FIFA World Cup 2010: The Socceroos Journey

[dajesmac]

FIFA World Cup 2010: South Africa​

​

The 2006 World Cup in Germany appeared to mark the end of the continued Australian mediocrity in the world's favourite game, or at least many fans hoped so. The Socceroos scraped through into qualification thanks to a successful penalty shootout against Uruguay back in 2004 for the first time since 1974. The team's participation in Germany alone was enough to spark the entire Australian nation into a frenzy and suddenly "soccer" was no longer considered an unimportant sport by most.

As a country, Australia stopped and watched in awe as the lowly yet brave Socceroos battled on to overcome Japan in their first match, put up a strong showing against defending champions Brazil and even draw level with Croatia to qualify for the Round of 16 for the first time in their history, where they would fall narrowly and somewhat controversially to eventual champions Italy.

Since then, we have seen a new Australian football side. After converting to the Asian Football Confederation and leaving the Oceanic qualification zone, the Socceroos have proved themselves to be a force to be reckoned with. Despite crashing out of the 2007 Asian Cup, Australia has worked itself into becoming an Asian powerhouse, finishing atop all of it's World Cup qualification groups, and climbing to a highest ever 14th place on the FIFA World Rankings early in 2010. Along the way they recorded wins over European and African giants Holland and Ghana, whilst proving competitive in a match against Argentina, going down 1-0.

As we move into 2010 World Cup, Australia, led by coach Pim Verbeek, skipper Lucas Neill and stars Tim Cahill, Harry Kewell and Mark Schwarzer, we grow anxious to see if Australia can force themselves into being true competitive footballing outfits. They find themselves in one of the toughest groups in the tournament, consisting of Germany, Ghana and Serbia. Can the Socceroos improve on their 2006 effort? We will find out soon.​

23-man Squad for South Africa 2010:​

M Schwarzer
B Emerton
L Neill (C)
C Moore
S Schipperfield
V Grella
J Culina
M Bresciano
H Kewell
T Cahill
J Kennedy
M Petkovic
L Wilkshire
B Holman
D Carney
S McDonald
C Valeri
M Sterjovski
M Beauchamp
M Milligan
M Jedinak
A Covic
P Kisnorbo​

Group D Analysis from FIFA.com:

'Group of death' may be a well-worn tournament standard but it is an epithet that could apply to this section. Germany, who share the record for most FIFA World Cup? finals with Brazil, will cast a shadow over their rivals' preparations given their tradition of high achievement at this level. Yet the semi-finalists from 2006 were hardly alone in taking the fast lane to South Africa, with Australia, Ghana and Serbia all reigning supreme in their qualifying pools. The first two of those sides also gave eye-catching performances four years ago and are unlikely to stand on ceremony here, while Serbia's talent production has never been in doubt.

The favourites
Germany: Joachim Low's team are not top seeds for nothing. They showed their form in a clinical and unyielding Group 4 qualifying campaign in which the seven-goal Miroslav Klose, Michael Ballack and company accounted for Guus Hiddink?s Russia. Given also their seemingly effortless march to the last UEFA European Championship final, in 2008, you can expect another show of class from the seven-time FIFA World Cup finalists and three-time winners.

Ghana: As the first African team to reach the 2010 finals and their continent's only representative in the knockout rounds of the last FIFA World Cup ? when they made an impressive tournament debut ? Ghana arguably merit the tag of second favourites in this pool. Coach Milovan Rajevac's Black Stars easily navigated the final round of African qualification, losing a goal and a game only after the job was done. The midfield trio of Michael Essien, Sulley Muntari and Stephen Appiah could make them a match for anyone.

The outsiders
Serbia: Radomir Antic's men were last out of the hat in the Group D draw but should not be taken lightly. The White Eagles beat France to pole position in their qualifying section, earning Serbia's maiden FIFA World Cup appearance as an independent entity with a 5-0 thrashing of Romania. Any side boasting the talents of Nemanja Vidic, Dejan Stankovic and Milan Jovanovic deserves respect; add the historical pedigree of a nation with ten previous FIFA World Cup appearances (as Yugoslavia, and Serbia and Montenegro) and you have definite dark-horse material.

Australia: It took the Socceroos 32 years to regain the world stage they had first trod in 1974. But, four summers on from their impressive showing under Hiddink in Germany, the Australians make a quick return to the elite tournament. Now under the tutelage of another canny Dutchman, Pim Verbeek, this pragmatic and strong-willed outfit made smooth progress through their debut Asian qualification competition after the decision to leave the Oceania group. They finished well clear of Japan in the final stage.

