World Cup Preview - Group F - Australia

Australia:

Nickname: “The Socceroos”

Coach: Dutch supremo Guus Hiddink.

Game Schedule:
June 13 – Australia vs. Japan (9 a.m. EST)
June 18 – Australia vs. Brazil (12 p.m.)
June 22 – Australia vs. Croatia (3 p.m.)

Prospects: Australia qualified for only their second appearance at the WC Finals by squeaking by Uruguay on penalties in the second leg of the playoffs. They can hardly do worse than they did in their first appearance in 1974 when, in their group matches against Chile and both West and East Germany, the Aussies didn’t manage to score a single goal. The spine of the side is provided by players with Premiership experience, including Middlebrough goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer, Blackburn defender Lucas Neill, Everton midfielder Tim Cahill, and Liverpool winger Harry Kewell. They should have the muscle to put Japan to the sword, but won’t have the depth to get by Croatia.

Key Player: Birmingham City’s Stan Lazaridis provides the width for the side and the service for Viduka and John Aloisi.

Youngster to watch: Parma midfielder Marco Bresciano.

Who Will Get the Goals: Any goals will have to come from ex-Leeds boy Mark Viduka.

Who Will Get the Cards: Crystal Palace assassin Tony Popovic.

Prediction: It’ll be a close thing, but in a surprisingly close group, the Socceroos will go home after only one win. But they will get that first tournament goal.