The Czech's have had a monumental fall from grace in the last 4-6 years. They were definitely worthy of being considered in the top 10 in the world at some point back then.

Of course you take these comments with a "grain of salt", but when a guy of this repute even contemplates an upset, well ... you get a bit excited!


Arsenal coach Arsene Wenger has said "tough cookies" Australia will be giving three-time champions Germany sleepless nights before their World Cup opener, giving them a strong chance of an upset.

Wenger gave the apparently outclassed Socceroos a 40 per cent chance of shocking Germany on Sunday, a result which would throw Group D wide open.

"If I was the national team coach of Germany and I had to play Australia, I wouldn't sleep well," Wenger told Australia's Channel Nine TV network.

He challenged the German coach to finish in the top 4? I filled out the finals section in the big poster thing from the Herald. I predicted them to finish 3rd losing out to Spain in the semi and thus making it a Brazil vs Spain final.

although i agree people shouldn't write us off just yet, the rankings really mean nothing.I don't think they are a true representation of how good teams are. Now correct me if I'm wrong but I'm pretty sure the Czech Republic went into the last world cup ranked number 2 in the world.there is no way they were THAT good to be number 2.and it showed in their performance at the wc. So I wouldn't read into the rankings too much

all the people writing off australia obviously haven't looked at the rankings lately. we're up around 20, not 200.

Actually Per Mertesacker mentioned both Cahill and Kennedy as goal threats.

Well he certainly doesn't know much about how we play.

"They have incredible physical strength and defensive organisation while they do launch the occasional counter-attack and they are very, very hard to play against."

He makes it sound as if we defend in numbers and let the opposition dictate play. We might not do much with it, but we usually have a high percentage of possession...

President of Australia ... pfft.

I'm beginning to like the way the group is working out for us, but we'll need all our layers to be up for it, Vinnie and Craig I'm looking at you.

President of Australia? Who said we weren't a suprise package?

http://www.theaustralian.com.au/sport/world-cup-2010/germans-wary-of-socceroos-dangerous-maestro-cahill/story-fn4l4sip-1225877518613

Germany plan to double man Cahill probably cause Kennedy is such a dud they dont need to mark him he will turn over the ball him self. LMAO

Im praying Kewell is at the front, this game wont be nil-nil if we park the bus we will lose. Moore is way to slow Kloser can out run him with a 8m head start.

Is he talking about the president of the FFA?
or is he just ignorant of who we actually are?

hmmmmm...cant say i am that confident about our chances.....everything so far by the socceroo's just seems so disjointed and lack lustre...?????

Lol, thats certainly been my experience.

They just talk about Germany, Ghana and Serbia like we don't exist.

LOOOOVE to make people sit up and take notice.

CMON AUSSIE'S!

As I have read numerous international sport websites about WC predictions etc I can't say no one rates us as any chance because no one is even mentioning us?
Apart from those a comment about everyone pages. At least the Germans are giving us some respect. But I like the stealth thing the Socceroos have got going.


What do you think about the FourFourTwo article Kaiser: Beware Of The Socceroos?
FRANZ Beckenbauer has predicted a place in the semi-finals for Germany at the World Cup, but warned them at the same time not to underestimate their opening opponents Australia.

Have your say.