Now or never for Socceroos

MICHAEL LYNCH
23 Jun, 2010 03:30 PM

It all comes down to this. One match will decide Australia's future, although their future is not in their own hands. To match their achievements of 2006, when they made the round of 16, Australia must beat Serbia and hope Ghana beat Germany. A win over Serbia and a German defeat of Ghana could also allow the Socceroos to progress, but only if they score heavily against their Balkan rivals and Ghana concedes several goals to Germany. Its a long shot, but it could happen.

AUSTRALIA

Strength sTeam spirit, belief, heart and commitment. Return of Tim Cahill. Players still with a point to prove. Last-hurrah factor. The Socceroos recovered much of their pride with a brave display in the 1-1 draw with Ghana, a performance that should have reinforced the self-belief within the squad that they are capable of achieving something in this tournament. The return of Cahill should be a boost and a straight replacement for the suspended Harry Kewell. This is the last-chance saloon for several senior members of Australian soccer's golden generation and many of them still feel they have a point to prove.

Weaknesses: Goals - or a lack of them; the quality needed to unhinge a miserly defence. Loss of Kewell. Pim Verbeek likes to say Australia had no problems in scoring goals in qualifying. That's true, up to a point. Their record was boosted by two nights out against Qatar, when they scored seven times. Take away that weak opposition and they weren't exactly lethal. At this World Cup they created almost nothing against Germany and the goal they did get against Ghana was the result of a shocking blunder by Ghana keeper Richard Kingson, something that has tended to be forgotten in the euphoria generated by the Socceroos' gutsy effort to draw with 10 men. Kewell looked pretty good in his 25-minute cameo before being sent off, so his loss will weaken Australia offensively.

OpportunitiesSe rbian nerves; will they rest players to avoid cards? Serbian teams have in the past shown themselves to be a bit flakey when the going gets tough. In the last World Cup they crashed 6-0 to Argentina, then threw away a two-goal lead in the final match against Ivory Coast. In this tournament, they have twice panicked and given away handball penalties, one which cost them the match against Ghana. Coach Radomir Antic has also suggested that he might leave out some players to avoid them picking up second yellow cards, which would lead to suspension from the knockout phase. The entire defence, as well as midfielder Zdravko Kuzmanovic and striker Nikola Zigic are all on yellows.

ThreatsSerbia's technically good midfielders, wide man Milos Krasic and tall striker Zigic. The Serbs have a talented line-up with a host of technically gifted players headed by Inter Milan midfielder and captain Dejan Stankovic, and fellow midfielder Milan Jovanovic. Out wide, Krasic had an exceptional game against Germany and it was German winger Thomas Mueller who cut a swathe down Australia's left flank in the first game. Zigic is 202 centimetres and is always going to be an aerial threat. He set up the winner for Jovanovic against Germany.

SERBIA

StrengthsA ll-round quality, pace on the flank, midfield depth, miserly defence. Serbia's side is made up of players plying their trade at many of Europe's top clubs, such as Chelsea, Inter Milan and Manchester United, so their quality cannot be questioned. Krasic is fast, skilful and could cause problems down the wing while Branko Ivanovic and Nemanja Vidic are two highly credentialled defenders. Stankovic played a pivotal role in the win over Germany, and is the man who will make Serbia tick in the centre of the park.

WeaknessesTendency to crumble if things go wrong; lapses in concentration at the back. Serbia are an interesting mixture of mental toughness and vulnerability. Have a tendency to fade if things go wrong - as in the pre-World Cup warm-up game against New Zealand - and in the losses at the last World Cup. Also may have concentration problems in defence - they have conceded two penalties for handball in two matches.

OpportunitiesAustra lia's inability to score goals. Will the Socceroos be deflated after only drawing against Ghana? Australia have scored only once in this World Cup and that was from a goalkeeping blunder. Without Kewell they will be less threatening, although Cahill can add potency. The Socceroos spent a lot of petrol - both physical and mental - in the game against Ghana. Will they be deflated?

ThreatsCahill. Australia's need to prove the remaining critics wrong. Cahill is Australia's go-to man and their most potent threat. Scores regularly at Premier League and international level. Has plenty to prove after being sent off against Germany. The Socceroos are smarting after that loss to Germany and only partially redeemed themselves with a battling draw with Ghana.

http://www.independentweekly.com.au/news/local/news/general/now-or-never-for-socceroos/1866752.aspx?storypage=0