Socceroos will take the world by storm again

* By Robbie Slater
* From: The Sunday Telegraph

THE Socceroos have a mountain to climb in South Africa, but I'm backing them to shock the world and emulate the feats of Guus Hiddink's team from four years ago.

Pim Verbeek's team will be huge underdogs in group matches against Germany, Ghana and Serbia.

We definitely need a win in one of those games and I think our best chance is against the Africans. A draw against Germany or Serbia is not beyond us.

Even if we were to falter in our opening game against the highly-rated Germans, it wouldn't be a lost cause.

And with golden boy Harry Kewell on the mend, things are beginning to look a lot more positive.

Here are 10 reasons why I think Australia can qualify for the last 16 again.



1 EXPERIENCE: Verbeek's starting XI (with the exception of Mark Viduka) will almost be identical to the one that started in the opening match against Japan in Germany four years ago. The players won't get stage fright. They know what it takes to get past the group stage and into the final 16. The fact that they have been there and done it before counts in their favour. They won't go into the tournament fearing anyone.


2 PREPARATION: It has been unlike ever before. Since the previous World Cup in Germany we have played in an Asian Cup and 13 World Cup qualifiers. The players are more battle-hardened than last time, when they had two big games against Uruguay when it was win or bust.



3 DEFENCE: We have proven just how difficult it is to score against us and we also have one of the best goalkeepers in Mark Schwarzer. Schwarzer has been absolutely brilliant for Fulham and the Socceroos and he'd love nothing more than to keep a clean sheet against Germany. Verbeek has been fortunate in that he has had a stable defence in Luke Wilkshire, Craig Moore, Lucas Neill and Scott Chipperfield.



4 AUSSIE SPIRIT: The team has copped a bit of criticism because it is an ageing side, but the players are more experienced and wiser. They'll go in as underdogs, but that tag sits well with them. One thing we do know is the team is full of fighters.



5 MEMORY OF ITALY: It was gut-wrenching the way we bowed out of the last World Cup with virtually the last kick of the ball, Italy earning a penalty through Fabio Grosso. The Italian was called a diver when he went down in front of Lucas Neill. When Francesco Totti converted from the spot, the World Cup was all over. You can bet that memory has stayed with the players for four years. It's something you never forget.



6 X-FACTOR: That's Tim Cahill, the box-to-box player. There are not too many midfielders in the modern game who can score goals like he does. His work rate is phenomenal and he's so dangerous when he gets into the box. Tim's not a big man, but it's amazing how he can out-jump much taller defenders. And he's a tough customer at that.



7 VERSATILITY: The thing about Verbeek's squad is that it is versatile. He has players who can cover a number of positions. Jason Culina can play just about anywhere, Brett Emerton and Wilkshire can swap and someone like Scott Chipperfield can play as a left back or can be switched forward. Verbeek has all positions adequately covered.



8 FITNESS: Perhaps some of the players have slowed down a bit, but they are very fit. It showed throughout the qualifying campaign when they stormed home over the top of teams with late goals. We committed robbery with a late goal from Mark Bresciano against Bahrain. And we did it in the friendly against New Zealand. It is one of the real strengths of Verbeek's team.



9 THE BIG 'H': The nation has been on Harry Kewell watch since he aggravated a groin injury for Galatasaray, but now he looks like he's going to be ready. When he's fit and firing, Kewell is still a world-class player. Verbeek has nursed him along nicely and there's no doubt the coach needs him. Maybe one moment of magic from Harry can get us through, like he did with his equalising goal against Croatia four years ago.



10 DUTCH LUCK: Hiddink had it against Uruguay, when John Aloisi's goal in the penalty shootout in Sydney got us through to the finals. Some say that Verbeek is blessed and he has had a charmed life during his time in charge of the Socceroos. Maybe that's true, but we will all be cheering if he continues to ride his luck over the next few weeks in South Africa.


http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sport/socceroos-will-take-the-world-by-storm-again/story-e6freyar-1225875966734