The players to watch
Miroslav Klose (GER), Tim Cahill (AUS), Matthew Amoah (GHA), Michael Essien (GHA), Milan Jovanovic (SRB), Marko Pantelic (SRB)

The crunch match
Ghana-Australia: With Australia starting their campaign against Germany, this match will be central to the hopes of a Socceroos side who, like Ghana, will realistically be targeting second place. It is a game the Black Stars won?t want to lose either, given they finish off against Germany.

A look back
Australia-West Germany, 18 June 1974: Hamburg's Volksparkstadion was the stage when the countries met at the 1974 tournament. It was their second outing of the group stage and, perhaps unsurprisingly, the hosts prevailed by 3-0 against the upstarts from Oceania. Wolfgang Overath, Bernd Cullmann and Gerd Mueller scored for the eventual champions. For Australia, there would be the consolation of a point against Chile in their closing encounter.

The stat
4 ? Germany have contested four penalty shoot-outs at the FIFA World Cup, winning them all.

Did you know?
Australia goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer may have been born in Sydney but his parents are German and he played for Dynamo Dresden and Kaiserslautern after leaving his home country to try his luck in Europe.

The question
No European nation has lifted the FIFA World Cup trophy on another continent. Can Germany or Serbia achieve a historic first?

 

[dajesmac]

Socceroos Aiming To Beat Germany: Verbeek

Australian coach Pim Verbeek announced today that his side will enter their first match against Germany in Durban full of confidence and fully intend to win.

"Most sides would probably be satisfied with a draw or a narrow loss when it comes to Germany or any other of those elite teams in this tournament, but not us." he said. "We are going to play hard and we're going to try and win. We have been waiting for this tournament for four years, excited to prove ourselves against the games best. Tonight, if we get over Germany, we will have done that."

Socceroos star Harry Kewell will miss the match due to injury, but Verbeek said it would not matter.

"Kewell is a wonderful player but we have won without him in the past and I believe we can win without him again. I have faith in our players." Verbeek confirmed that the Galatasaray star would return for the side's second match against Ghana.

From the Germany perspective, defender Per Mertesacker says Germany will look to stop Australia's midfield maestro Tim Cahill when the two sides meet in the opening match in Group D in Durban on Sunday.

Mertesacker, who has 62 international caps to his name, said: "Tim Cahill has enormous experience and has grown tremendously in England, he is one of Australia's most dangerous players and will be their midfield maestro. But if we can mark him tightly, it will make it hard for him to play a role."

Mertesacker was paired with new Schalke-signing Christoph Metzelder at the last FIFA World Cup? in Germany, and the duo proved to be, statistically, the best centre-back pairing of the tournament. This time he will line up alongside Hertha Berlin captain Arne Friedrich, but the Werder Bremen star revealed the Germany defence plans on being just as efficient in containing Cahill.

"We will try and nip his attacks in the bud, and maybe even double mark him," he said. "But he is still dangerous and can create chances in front of goal, so it will be hard to contain him."

The sides will lineup tonight as follows:

Germany:

R. Adler
A. Friedrich
P. Mertesacker
H. Westermann
P. Lahm
M. Ballack
S. Rolfes
B. Schweinsteiger
L. Podolski
M. Ozil
M. Klose

Australia:

M. Schwarzer
B. Emerton
L. Neill
C. Moore
S. Chipperfield
V. Grella
L. Wilkshire
M. Bresciano
B. Holman
T. Cahill
S. McDonald

 

[JBlues08]

Interesting. Waiting to see what will happen. :laugh

 

[dajesmac]

Germany Vs Australia​

Group D​

Welcome to Durban tonight for the second match of Group D with of course Serbia edging Ghana 1-0 earlier today. This is a match the Germans will be eager to win as they will be aiming for nothing less than top spot in this group stage, whilst Australia on the other hand should be satisfied with a draw as they have two winnable matches against Ghana and Serbia coming up. However, their coach Verbeek has said in the press earlier today that they will be aiming for a win. Kewell is being rested for the Socceroos tonight which will dent their chances but they play with a lot of heart this team, and so you can never rule them out.

The players have just sung the national anthems and are just about ready to get started. Here are the first half highlights:

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3': An attempted cross by Brett Holman of Australia running up the left wing dangerously almost goes in, but the German keeper Adlar saves it.

