The Road to South Africa

Australia were moved from qualifying via the Oceania group to being part of the unwieldy Asian Football Confederation. This involved a vast schedule of games, although Australia found the travelling more arduous than the matches. Australia actually found the first qualifying group tougher than the second. They lost to Iraq and at home to China but in the second and supposedly more difficult phase they did not concede a goal in their first seven matches which Verbeek called: “A statement to the rest of Asia and probably the world.”

The Star Players

Mark Schwarzer (Fulham) Probably the most underrated keeper in the Premier League whose all-round game has not declined with age – he will be 37 when the World Cup opens. His parents came to Australia from Germany and perhaps because of his background Schwarzer has a superb record saving penalties.

Brett Emerton (Blackburn) Listed as a full-back but in reality an attacking wing-back , adept at charging down the right flank, Emerton has long been one of the powerhouses behind the Socceroos but like many of Verbeek’s squad is coming to the end of his international career.

Harry Kewell (Galatasaray) Since Mark Viduka’s estrangement from Verbeek’s regime, the pressure is on his former Leeds strike partner to provide the goals that Australia need to progress. At the age of 31, this will be Kewell’s last hurrah in international football but his time in Turkey has been far happier than his years with Liverpool.

The Coach

Pim Verbeek Australia didn’t have the money to prevent Hiddink from following the money to Russia but they did the next best thing in appointing the assistant behind South Korea’s spectacular success in 2002 and Australia’s creditable performance in Germany four years later. Verbeek is likely to end his association with the Socceroos after South Africa and has drawn criticism for the frankly dull football his teams play. He did not endear himself to his hosts by attacking the often woeful quality of the domestic A-League and thought little of Jason Culina’s decision to leave PSV Eindhoven for Gold Coast United.

Honours

World Cup: Round of 16 2006

Analysis

If Australia are to fulfil Verbeek’s prediction that they will do better than in 2006, then there is one factor than may hold them back and that is the age of their key players. Schwarzer, Emerton, Kewell and Neill are all into their thirties while Tim Cahill, in many respects their finest footballer, has been susceptible to injuries while playing for Everton. Drawing Germany as their first game is also something the Socceroos could have done without and unless they get something from that game or the second, awkward fixture against Ghana in Rustenburg, it is hard to see them matching Hiddink’s achievements.

Verdict

Squad (2.5/5)
Four years ago it would have been three out of five but as AC Milan discovered in the Champions League eventually time takes its toll no matter how great your ability.

Coach (3/5)
Abrasive – when it comes to giving his opinion of how poor football in Australia actually is – and overly cautious, Verbeek is not the inspirational character Hiddink was. He is, however, highly competent.

Attack (2/5)
Viduka and Kewell were a formidable combination in Germany but four years on, Viduka is in virtual international retirement and Kewell has a big load on his shoulders.

Defence (3/5)
Australia did not pick up all those clean sheets for nothing. Verbeek has invested plenty of time in a highly-efficient back four which is the main reason why they might fancy their chances against Ghana, who lack a world-class striker.