[WC] Team Australia (1 Viewer)

[Zé Tahir]

Australia team guide
A one-stop guide to all you need to know about Australia ahead of the 2006 World Cup.

Fixtures (Group F):
# v Japan - 12 June, 1400 BST, Kaiserslautern
# v Brazil - 18 June, 1700 BST, Munich
# v Croatia - 22 June, 2000 BST, Stuttgart

How did they get to Germany: With a truly nail-biting penalty shoot-out victory against Uruguay after their two-legged play-off ended 1-1. Sweet revenge indeed for four years ago when they went out at the same stage.

Qualifying star: Mark Schwarzer. The Middlesbrough custodian was nearly taken off before penalties, but came to the party big time with two stunning spot-kick saves.

Manager: Russian-bound Dutch coach Guus Hiddink has waved his World Cup magic wand yet again. Taking over from Frank Farina in July, he cast a spell over the Socceroos and completed what he called "almost mission impossible" when he arrived in the job.

Captain: Mark Viduka. The big Middlesbrough hitman will be grateful his missed penalty did not cost his team dearly, but his experience and finishing ability will be a major factor in Germany.

World Cup pedigree: None really. Qualified in 1974, but endured a goal-less and pretty much pointless three games.

World Cup high: Think we saw it last November.

World Cup low: Play-off defeats to Iran and Uruguay in 1997 and 2001 respectively.

World Cup legend: The title is surely up for grabs in Germany.

Present star man: Harry Kewell. The Liverpool winger showed in the second leg when he came on and tormented the Uruguayans he is one Aussie player capable of truly world-class displays.

Strengths: Plenty of flair going forward and a host of options in the middle of the park.

Weaknesses: A telling lack of pace and genuine quality at the back will be Hiddink's main concern going into a major tournament.

Did you know: Everton midfielder Tim Cahill represented Samoa in an Under-20 tournament in 1994, when he was just 14-years-old.

World ranking: 42

Odds: 80/1

Local view: "The false dawns are over. Unlike in 1974, this time Australia's expensive team of European-based exiles will travel to a World Cup more hopefully." John Huxley, Sydney Morning Herald.

Our verdict: Under the meticulously brilliant Hiddink, they may never have a better chance to gate-crash football's showpiece and spring a few surprises.

Ranking and odds correct at 22 May. Odds supplied by William Hill.

Story from BBC SPORT:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/sport2/hi/football/world_cup_2006/teams/australia/4445406.stm

 

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[Zé Tahir]

Beating Brazil

By Jonathan Stevenson

On Sunday 18 June in Munich, Australia will play the biggest football match in the country's history.

The Socceroos come face-to-face with world champions Brazil in the Allianz Arena in a game that could decide their World Cup Group F fate.

But how does a country playing in just its second finals prepare for a tie with the five-time champions and favourites to retain their crown?

Australia assistant coach Graham Arnold explains.

MENTAL PREPARATION

How do you prepare them mentally? Well you don't have to motivate them because the players all know what is at stake.

I would say this is the biggest game in the history of Australian soccer - but then so is every game at this World Cup.

But you must make sure the guys keep control of their excitement and their emotions, but otherwise let them go out and enjoy the game.

Normally if you can keep your emotions in check and enjoy it you can put more effort in and concentrate more on what you are supposed to be doing.

We are not turning up just to make up the numbers, I guarantee that. We've got players who can compete at this level and we're expecting them to do that.

GET IN BEHIND THE FULL-BACKS

When you talk about Cafu and Roberto Carlos you have to remember their ages - Cafu is 36 now and doesn't play all the time for AC Milan, while Carlos is only three years younger.

They are both still great at going forward, we know that, but we think we have wide players who can hurt them in their half of the field.

We've got Scott Chipperfield and Brett Emerton on the wings and they have the pace and individual quality to make a real difference.

We will definitely be focusing in the build-up to the game on exposing the space behind Cafu and Carlos when they go forward.

CUT OFF THE STRIKERS' SUPPLY

We have to try and keep their better players off the ball but when you look at the top half of the field and Ronaldinho, Ronaldo, Kaka and Adriano, it is difficult.

What we have to do is put pressure on the defence as soon as they get the ball so the service to the front men isn't as good as they would want.

When you look at Brazil play, Ronaldinho does most of his work coming in from the left-hand side.

You've got four defenders, two holding midfielders, two strikers and Ronaldinho and Kaka who play anywhere they like behind the front two, like two number 10s.

If Ronaldinho is drifting out to the left he'll come up against Emerton, and he has certainly got the pace and physical ability to keep up with the Brazilian.

PLAY OUR OWN GAME

You cannot afford to go out and try to defend against Brazil for 90 minutes, you have to play some football because you will come unstuck against their attacking players.

The strengths of our team are physical ability, athleticism and some great attacking players too.

We've got proven goalscorers at international level in Mark Viduka and John Aloisi and plenty of goals from midfield too, in Tim Cahill, Marco Bresciano and Emerton as well.

A lot of people seem to think we might be under-done because we haven't played at this level before.

But look at what some of the guys have achieved - Kewell in a Champions League final, Mark Schwarzer and Viduka have just played in a Uefa Cup final, so it isn't like they haven't experienced big games before.

WORLD CUP PEDIGREE

This is a massive game, no doubt. But the Uruguay play-off games to get to the finals were too and if the players could perform in those I don't see why anyone should be daunted in the World Cup.

Their players know our players and I know that they all have huge respect for Guus Hiddink as a coach so they know we will come well-prepared.

We will be well-organised, tactically sound and right up for the game and that is the same for any Hiddink team.

Not only that but we have Johan Neeskens on the coaching staff as well so there is no shortage of experience - this is a guy who has scored in a World Cup final.

You are talking about one of the top 10 players of his era, a true legend - when we were in Vietnam with the Australia Under-23 side he got invited to lunch with the prime minister.

He adds fantastic experience and knowledge to the set-up and he has done a lot of scouting in Europe since he came on board.

Those two guys, myself and the rest of the coaching staff will make sure we do ourselves justice.

Story from BBC SPORT:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/sport2/hi/football/world_cup_2006/4973552.stm