5': Cahill gains possessions and runs into the box, he opens up before being tripped up by Friedrich. No penalty and it's a goal kick to Germany. The Australian supporters are suddenly jeering: "Fried dick! Fried dick!" in recognition in the defenders surname.

8': A cross by Bresciano is blocked. Australia wins a corner that is then cleared away by the German defence. Australia really pressing here, they have 71% possession.

11': A dangerous cross by Holman is cleared away by Westermann. Germany struggling here.

13': An excellent through ball by Rolfes has split the Australian defence in half as Podolski runs from the wing and delivers a dangerous cross. Klose gets the better of Emerton, dives forward and heads it wide of Schwarzer for a goal against the play! Germany 1:0 Australia.

16': Australia retain possession for a little while by passing it around at the back. Holman quickly finds space, runs into attacking territory, crosses, and Cahill heads home an equaliser! What a quick reply there from the socceroos. Germany 1:1 Australia.

21': Schweinstager delivers a fantastic cross but Australian skipper Lucas Neill takes care of it with a header.

24': The Australian rebound from a German attack is a rapid one, with cutting zig zagging passes and dazzling running. Scott McDonald soon finds himself one on one with the keeper Adler but the shot is saved, and he fails to accurately direct the rebound. German goal kick.

32': Socceroo Luke Wilkshire finds space during an Australian attack, passes to Tim Cahill who stps, spins around and unleashes on the goal! The ball beats Adler but fails to beat the post. German goal kick.

37': A foul on Podolski of Germany by Marco Bresciano.

40': Ballack has a remarkable opportunity to put Germany ahead, failing to head home a cross from Podolski. Australian goal kick.

42': Brett Holman is once again striding up the wing with the ball at his feet, he finds Cahill in space who flicks it onto McDonald who shoors but just beats the post! Goal kick to Germany.

45': Tim Cahill takes possession, runs around the defender in Friedrich and is suddenly one on one with Adler but is smothered before he can get a kick away. Two minutes of added time called.

45' + 1: Schweinstager is fouled for his challenge on Chipperfield.

45' + 2: Mertesacker fouls Tim Cahill and is thus booked, a yellow card! Australia receive a free kick in dangerous territory.

45' + 2: In a last ditch attempt, Bresciano shoots from his free kick but is denied by a diving save by Adler.

HALF TIME: The referee has blown his whistle for half time and the players walk off. It's fair to say the Australians got the better of the Germans in that half, but how long can they keep this up? They currently lead the possession count 56% to 44%, and have had seven shots (four on target) to the Germans' two (one on target). We'll be back shortly to bring you the second half.

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Here are the second half highlights:

49': A Bresciano cross is cleared by a Mertesacker header.

52': Ballack has a shot blocked.

52': Ballack is adjudged to be offside.

52': First substitution of the match comes from Germany in the form of Klose, Germany's goalscorer, off for Gomez.

54': Holman creates space outside the box and flashes at goal, but misses by some distance, Germany goal kick.

59': Bresciano is on the end of yet another Holman cross, he gathers, turns, and flashes wide. Another goal kick for Germany.

66': Cahill breaks through the congestion with the ball and shoots on goal, but is denied by Adler. Adler has had a lot to deal with tonight, he should have better support from his defense.

66': Australia make a substitution: Josh Kennedy comes on for Vince Grella.

68': Ozil of Germany makes a half hearted effort at goal from distance and Schwarzer collects it easily.

78': Australian keeper Schwarzer collects the ball, runs outside the box in space, passes to Wilkshire who in turns gives it to Bresciano. Bresciano runs down a vacant wing, centres the ball to Cahill who runs on and shoots, is denied by Adler, but Cahill heads the rebound into the net for his second goal! Germany 1:2 Australia! Australia have hit the front against Germany!

78': Amidst the celebrations, Australia makes a double change with Brett Emerton and Luke Wilkshire coming off, replaced by Milligan and Valeri.

82': Ballack exposes the Australian defense with a cutting lobbed pass, Gomez runs onto it and there are no defenders in sight! He's one on one with Schwarzer and he SCORES! It's all even here in Durban and the surprises keep coming! Germany 2:2 Australia!

85': Australia is pressing forward here, their defense is exposed now as Germany rebound, Gomez works around Craig Moore and shoots for the lead! He beats Schwarzer but it grazes the post! Australian goal kick.

