Have confidence! We WILL win the Serbia game 7-0 to qualify.

Bad news is that both games will be played simultaneously next week.

Good news is that the Serbs will also need to play for a win, so whoever gets that first goal might expose the other team for the rest of the game.

Socceroos survival guide
20/06/2010 6:56 AM
Paul Gough in Rustenburg

Here are the scenarios for Australian qualification for the second round of the 2010 World Cup following the Socceroos 1-1 draw with Ghana.

That result left Ghana on top of the group after two matches on four points with Germany in second spot on three points ahead of Serbia on goal difference with the Serbs also on three points while Australia is in last spot with one point.

But the Socceroos' hopes of finishing in the top two in the group and reaching the knockout stages are not over although the situation is no longer entirely within their own control.

To make it through to the next round Australia MUST BEAT Serbia.

Any other result will mean automatic elimination from the competition.

But unfortunately it is not that simple as qualification also depends on the result of the Germany-Ghana clash, which will be played at the same time as Australia's match with Serbia in Nelspruit on Wednesday night (Thursday morning Australian time).

There are three scenarios which could all result in Australia finishing second in the group with top spot in Group D now officially out of reach and they all depend on the Socceroos first beating Serbia.

These are in order of preference for the Socceroos.

*If Ghana beats Germany then Australia only has to beat Serbia to make it through to the round of 16 as the Socceroos would then finish on four points compared to just three for Germany and Serbia.

*If Germany beats Ghana then Australia and Ghana would finish equal second on four points and it would come down to goal difference. But Australia would have to make up a total of FIVE GOALS to progress given Ghana's goal difference currently stands at plus one while Australia's is negative four. So if Ghana loses 1-0, Australia has to win 4-0 but if Ghana loses say 3-0, the Socceroos then only have to win 2-0.

*And the worst scenario is if Ghana and Germany draw. In that case Australia would finish level in second place on four points with Germany but would have to make up a total of SEVEN GOALS to progress with Germany's goal difference currently plus three compared to Australia's negative four following Germany's 4-0 win over Australia in the opening game. But given Germany's goal difference would remain at plus three by drawing with Ghana then Australia would have to beat Serbia by at least seven goals to qualify.

http://sportal.com.au/football-news-display/socceroos-survival-guide-93438

Have confidence! We WILL win the Serbia game 7-0 to qualify.

lol, you people are funny.. sorry to spoil the party but australia hasnt got a chance against the serbs... they just dont have the quality to battle with them in attack, i cant see any of the ozzies getting past vidic and ivanovic..plus there is no one on the flanks taking care of krasic and jovanovic, australia will get ripped to shreds down the flank and germanies tallest defender was still to short for zigic, the final score will read something like this.... serbia 3 def australia 0 sorry boys thats just how sour it is...

lol, you people are funny.. sorry to spoil the party but australia hasnt got a chance against the serbs... they just dont have the quality to battle with them in attack, i cant see any of the ozzies getting past vidic and ivanovic..plus there is no one on the flanks taking care of krasic and jovanovic, australia will get ripped to shreds down the flank and germanies tallest defender was still to short for zigic, the final score will read something like this.... serbia 3 def australia 0 sorry boys thats just how sour it is...

If Germany beats Ghana 4-0 and we beat Serbia 1-0 then as far as I can work out FIFA draws us out of a hat to see who goes through.

Germany has been very impressive. Even with one man down against Serbia they still outplayed them, dominated play and created genuine chances throughout the game. Ghana failed to make any use their one man advantage against us and looked average against Serbia. Furthermore this is not a dead-rubber for Germany, they need to win just as much as all the other teams. A very big German victory is certainly on the cards, we may only need to beat Serbia 1 or 2 nil. Given the Serbs average performances lately and the imminent return of Tim Cahill I think a 1 or 2 nil win is well within our means.

lol, you people are funny.. sorry to spoil the party but australia hasnt got a chance against the serbs... they just dont have the quality to battle with them in attack, i cant see any of the ozzies getting past vidic and ivanovic..plus there is no one on the flanks taking care of krasic and jovanovic, australia will get ripped to shreds down the flank and germanies tallest defender was still to short for zigic, the final score will read something like this.... serbia 3 def australia 0 sorry boys thats just how sour it is...