm ups. Coach Joachim Low is certain that his team is almost there, and remember when planning your betting strategies that adversity can usually pull teams together. Their confident 3-1 win over Bosnia showed that the Germans, who already have a great World Cup history, should not face too many problems in playing their way to the top of Group D. While they are back in World Cup Odds there is no reason why Germany cannot easily play their way to at least the semi finals of the competition. Consider that Germany have been at the quarter final stage of their last seven World Cups and that is a record which they should continue. One thing about the Germans in early betting, is that while they are famed for their consistency in tournament football, they are also famous for being slow out of the blocks. Their first match is against Australia, the weakest team in the group, and that could work in their favour, as they build up momentum to face the tougher tasks of Ghana and Serbia. They are well worth a strong bet, and this is good value for a seeded team.

Not To Qualify: Australia 4/11 at Coral
The Socceroos are looking at their enthusiasm and hard, physical play to come good. They will be hoping to catch Germany cold in their opening fixture, but in all honesty, it looks as if they have an uphill task before a ball is even kicked in anger. They did beat World Cup side Denmark in a recent international friendly, but it was a Denmark without their main strikers in action. Granted, the Aussies did dig in to grab themselves a relatively late winner, but were playing an unfamiliar 4-5-1 as they await the fitness of Harry Kewell. They are not going to be short on confidence, and will probably give a decent account of themselves. It is hard to see them having the technical ability though, to beat any of their group opposition. They need to fly out of the blocks against Germany, who, as mentioned are slow starters. However, the Germans are experts at tournament football, and the odds will be stacked against the Aussies picking up any points there. Australia switched to the Asian qualification zone to help them improve their status against better teams. They topped that ahead of Japan, but face some seriously tough opposition in Group D.

To Finish Second: Serbia 2/1 at Boylesports
Serbia have drawn all of the attention of punters looking on a real dark horse bet. They looked an extremely strong technical side through the European qualification zone, in which they topped their group ahead of France. They showed a keen eye for goal, and the ability to keep things tight at the back, scoring 22 goals during qualification, and conceding just 8. How you can weigh this bet up, and look to double your money with the above odds, is that Australia look the rank outsiders in the group, and the Ghana side are missing their key man, Michael Essien, and were thumped 4-1 by Holland in an international friendly. Betting on Serbia at the World Cup is something that should bring returns. If they can get the better of Ghana in their opening fixture, then there should be no reason why they can’t press on and even challenge Germany for top spot in the group. The Germany v Serbia fixture is one of the mouth-watering group fixtures to watch out for. Still, at odds of 2/1 for the Serbians to finish second, really is excellent value.

Most Group Goals Scored: Serbia 3/1 at Bwin
It will be a close call between Germany and Serbia for this one. Germany hit an average of 2.60 goals per match in qualification, while Serbia hit 2.20. Naturally they faced different opposition, so it is something of parity really when it comes to their World Cup group. So why plump for Serbia then? Well, we are looking at the best value odds here and Serbia to fire is pretty well priced at 3/1, with only one team likely to beat them in this field. That makes the 3/1 odds as given above, even more attractive when you sum it up that way. Germany, with their problems, may play a little more conservatively, as they know that they will have a long tournament ahead, whereas Serbia’s chances of progressing will from taking their game to opponents and putting sides under pressure. They will probably have that extra spark and take a few more chances. They have a good balanced side with good attack, so there is no reason why they cannot sneak this one.

To Finish Bottom: Australia 11/8 at Blue Square
Landed themselves in a tough group, and start with the toughest of their World Cup Fixtures. What can the Australians bring to the table? They were lauded as having made a great impression at the 2006 World Cup, but they only won one match out of their four played. They finished second in their group behind Brazil there, and then lost in something of a cruel fashion to Italy in the second round. They are seen as having a better, stronger presence at the World Cup this time, but it is even quite difficult to see where their best chance of winning a game is. Germany are looking strong, and defeat there, would leave the Aussies reeling, because picking up points against Serbia and Ghana is not going to be easy.

Australia will again look to makes waves on the stage of the World Cup, with their undoubted spirit making up for any lack of quality the Socceroos may give away to their opposition. The main targets for a major upset in the 2010 FIFA World Cup from the men from down under, would be European World Cup stalwarts Germany. They are all together in Group D for South Africa 2010, along with equally tough opposition in Serbia and Ghana. The best Bookmakers for Betting on the World Cup do not fancy the chances much of Australia making it out of the group stage, and it is easy to see why, as they have been dealt a tough hand. How much their preparation in qualifying from the Asian zone, which they did with consumate ease, will have been helped by facing arguably weaker opposition than the European teams will have done, reamins to be seen.