88': Scott McDonald receives a pass, works his way into the box and flashes a shot on his left foot but Adler gobbles up an easy save.

90': Two minutes of extra time called as Podolski opens up for Germany and shoots! A reasonably comfortable save by Schwarzer in the end.

FULL TIME: The referee blows the whistle and that is the end of the first match of this world cup for both sides. Australia can take a lot out of this performance and should be grateful for the point, whilst Germany are in a slightly difficult situation as they most likely now have to win both of their remaining games to top group D. It's fair to say Australia deserved this scoreline, as they hada 54-46 split of the possession percentage, with more shots (13-7) aswell.

Tim Cahill has been awarded Budweiser Man Of The Match for his two goal effort, he's what he had to say:

We know Germany are a great side, we know we came out in the media saying we were expecting ourselves to win the game but we never lost sight of how good they were. It was a really tough game tonight and I'm proud of our effort to manage to get a point. We could have won, we had our opportunities but so did they so I think a draw was just. We'll just be looking forward to Ghana now and hoping to grab three points then, and we should be confident given Harry's coming back.

Thanks for watching tonight, we hope you enjoyed the coverage and we'll see you for the next match.

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Germany 2:2 Australia

Germany:

Klose (13')
Gomez (82')

Australia:

Cahill (17', 78')​

 

[Kiko_97]

What game is this on?

 

[treva]

I imagine FIFA World Cup 2010

 

[dajesmac]

I imagine FIFA World Cup 2010

Indeed it is. It's actually on World Class difficulty so I'm not just winning every game haha, 9/10 I'd lose this game.

 

[hedger_14]

What console are you playing this on?

Anyway, a good result against Germany. Cahill has really got to get a new celebration.

 

[Covvy]

If only this happened in real life .

 

[dajesmac]

What console are you playing this on?

Anyway, a good result against Germany. Cahill has really got to get a new celebration.

360. Haha, I love it though!

If only this happened in real life .

I know! I maintain we deserved to beat Ghana though, and thus should've gotten through with 6 points and a game against the USA next round.

I'll have the rest of the results up tomorrow and the next game etc.

 

[dajesmac]

Group Stage Results
First Round

North Koreans can't believe their luck in their win over Brazil


South Africa 1:1 Mexico
Uruguay 2:1 France

Korea Republic 1:3 Greece
Argentina 2:0 Nigeria

England 3:1 United States
Algeria 1:3 Slovenia

Serbia 1:0 Ghana
Germany 2:2 Australia

Holland 3:1 Denmark
Japan 2:0 Cameroon

Italy 2:1 Paraguay
New Zealand 2:1 Slovakia

Ivory Coast 2:2 Portugal
Brazil 0:2 North Korea

Honduras 1:1 Chile
Spain 2:0 Switzerland​

 

[hedger_14]

OMG. North Korea beat Brazil and New Zealand beat Slovakia.

 

[dajesmac]

Appiah wary of Australia

Stephen Appiah insists Ghana will not be under estimating Australia following their draw with Germany last week. The Black Stars face the Socceroos in Rustenburg on Saturday, knowing they must win to keep their hopes of securing a place in the next round of the FIFA World Cup? alive.

Pim Verbeek's drew 2-2 with the Germans on Sunday, and Appiah knows they are as good a team as the result suggests. "Australia is a very good team and we won't be deceived by their heavy defeat to Germany," he told the Ghana Football Association website.

"At this level of football, it is very dangerous to get complacent and we are aware of that. It will be a different game against us because they know they need to win, and so do we. We know they will be dangerous but we are focused and determined."

He added: "We know what beating the Australians means and our mission is to beat them."

Meanwhile, experienced defensive midfielder Vinnie Grella has a knee injury and will miss Australia's crucial FIFA World Cup? match with Ghana in Rustenburg on Saturday, team officials said on Thursday. The Blackburn Rovers' midfielder sprained the medial ligament in his knee at training.

At this stage Grella, who has 49 international appearances, will only miss the Ghana game and has not yet been ruled out of the final FIFA World Cup Group D clash with Serbia in Nelspruit on June 23.

Grella was hauled off at in the second half against Germany in Durban last Saturday. Socceroo star Harry Kewell also makes a return for tonight's clash.

