World Cup 2010
Pim Verbeek's high five the target if Australia are a chance of progressing

By Marco Monteverde
May 22, 2010

It's five points or bust for Australia at the World Cup.
That's the verdict from Socceroos coach Pim Verbeek, who says his team can forget about their second-round ambitions in South Africa if they can't better the four points Australia earned during the group stages in Germany four years ago.

A 3-1 win over Japan and a 2-2 draw with Croatia punctuated by a 2-0 loss to Brazil was enough in 2006 to send the Guus Hiddink-coached Socceroos to the round of 16, where their fairytale World Cup adventure was ended in a heartbreaking 1-0 loss to Italy in Kaiserslautern.

However, the absence of an "easy" team in Australia's group has Verbeek certain that four points won't be enough next month.

"I think we need five points minimum," the Dutch tactician said.

"That's the biggest difference from 2006 in Germany where, with four, Australia went to the next round. You cannot count on that this time. It's such a tough group.

"Last time Japan was the weakest team in the group, with all respect to Japan. We don't have that this time.

"I cannot say at the moment which team is the weakest in our group."

Australia's Group D opponents are three-time world champions Germany, a dangerously unpredictable Ghana side and an extremely talented Serbian outfit.

Verbeek said it would be wrong to assume the Germans were suddenly vulnerable because of the loss of skipper Michael Ballack, who is out of the tournament with an ankle injury.

"Of course it's a loss for them, but they have a fantastic team . . . there are no bad players in the Bundesliga or the German squad," he said.

Verbeek said Ghana's effort to make the final of this year's African Cup of Nations with an under-strength side was a pointer to their ability, and added that Serbia were a "fantastic" team.