FootballNews

Australia will play Germany, Ghana and Serbia after being drawn in Group D for the 2010 FIFA World Cup.

The Socceroos last took on Germany at the 2005 FIFA Confederations Cup, going down narrowly to the hosts 4-3 in Frankfurt.

Ranked number six in the world, Germany have real World Cup pedigree having won it three times, and their last appearance in a World Cup final came back in 2002, in Japan/Korea Republic.

"I think the draw is fantastic," Socceroos coach Pim Verbeek told Les Murray in Cape Town. "I know Germany very well. Ghana is very strong and Serbia beat France in the qualifiers.

"So it's not going to be easy."

Ghana are currently sitting in 37th spot in the most recent FIFA rankings, while Serbia are a place higher than the Socceroos in 20th.

The Socceroos have a winning record against Ghana, having won four of their six meetings, but have never faced Serbia.

"It could have been better buit it could have been worse," Verbeek added. "Now it's time to prepare for these game and we look forward to it."

Australia will kick-off its World Cup campaign against Germany on June 13, 2010 in Durban.

"Germany first up is good. We can start preparing for them immediately and then we have time to prepare for Ghana. So I think it's good for us but it will be tough," Verbeek explained.

The Socceroos' other group matches will be against Ghana in Rustenburg on June 19 and Serbia on June 23 in Nelspruit.

Australia will have a farewell international in Melbourne in May before heading to South Africa where they will plan to play some internationals against other World Cup qualifiers.

GROUP A

South Africa

Mexico

Uruguay

France

GROUP B

Argentina

Korea Republic

Nigeria

Greece

GROUP C

England

USA

Algeria

Slovenia

GROUP D

Germany

Australia

Ghana

Serbia

GROUP E

Netherlands

Japan

Cameroon

Denmark

GROUP F

Italy

New Zealand

Paraguay

Slovakia

GROUP G

Brazil

Korea DPR

Cote d'Ivoire

Portugal

GROUP H

Spain

Honduras

Chile

Switzerland

serbia looks the hardest team here in our group....

Its a tough group but its a good group for Australia.

Most importantly - no South American teams. We are not competitive against the likes of Brasil or Argentina.

Germany will be tough - snatch a draw
Serbia will be tough but we will be competitive - grab a draw
Ghana - grab the three points.

Then we will go through in second place behind the winner of the Germany/Serbia game. This is played in the 3rd round so we will know what we have to do in our last game against Serbia. The order of the games is favourable to Australia.

its a tough group indeed. however i believe we a capable of beating all three teams.

2nd round draw is excellent - if we get through we face the winner or 2nd place in England's group.

admin wrote:Its a tough group but its a good group for Australia.

Most importantly - no South American teams. We are not competitive against the likes of Brasil or Argentina.

Germany will be tough - snatch a draw
Serbia will be tough but we will be competitive - grab a draw
Ghana - grab the three points.

Then we will go through in second place behind the winner of the Germany/Serbia game. This is played in the 3rd round so we will know what we have to do in our last game against Serbia. The order of the games is favourable to Australia.

I disagree, I think Australia would have some chance against the likes of Uruguay, Paraguay or Chile
Serbia is probably the worst team they could've drawn from that pot based on form and Ghana are widely regarded as the best team in Africa..and will probably show it in Africa

virtually impossible for this squad of Socceroos to go anywhere with this group...but it will be a great experience to play against some quality teams and will show us just how far we need to go

I agree, Serbia is fantastic side, with the best coach in the World (Antic coached Real, Barcelona and Atletico), Germans are allways Germans, and Gana, again Serbian coach, Rajevac)

TOPGUN-JIMMY-AUFC wrote:serbia looks the hardest team here in our group....

Again you prove you know fuck all

Germany call us easy beats.....screw them, lets show it to them on the scoreboard! I believe that we CAN beat them, theres no reason why we cant.

Microwave Hamster wrote:

TOPGUN-JIMMY-AUFC wrote:serbia looks the hardest team here in our group....

Again you prove you know fuck all

you'll eat yah words.....

Serbia wont be easy by any means...but i think Australia can also beat them.

TOPGUN-JIMMY-AUFC wrote:

Microwave Hamster wrote:

TOPGUN-JIMMY-AUFC wrote:serbia looks the hardest team here in our group....

Again you prove you know fuck all

you'll eat yah words.....

If Australia gets a better result against Germany than they do against Serbia come back and talk to me.

Microwave Hamster wrote: If Australia gets a better result against Germany than they do against Serbia come back and talk to me.