Here are the lineups for tonight's game:

GHANA:

R KINGSON
J PAINTSILL
I VORSAH
E ADDO
H AFTUL
A ANNAN
S APPIAH
M ESSIEN
S MUNTARI
K ASAMOAH
M AMOAH

AUSTRALIA:

M SCHWARZER
B EMERTON
L NEILL
C MOORE
S CHIPPERFIELD
M BRESCIANO
L WILKSHIRE
B HOLMAN
H KEWELL
T CAHILL
S MCDONALD

 

[dajesmac]

Ghana Vs Australia​

Group D​

Welcome today for this match between Ghana and Australia in Rustenburg, this could well turn out to be the crunch match of group D. If either side loses this, they may well find themselves out of this World Cup. Australia have recalled Harry Kewell for this game and we should be in for a ripper. Australia are coming off a draw against Germany in the first match and tonight will look to prove that wasn't an over-achievement. Ghana on the other hand are coming off a 1-0 loss to Serbia.

The plays are just about on the field now and we're about to get started. Here we go:

First half highlights:

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7': Scott McDonald of Australia receives an aggressive pass from Harry Kewell but has his shot blocked by a defender. Corner kick to Australia.

10': Bresciano has an ambitious shot from outside box but Kingson makes a spectacular diving save.

12': Cahill of Australia is adjudged to be offside.

16': McDonald runs into the box and finds himself one on one with Kingson and is about to convert what should be an easy goal, but he is brutally fouled. No penalty is given, and so McDonald gets back up and shoots, but Kingson makes an easy save. Cleared. That is absolute madness.

21': Emerton receives an extremely soft yellow card.

25': Kewell makes a massive run up the left wing, he gets around the Ghanaian defender, passes to Bresciano in the box who shoots, but his denied by Kingson.

32': Essien makes a half hearted shot from outside the box, beats the cross bar, goal kick.

32': On the rebound, Cahill takes on the defenders, is one on one with the keeper, he shoots, Kingson makes a diving save, Cahill sends the rebound into the crowd. Wow, Ghana are being let off here.

34': McDonald on the wing takes two defenders on, he backheels to Holman who shoots from the edge of the ox, Kingson denies it with yet another diving save, corner kick.

35': Kewell gathers outside the box and strikes forcefully, but Kingson makes another diving save, corner kick to Australia. This performance by Kingson is bordering on ridiculous.

43': Kewell has a golden chance running into the box, he strikes and Kingson makes yet another glorious save.

45': Two minutes of added time called.

45' + 2: McDonald strikes on his elft from inside the box, but is denied by Kingson again.

HALF TIME: Australia absolutely dominating this match with 59% possession and countless more shots than their opposition. Surely Ghana's luck cannot stretch too much longer, Australia deserve to be 2 or 3 nil up.

Here we are with the second half highlights:

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48': Cahill makes a dramatic shot from outside the box but beats the crossbar, goal kick to Ghana.

53': Paintsill of Ghana makes a foul on Kewell and is cautioned, yellow card.

54': McDonald makes a shot from inside the box but is denied again by the keeper. He really should have scored that.

57': Asamoah fouls Kewell, yellow card.

58':Paintsill fouls Kewell again, gets his second yellow card and is SENT OFF! Ghana down to ten men now, surely they cannot stay in touch now. They're on the ropes early in this second half.

58': Ghana makes a change, Sarpein comes on for Asamoah.

61': Australia now makes a change, Culina comes on for Holman.

74': Bresciano has a shot on the box blocked, McDonald pounces on the rebound and shoots! But it is saved.

87': Muntari is cautioned. Yellow card.

89': McDonald is one on one with Kingson, this has to be a certain goal, he loads up and it is saved once again by the keeper! This is ridiculous!

90': Kewell strikes awesomely from outside the box but Kingson makes a diving save as the fourth official calls two extra minutes of time.

FULL TIME: Wow, that has to be one of the most one-sided 0-0 draw I've ever witnessed, Australia claimed 67% possession but couldn't break the dead lock. I've seen games ending 10-0 with less dominance than Australia possessed today. How frustrating it must be for Pim Verbeek.

The Budweiser Man of the Match Award is predictably the Ghanaian goal keeper Kingson for his countless miraculous saves today. Here's what he had to say:

We were disappointing today and Australia dominated us completely. I'm just happy to have done my job for the team and we should count ourselves lucky for a draw, but it means we have to beat Germany to progress now and that is not an ideal situation.

Thanks for joining us in Rustenburg, we'll see you next time.

__________________________________________________________________________________________

Ghana 0:0 Australia

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[hedger_14]

Don't do a New Zealand and go out undefeated.