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Australia's Harry Kewell takes control of the ball from Ghana's Eric Addo as Kewell's team mate Joel Griffiths offers support during their friendly match at the Sydney Football Stadium, Sydney, Friday, May 23, 2008. AAP Image/Dean Lewins
It’s official, Australia will face Germany, Ghana and Serbia in the group stage at 2010 World Cup in South Africa. It’s already been labelled a “group of death” by some, but nobody said it would be easy for Pim Verbeek and his side.
Things could have been worse: the enigmatic Korea DPR look to have next to no chance of escaping from a group containing Brazil, Cote d’Ivoire and Portugal.
But there’s no doubt that Australia have been dealt a tough draw in South Africa, although Verbeek will be pleased to get the clash with the Germans out of the way first.
Sneak a point against Germany in Durban, and Australia’s clash with Ghana in Rustenburg takes on monumental proportions, leading into a final group stage game against a gritty Serbia in Nelspruit.
The opening clash continues Australia’s historical links with Germany, after the Socceroos met both West and East Germany in 1974, before facing off against the unified version at the Confederations Cup in 2005.
Australia have, of course, beaten Ghana in a recent friendly – but a World Cup meeting on African soil represents a far more difficult prospect.
It also means that the Socceroos could once again face another make-or-break final day clash against a former Yugoslav state, as Australia follow up their 2006 encounter against Croatia with an equally daunting meeting with Serbia this time around.
The Serbs topped their qualifying group from France and possess one of the meanest defences in European football – even if their U-23 side failed to impress in Australia’s group at the 2008 Beijing Olympics.
Despite being handed a tough draw, Verbeek was nevertheless upbeat about Australia’s chances of progression – where England almost certainly await in the second round.
If Australia have drawn a “group of death,” then the English must be rejoicing over their “group of life,” after Fabio Capello’s side landed USA, Algeria and Slovenia, in what must be one of the easiest draws ever handed to an English side.
Should England top their group – as expected – and Australia finish second, then the Socceroos will face off against Capello’s men in Rustenburg on June 26.
It’s a dream scenario for Australian fans, but first comes the tricky task of negotiating a group containing a genuine European heavyweight and one of Africa’s most exciting sides.
The Socceroos now have six months to prepare for their group stage opener against the Germans on June 14, with a number of high profile friendlies set to be scheduled in the build-up to the big event.
It could have been an easier draw, but the Socceroos are nothing if not determined, and they will relish the chance of coming up against some of the world’s best.
The opponents are known, the fixture list is in place – now it’s up to Pim Verbeek and his side to get the job done in a tough-looking Group D.