Uncomfortable, but not insurmountable. That’s the bottom line of the Socceroos’ World Cup draw, which pits Australia against Germany, Ghana and Serbia at next year’s finals tournament in South Africa.
It’s not the Group of Death. Try Brazil, Portugal, Ivory Coast and North Korea in Group G.
But it’s not exactly the sort of draw that makes you want to hug the fan next to you either.
That would be England, who have drawn United States, Algeria and Slovenia in a very winnable Group C.
The Socceroos’ draw is challenging, but bears stark resemblance to the group Australia successfully negotiated their way out of in 2006 to make the round of 16.
There is a soccer powerhouse in Germany, a decent side we boast a good record against in Ghana, and a final group match against a Balkans nation, Serbia, on June 23 in Nelspruit.
Three-time champions Germany are Australia’s Brazil this time around.
The joke is that the rules of World Cup sudden-death matches are teams play 90 minutes, followed by extra-time, before Germany win on penalties.
German teams simply find a way to win at major tournaments.
If the Socceroos harbour delusions of grandeur against Germany first-up on June 13 in Durban, here’s a sobering statistic.
Germany have not lost a World Cup opener since 1982 when Algeria stunned them 2-1.
They have won their past five opening group matches at World Cup finals, and the last time they played an Asian nation first-up, Saudi Arabia were embarrassed 8-0 in 2002.
Far more within the Socceroos’ grasp are good results against Serbia and Ghana in what would appear a wide open race for second place in the group and qualification for the second stage.
Serbia have been European qualifying surprise packets topping a group including France.
But their big-match temperament is in question. Serbia choked in the 2006 finals, hammered 6-0 by Argentina and losing all three matches on their way to being the tournament’s worst performed team.
Like Australia, Ghana made the round of 16 in 2006. They boast quality in Chelsea midfielder Michael Essien and have traditionally been strong at under-age level.
Yet Australia beat Ghana 1-0 in a friendly 18 months ago. Pim Verbeek will know what to expect.
You can afford to lose one match in your group, not two. Australia moved through in 2006 with one win (Japan), one draw (Croatia) and one defeat (Brazil).
The Socceroos know more than anyone that one clear standout and three evenly matched sides could make their job easier rather than harder in South Africa.
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