But one thing the Aussies do have, is confidence, epitomised by Everton’s Tim Cahill, who has been plying his trade in the English Premier League, and has become synonymous with scoring important goals from his midfield position. His goals have been vital for Everton throughout his career, and that has made him equally as popular on Merseyside, as well as back home in his home country. Cahill was a part of Australia’s first appearance in the World Cup, scoring two goals in the campaign. Australia pluck and vigour in taking on the World then, landed them a place in the Quarter Final of Germany 2006, where they suffered a heart-breaking loss against eventual winners Italy, thanks to a Francesco Totti penalty which was converted in injury time. World Cup Odds don’t fancy that happening again, but that is the beauty of the World Cup, you never know.

Australia’s goal of getting to the second round of the 2010 FIFA World Cup, could all hinge on their opening fixture, which is against the group favourites, Germany. While World Cup odds won’t have the Soccerroos down to win the match, a defeat, especially a heavy one, could spell disaster for them in terms of confidence. But, as these are Australians, they will go into the match fully expecting themselves to cause a big upset at the first attempt. Relatively new on the World Cup stage, the Australian side, coach by Pim Verbeek, does concede a lot in terms of experience and class, to the Germans, but the Aussie fans will look to Cahill (aka their secret weapon) primarily to spring a surprise or two in Group D.

Can the Australians catch the Germans while they are cold in the first game of Group D? Veteran goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer, now with Fulham, will be the one vested with the honour of trying to keep a clean sheet in net for the Aussies. The opposition in Serbia and Ghana should not be easily discounted either, as there will be a tough scrap for the top two spots. The rewards for the winner and runner up, will be to meet either the winner or runner up of Group C, which contains England. So if the Austrlians can scrape into second place, then there is the possibility of a World Cup fixture between England and Australia. While the Australians will find the Germans disciplined and strong in their opening fixture of the 2010 FIFA World Cup, the energy which the green and gold will take to the tournament, will no doubt be admirable. The Socceroos will be quietly confident, draw a lot of betting, as well as winning the nation some new international friends.

Manager: Pim Verbeek
Captain: Lucas Neill
FIFA Ranking: 16
World Cup Appearances: 2 – 1974, 2006
Best World Cup: 2006 – Last 16

Australia Team Profile

Australian manager Pim Verbeek will be aiming to eclipse the 2006 World Cup which seen Australia go as far as the last sixteen under former manager Guus Hiddink. Australia had to contend with the likes of Brazil, Croatia and Japan in group F and yet Guus Hiddink guided the ‘Aussies‘ out of a very tough group with their only defeat in the group stage coming against the classy Brazilians.

The 2006 finals was just Australia’s second world cup appearance but football has really started to take off down under and for a country that went over 40 years without a world cup apperance before the 2006 finals, the ‘Aussies‘ have now reserved a place in their second successive World Cup. That’s a massive achievement for a country that has only just come to light in terms of producing some players with real quality.

Australia go into the World Cup as the 20th best team in the world according to the FIFA World Rankings. They certainly have the right form heading into the finals but they have one huge weaknesses and that’s their lack of strength in depth. Their first eleven could push even the top teams close but they only have a team right now, not a squad. They have a great chance of bypassing the group stage but when it comes to competing against the classier countries, after some gruelling group games, we expect the Australians to unfortunately come up second best.

Nicknames: Socceroos

Manager

Pim Verbeek is a Dutch manager who spent most of his playing career in the Dutch league with Sparta Rotterdam, Roda JC and NAC Breda. However, Pim Verbeek made a name for himself when aiding South Korea to the Semi-Finals in the 2002 World Cup when he was assistant manager under Guus Hiddink. Before taken over as manager of Australia in 2007, Pim Verbeek led South Korea to a third place finish in 2006 at the AFC Asian Championship and has now guided Australia to their third world cup appearance.

Pim Verbeek prefers to play with two holding midfielders and concentrates his attacking emphasis down the flanks. He tends to employ just the one front man with the tactic of overloading the opposing defence with crosses from the wings. Pim has been criticised back in Australia for playing ‘Dull football’ but remains adamant that as long as his team reaches the finals, it doesn’t matter what style of football they play.

