Socceroos on the front foot

* Marco Monteverde in Johannesburg
* From: Herald Sun
* May 28, 2010

PIM Verbeek wasted no time setting Australia's World Cup agenda when the Socceroos' arrived in South Africa, suggesting an upset victory against Group D favourite Germany was well within his side's reach.

"The most important thing for us is to win our first game," Verbeek told reporters in Johannesburg after arriving with his extended 28-man squad after a 14-hour flight from Melbourne.

That's easier said than done, even against a German side minus skipper Michael Ballack on June 14.

Verbeek "feels sorry" for Ballack, but he won't have any sympathy for his own team if its hopes of a second-round berth take a massive dent with an ordinary performance against Germany.

The Socceroos were the first foreign team to arrive in South Africa and will play warm-up matches against Denmark and the US at Ruimsig Stadium.

"We have given ourselves plenty of time to prepare and acclimatise to the local conditions," Verbeek said.

"The players will have to get used to the altitude and the few warm-up matches we have will help us. When playing in the World Cup, you have to prepare yourself and make sure the team is in good conditions."

Verbeek also hinted the fun and pampering was over after his players were afforded five-star service on the flight. He stressed the Socceroos would be on anything but a holiday from the moment their first training session in South Africa started at St Stithians in Sandton last night

"I want to say that we are very excited to be here in South Africa," he said.

"I know it's not going to be easy. We have a tough group with some quality teams."

The players, led by skipper Lucas Neill, were processed away from the rest of the flight's passengers because of security concerns.

The day before departing, Verbeek admitted he might have pushed his players too hard before Australia's lacklustre effort in their 2-1 win against New Zealand last Monday night, but said it was all part of an extended and, to some degree, uncharted plan to be ready for Germany in Durban.

"Nobody has the real feeling how it is to train for a few weeks on altitude, so we have to find out," said Verbeek, who will name his final 23-man squad on Tuesday.

"We have to find out."

http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/socceroos-on-the-front-foot/story-e6frf9if-1225872270152