Neill, Kewell hold the key to reigniting campaign
MICHAEL COCKERILL AND DAN SILKSTONE, JOHANNESBURG
June 19, 2010


AUSTRALIA

Strengths

Experience can be an asset. Age can be a weakness. Australia's old heads need to play smart. Lucas Neill will be particularly important in organising the defensive line. Restoring Jason Culina to his tempo role will help shore up the midfield and provide a fighting chance of sharing possession. Harry Kewell offers an outlet especially up front. Brett Holman deserves a chance to create in the space behind him.
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Weaknesses

Lack of speed and mobility, which was painfully exposed by the movement and ball speed of Germany. When the Socceroos lose their shape, they can't recover. Mark Schwarzer has been surprisingly uncertain in goals, and playing the offside trap will be suicidal. With Tim Cahill suspended, where will goals come from?

Gamebreaker

It's got to be Kewell. Cometh the hour, cometh the man. He says he's fit, he wants to play 90minutes, and this is his stage. Not as quick as he was nor as aerobic, but Kewell remains one of the team's few match-winners - if he's in the mood.

GHANA

Strengths

Pace. Ghana has gambled on youth and so far it's working. Players such as Andre Ayew and Prince Tagoe were damaging against Serbia as the Africans streamed forward with waves of rushing attack. German-born Kevin Prince Boateng has filled the midfield engine role left vacant by injured Chelsea star Michael Essien and will try to boss the centre of the park, drive forward and feed the dangerous wingers. The creative Kwadwo Asamoah will position himself in the hole behind Asamoah Gyan, linking the midfield to the point of attack with clever runs and slide passes.

Weaknesses

Inexperience, perhaps. Ghana are the tournament's youngest squad, more than four years younger on average than creaky Australia. So far it has been an asset. Will that continue? A more clinical edge is needed to Ghana's attack if the team are to convert forward momentum into goals. Gyan, equally capable of wonder goals or profligacy, will need to be sharp. The Socceroos have played the Black Stars six times, winning three times. But this will be the biggest stage on which the teams have met and Ghana are playing on their home continent.

Gamebreaker

Inter Milan's Sulley Muntari, like Kewell, is the most famous creative player in his squad. Like Kewell he started game one on the bench after racing to recover from injury. He wasn't happy about it and Ghana's press have been full of stories and rumours of his dissatisfaction, causing him to come out and deny any tension with the coach. Sound familiar? He is likely to start on the bench again but could replace young playmaker Asamoah if the match is deadlocked or Australia gain control of the midfield. He is a gifted creator with a top pedigree and will have plenty to prove - not least that he is not yesterday's man. Sound familiar?


http://www.smh.com.au/world-cup-2010/world-cup-news/neill-kewell-hold-the-key-to-reigniting-campaign-20100618-ymq4.html