Australia Key Players

Tim Cahill

The Everton maestro has been the best player to come out of Australia for some time, and with the likes of Mark Viduka and Harry Kewell bracing the Premiership in recent years, that’s some statement to make. Not only can the former Millwall play-maker create a goalscoring opportunity out of nothing but he’s made a reputation from being a nuisance in the oppositions penalty area, especially from set-pieces. Despite not being the tallest of players at 5ft 10in, he has an immense talent for putting himself in the right place at the right time and defenders often struggle to pick the little ‘Aussie’ up. Cahill has become a talisman for Australia and he will be crucial to their chances in south Africa.

Mark Schwarzer

The Fulham goalkeeper has bags of experience on his C.V. and has been a sought after keeper throughout his career. When Middlesborough let Schwarzer leave, some Australian critics thought Mark would find it hard to remain as the ‘Aussie’ number 1 in goal but he’s made that position his own and his performances, not only for his country but for his club as well, has reinstated his stance as the best goalkeeper in Australia at current. Schwarzer is the most capped player in the squad with 68 caps and his experience and quality at the back will be a huge boost for manager Pim Verbeek.

Australia Qualification for the World Cup

Sector: Asia
Group: 1
Position: 1st
Win-Draw-Lose: 6-2-0
Goals Scored: 12
Goals Conceded: 1

World Cup Potential: 3/5

Football, or Soccer as it’s referred to over in Australia, is growing at a rate of knots ‘Down Under’ and it’s easy to see why when you see the national team performing so well, encouraging the younger generation to take up a sport which had been overshadowed by a number of other sports for decades. The country got right behind their team when they made their first ever appearance in a World Cup back in 2006 and they’ll do the exact same the second time around.

In fairness, Australia don’t have a particularly bad set up considering they’re one of the outsiders to win the competition. They have a world-class goalkeeper in Mark Schwarzer, a super shot-stopper and a man who commands his box with authority. Their defence doesn’t have many household names but the ones they do have tonnes of grit and determination, and a heap of experience needed on the big stage; Lucas Neill (53 Caps), Brett Emerton (72 Caps) and Scott Chipperfield (63 Caps) three of the more experienced Australian defenders. With Tim Cahill (19 Goals), Harry Kewell (13 Goals) and Scott McDonald (0 Goals) all strutting their stuff in the final third of the pitch, the Australians might just have enough to etch enough points to sneak through what is a difficult Group.

Australia were drawn in a tough group back in 2006 and they battled their way through adversity. They’ve  been put in a similarly difficult group this time around as well. However, while the group does look tough on paper, it’s mainly because it’s a competitive group and that’s good news for the Australians as it means they have just as much chance of making the knock-put stage for the second World Cup running as the rest in Group D; Germany, Serbia and Ghana, of making the last-sixteen. The Aussies could be South Africa’s Dark Horses.

Australia World Cup Betting Odds

Australia to win the World Cup: 500/1 Bet365

Before the World Cup the odds on Australia were 150/1 

Official Australia World Cup Squad

Goalkeepers

Mark Schwarzer (Fulham)

Brad Jones (Middlesbrough)

Adam Federici (Reading)

Defenders

Craig Moore

Lucas Neill (Galatasaray Istanbul)

Luke Wilkshire (Dynamo Moscow)

Scott Chipperfield (FC Basel)

David Carney (FC Twente Enschede)

Mark Milligan (JEF United)

Michael Beauchamp (Al-Jazira)

Midfielders

Jason Culina (Gold Coast)

Tim Cahill (Everton)

Brett Emerton (Blackburn Rovers)

Mark Bresciano (Palermo)

Vincenzo Grella (Blackburn Rovers)

Brett Holman (Alkmaar)

Carl Valeri (Sassuolo)

Mile Jedinak (Antalyaspor Kulubu)

Richard Garcia (Hull City)

Dario Vidosic (MSV Duisburg)

Strikers

Harry Kewell (Galatasaray)

Josh Kennedy (Nagoya Grampus)

Nikita Rukavytsya (Twente Enschede)

last update: 18 June 2010

World Cup 2010 Australia Fixtures – Group D

World Cup Group D - Table

World Cup Fixtures and Results

World Cup Group of Australia