AUSTRALIA became the first country to arrive in South Africa

[TOPGUNJIMMYAUFC]

AUSTRALIA became the first country to arrive in South Africa for the 2010 World Cup when they landed at Johannesburg international airport on Wednesday evening.

Select TV crews and photographers were given brief access to the Socceroos but there were no interviews before the Group D outsiders boarded a luxury coach for the trip to a hotel in the elite northern Sandton suburb.

Dutch coach Pim Verbeek said before leaving Australia that his 28-strong squad - which must be trimmed to 23 by June 1 - will begin training Thursday at a college in another upmarket area of the South African economic capital.

Australia have lined up friendlies against Denmark on June 1 and the United States on June 5 in Roodepoort on the western outskirts of Johannesburg before tackling Germany, Ghana and Serbia in one of the most demanding groups.

The Socceroos face the Germans first on June 13 at the futuristic 70,000-seat Moses Mabhida Stadium in the Indian Ocean port of Durban, Ghana six days later in Rustenburg and Serbia on June 23 in Nelspruit.

Schwarzer - we'll prove critics wrong
World rankings released Wednesday placed Germany sixth, Serbia 15, Australia 20 and 2010 African Nations Cup runners-up Ghana 32, but the Asian qualifiers are considered the country least likely to dodge the opening-round cull.

Germany, three-time champions in seven final appearances, are overwhelming favourites to top the final table despite the loss of injured midfield conductor-cum-captain Michael Ballack from English champions Chelsea.

And many pundits have earmarked the June 13 Pretoria showdown between Ghana and Serbia as the crucial fixture in determining which other team advances from the mini-league phase.

Mark Schwarzer, the towering goalkeeper from English Premiership club and Europa League runners-up Fulham, acknowledged the underdog role before the Australians left Melbourne for Johannesburg.

Australia qualified for a third appearance after 1974 and 2006 by topping a group including Qatar, China and Iraq, and another involving Uzbekistan, Qatar again, Bahrain and Japan.

The month-long World Cup kicks off on June 11 with a Group A clash between South Africa and Mexico expected to lure a capacity 90,000 crowd to Soccer City stadium on the outskirts of Johannesburg.



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AN WILL BE THE 1ST TEAM TO LEAVE SOME SAY!

[DXV Il Duce]

First country to get there and will be the first country to leave

[TOPGUNJIMMYAUFC]

First country to get there and will be the first country to leave

echo

[TOPGUNJIMMYAUFC]

Wed, 02 Jun 10 Australia vs Denmark Match
Sun, 06 Jun 10 United States vs Australia
Mon, 14 Jun 10 Germany vs Australia
Sun, 20 Jun 10 Ghana vs Australia
Thu, 24 Jun 10 Australia vs Serbia

[Loppermann]

First country to get there and will be the first country to leave

after you

[Mad_Max]

Wed, 02 Jun 10 Australia vs Denmark Match
Sun, 06 Jun 10 United States vs Australia
Mon, 14 Jun 10 Germany vs Australia
Sun, 20 Jun 10 Ghana vs Australia
Thu, 24 Jun 10 Australia vs Serbia

Plonker.

They're the faaarken TV screening dates in Oz not the match dates.

But then you already knew that

[Mad_Max]

First country to get there and will be the first country to leave

Dipshit traitor.

Losing teams from Group A and B and C will be leaving before Australia - flights permitting

[DXV Il Duce]

First country to get there and will be the first country to leave

Dipshit traitor.

Losing teams from Group A and B and C will be leaving before Australia - flights permitting

How would that be?? oh yeah thats right because I should go for the country I was born in....So I do and cause that country isnt Australia I am a traitor, cant have it both ways.

[Russia2O18]

no interviews for the group D outsiders

I guess they didnt even bother to try

[Red-4-Life]

Pim better get them into good condition and use these 2 weeks wisely

[DUKE BLUE]

First country to get there and will be the first country to leave

high altitude venues in SA, arriving early is actually not a bad decision if you want to climatise.

[OwnGoal]

First country to get there and will be the first country to leave

I hope your wrong.

[Kayui Kintama]

He is. South Africa arrived there much earlier.

[ozzie owl]

Hope we aren't first to leave.

[Russia2O18]

First country to get there and will be the first country to leave

high altitude venues in SA, arriving early is actually not a bad decision if you want to climatise.

Serbia have already been training at altitude in Austria for 2 weeks, so I think they might have got the jump on us there