Socceroos draw favourable World Cup Group

[Around the Country]

The Socceroos have been drawn in a tough but favourable World Cup Group for the 2010 World Cup Finals in South Africa.

Australia have been drawn with Germany, Serbia and Ghana. Most importantly Australia's group does not contain a South American side who typically prove to be our most difficult opponents in international football.

The order of the group fixtures also favoured Australia.
The first round game is against European heavyweights Germany. Critically, for Australia, Germany face Serbia in the second round and the result of that game will determine what result Australia needs in its last game against Serbia.

Australia will be hoping to take a point off Germany in the first round followed by a win over Ghana in the second round. In this scenario should Germany beat Serbia or Serbia beat Germany then the Socceroos would only require a draw against Serbia to go through in second place.

Socceroos coach Pim Verbeek said he was content with his side's draw.

"Could have been better, could have been worse," he said.

"Germany's one of the best teams in the world. It's a great opponent for the first game.

"Ghana is very strong, and Serbia beat France.

"Every game is full of challenges.

"We have a good record against Ghana, we've never lost against them."

Both England and Italy deaw a breath of relief at avoiding confronting Australia. England did not want to relive the horrors of another sporting failure at the hands of its former colony. While Italy was wary of facing an Australian team seeking revenge for its controversial injury time elimination in the 2006 World Cup Finals.

The Group of Death at the 2010 World Cup Finals is Group G containing five-time champions Brazil, Cristiano Ronaldo's Portugal and Ivory Coast, Africa's finest team and North Korea. However overall the draw is one of the most balanced of any World Cup.

Group D Games:

Match Date Venue Team 1 Team 2 Kick-off (AEST)
7 13 June Durban Germany Australia 00:00
8 13 June Tshwane/Pretoria Serbia Ghana 04:30
21 18 June Nelson Mandela Bay Germany Serbia 21:30
24 19 June Rustenburg Ghana Australia 21:30
39 23 June Johannesburg Ghana Germany 04:30
40 23 June Nelspruit Australia Serbia 04:30

[delfino_1936]

Group of death me thinks!

[the_gun]

group g i think

[Russia2O18]

its not a group of death because it contains Australia

but a very tough group for Australia...they'll do well just to get a point or score a goal

[Con]

Scary!

Germany multi Cup winner & runner-up whose motto is: "keep order".

Ghana playing on their continent with a certain dominating Chelsea midfielder nicknamed 'the beast' (aka Essien).

Unpredictable Serbia who could tear us apart 3-0 or lose 0-1.

We must get a boring Pim-type 0-0 versus the 'black pearls' of Afrika (aka Ghana) and stay alive 'til the game with the skilful Serbs..

[Russia2O18]

yes I absolutely agree that will be the tactics we employ

[ozzie owl]

Tough group but we could sneek through, then get most likely meet England.

[Tleilaxu]

Time for us to prove what we're really made of. And earn some respect along the way.

[m o o k s]

this is exactly why you want to be at a world cup.. to see how you stack up against the best in the world.
Bring it on!

[Red-4-Life]

im fairly confident we can get some results as underdogs. Germans and Serbs can call us easy beats if they like...good for them. Takes an effort to be ranked 21st...well we were 14th! fire up!!!

[Wayne Rooney's Elbow]

Fifa rankings mean jack shit