Assuming you'll still be around then !

we all watching the Australia v Germany game in HAHNDORF.

thats my town game one lol

soccernuts wrote:Australia v Germany game in HAHNDORF.
thats my town game one lol

Except that tie doesn't exist.

swannsong wrote:

Microwave Hamster wrote: If Australia gets a better result against Germany than they do against Serbia come back and talk to me.

Assuming you'll still be around then !

Who's to say when the wheel will stop turning

OnionBag wrote:

admin wrote:Its a tough group but its a good group for Australia.

Most importantly - no South American teams. We are not competitive against the likes of Brasil or Argentina.

Germany will be tough - snatch a draw
Serbia will be tough but we will be competitive - grab a draw
Ghana - grab the three points.

Then we will go through in second place behind the winner of the Germany/Serbia game. This is played in the 3rd round so we will know what we have to do in our last game against Serbia. The order of the games is favourable to Australia.

I disagree, I think Australia would have some chance against the likes of Uruguay, Paraguay or Chile
Serbia is probably the worst team they could've drawn from that pot based on form and Ghana are widely regarded as the best team in Africa..and will probably show it in Africa

virtually impossible for this squad of Socceroos to go anywhere with this group...but it will be a great experience to play against some quality teams and will show us just how far we need to go

there had to be one guy who goes fishing on here. we are regarded as the best in asia so being the best in africa means stuff all. it doesnt matter what reputation outside of the WC, or what form you have running into the tournament. every game in this cup is like a cup final, relegation battle, derby fight, players need heart to win and need to be able to convert theyre chances or your out.

you're right, but the Socceroos have been playing quite shit of late and all 3 teams are a step up in quality to what they have been playing against

after a proper nights sleep I can see it is possible for the Socceroos to get some points in this group...but I'm hard pressed to imagine it will be enough to get out of it

OnionBag wrote:you're right, but the Socceroos have been playing quite cabernet of late and all 3 teams are a step up in quality to what they have been playing against

after a proper nights sleep I can see it is possible for the Socceroos to get some points in this group...but I'm hard pressed to imagine it will be enough to get out of it

fair call, now i see where ya goin with this. and ya are right, the aussies have been playing a somewhat crap quality of football, very frustrating. but the aussies are good at stepping up to any challenge.

we all like to be hopeful that australia will make it out of the group but realistically its going to be very hard and probably unlikely especially if we play to the same standard as we do in asia.

what gets me is all this talk of "we're better prepared" "the best prepared ever" "battle hardened" etc

it means nothing if you're playing shit football

they said this about the Olyroos remember...and again about the U21 World Cup team...and look what happened there

admin wrote:2nd round draw is excellent - if we get through we face the winner or 2nd place in England's group.

yeah, but if we come 2nd in our group, (which we probably will) we face probably england. not saying that we cant take them, itll just be a hard game...

redlad wrote:

admin wrote:2nd round draw is excellent - if we get through we face the winner or 2nd place in England's group.

yeah, but if we come 2nd in our group, (which we probably will) we face probably england. not saying that we cant take them, itll just be a hard game...

itll be no different to facing italy from 06, only itll be rooney diving.

the_gun wrote:we all like to be hopeful that australia will make it out of the group but realistically its going to be very hard and probably unlikely especially if we play to the same standard as we do in asia.

they do seem to play better against euro teams

redlad wrote:

admin wrote:2nd round draw is excellent - if we get through we face the winner or 2nd place in England's group.

yeah, but if we come 2nd in our group, (which we probably will) we face probably england. not saying that we cant take them, itll just be a hard game...

cant believe you're worried about that!

if the Socceroos manage to negotiate this group into the 2nd round, it will be the greatest achievement in Australian soccer
we should all be jumping for joy

OnionBag wrote:

redlad wrote:

admin wrote:2nd round draw is excellent - if we get through we face the winner or 2nd place in England's group.

yeah, but if we come 2nd in our group, (which we probably will) we face probably england. not saying that we cant take them, itll just be a hard game...

cant believe you're worried about that!

if the Socceroos manage to negotiate this group into the 2nd round, it will be the greatest achievement in Australian soccer
we should all be jumping for joy

I meant if we get out of the group well probably be 2nd, not 1st. i wasn't saying that we'll probably come 2nd. but your right, it will be a great achievement. even so, i hope we do get a game against the poms. it'll be nice to show them what we can do.

redlad wrote:i hope we do get a game against the poms. it'll be nice to show them what we can do.

Would be a good match to watch, hopefully it'll happen.

Germans will qualify for the next round (they always do) - who will join them is anyone's guess.

Alot can happen between now and June 2010, injuries, loss of form etc. I think Ghana might surprise and be the other side to qualify for the next round.

Germans to top group.... Lottery for second spot.