Lucas Neill and Mark Schwarzer may have had the Germans pencilled in for months now, but the same couldn’t have been said for the likes of Michael Beauchamp, Carl Valeri and Dario Vidosic.
They and a host of teammates can now put their heads down ahead of the clash with Joachim Loew’s side. It will come as some relief.
Relief also arrives in the form of Australia’s far more accomplished defensive display in the 1-0 win over Denmark on Tuesday night.
If nothing else – and truth be told there was little to celebrate attacking-wise – the Socceroos’ restored some faith with a worried Australian football public.
Denmark seldom looked capable of creating much in scoring opportunities, but the Scandanavians saw nothing but obstacles every time they lifted the eyes goalward.
Craig Moore answered some critics with a solid display, but the real source of the stability came from the redrafting of first-choice full-backs Scott Chipperfield and Luke Wilkshire.
Ironically, Chipperfield could be used as an offensive weapon for the Socceroos, having finished the Swiss Super League season with 13 goals.
But Verbeek appears to value his reliability at left-back far greater.
In Wilkshire, the man plucked from obscurity by Guus Hiddink in 2006, Verbeek has a tenacious battler unwilling to give an inch.
In addition, both offer the ability to get forward, as Wilkshire – his country’s best against Denmark – showed on a handful of occasions. Moore and Neill appeared infinitely more comfortable in the centre of defence than the outing against New Zealand, and it might have been down to the full-backs to their left and right more than anything.
But while the defensive display was much-improved, the Socceroos’ attacking prowess showed little polish once again.
Granted, Australia is still missing two noted creators in Harry Kewell and Brett Emerton. Too much is expected, however, of targetman Joshua Kennedy. We all know the towering striker is handy with his head, and he reacted smartly to take his goal against the Danes.
But it was one of the few moments of quality of which Kennedy was involved.
Perhaps it was the new Adidas ball. Or maybe the altitude. Either way, Kennedy’s touch was heavy and he struggled to get involved.
Granted, he lacked support from the midfield. But this is not a man capable of the sort of role Mark Viduka played at the 2006 World Cup.
If Verbeek is to persist with Kennedy up front, then he needs to ensure that his midfield push up to feed on any of the scraps that may fall from Kennedy’s head. Australia will need to play the 4-3-3 often vaunted, not the 4-5-1 in its diguise.
Still, the showing against Denmark would be – you would assume – just the sort of performance Pim Verbeek would have wanted.
Whether or not the Socceroos will be able to score the goals needed to take them to the Round of 16, however, remains to be seen.
Dan
Guest
Rommedahl could still qualify for the EC athletics in 100m. Besides, Denmark now have Christian Eriksen who is only 18 and youngest at the WC and extremely fast. He is deemed "the greatest talent in the Eresdivisie". Denmark faded in the last 15 mins because they got tired in the thin air and the match result was unimportant -- this acc. to Morten Olsen. In addition, Denmark had taken their best in-form players off the pitch, and their danger man and last-gasp-winner expert Nic Bendtner was not even in the squad. The ball, the thin air, the pitch, the jetlag, injuries (Bendtner, Kjær, Sørensen, Tomasson, Kahlenberg)... I think they ball must be mentioned as problem no. 1 for a team with a penchant for many stations and precision balls forward. Denmark however will do well in SA if they can get used to the ball and conditions. Aus more problematic but the high defense looked good.
Brian
Guest
Tomasson and Gronkjiar have declined. The Danes were also underdone by spending less time in SA before the game. Having said that based on those perfomances both countries will struggle to get out of their groups.
Realfootball
Guest
The difference being that those same wingers are now 32-33 and are not blindingly fast anymore. Like Harry Kewell.
Harvey the Scouser
Roar Guru
theres something in what Dan is saying I remember the Denmark v Australia friendly from 2 or 3 years ago Denmark absolutely decimated Australia, it was no contest been a long time since I had seen such blindingly fast wing play the ball probably affected them more than Australia
Realfootball
Guest
But Australia still won, and by the last quarter of the game were looking much the better team. Perhaps you are overrating Denmark. They looked good early, but faded as the match went on.
Dan
Guest
Denmark played their worst match in three years but they were still better than Australia in defense, midfield and attack. Australia played and always play very slowly - not passing the ball quickly. Denmark are masters of the quick passing game and it is unbelievable that Australia are higher on the FIFA ranking list. Aus should be around 50 on that list and Denmark around 20. Aus have faced easy opposition in qualification and have only just managed to get through thanks to a few easy goals. Denmark qualified convincingly, beating Portugal and Sweden on the way.
Alders
Guest
Hence I go fo Holland. Hup Holland Hup.
Alders
Guest
More goals is the way forward.
Alders
Guest
Well it isn't 5.5 million either. You go to Europe (where I have lived the last five years) and not everyone loves football. Certainly it is the biggest sport by far and draws most of the attention but even in England it isn't universally popular. It is like saying everyone in NZ loves rugby and everyone in Victoria loves AFL.
Alders
Guest
No argument. We ought to beat New Zealand there as well. The only thing that saves that situation is the amazing world class athletes the Kiwis have and history. Otherwise it would be pretty dead and boring. Yes it has but then so has Greece.
Trusters
Guest
Dip
Guest
As Peter said need to play 4-4-3 to keep any interest and support in the game. playing sole striker isn't getting enough support and not strong enough to play sole. Perhaps Cahill and Kewell will push in the box and play as strikers supporting Kennedy.
The Bear
Guest
Perhaps the game plan is just that. The team with 10 men ALWAYS plays better .. and usually wins, imo.
Brian
Guest
That makes sense, especially considering Jedinak was also kept in the squad. However you would think Valeri would have come on to play a bit more with Grella. No doubt both Kewell and Emerton need substantial game time against US or we're stuck with what we've got.
Realfootball
Guest
I can't see Emerton being in shape. Another injury? And how much football has he played this year? He may surprise us all and come on and star against the US, but the odds are not good. The answer on the right is clearly Culina. Witness the last 2 games how the team cohesion and pressuring of opponents has improved when he has moved to the right. The fact that Garcia was there for a half, then Culina for a half, against Denmark tells me that Verbeek isn't counting on Emerton and was testing his two options. Culina was much more effective. Would not be surprised to see that - with Valeri in with Grella - to be the starting formation against the US. As I understand it, Emmo isn't even in full training yet.
Brian
Guest
As per the article his performance against Denmark was not great, he scored but otherwise his touch was heavy and he is no Mark Viduka, nor Klose, Gyan or Zigic for that matter. Our strategy is to play on the break meaning we need a front man who can hold the ball and has pace. Viduka had the first quality as could Kewell. The Kewell of old actually had both. Kennedy up front alone will hardly trouble our opponents turning our strategy into keeping scpres at 0-0 until the dying minutes when we try and conjure a goal. Kennedy does have advantages, and I think he makes a great sub coming on after 70 mins in trying to conjure that goal but he is not a quality front-man for the entire game. Particularly given the height of our three group opponents
Ben of Phnom Penh
Guest
Kennedy? 7 goals in 18 matches, only a few of which he's started in....... 14 goals in 24 starts for Nagoya........ perhaps you should elaborate a little more Brian as quite frankly I'm confused.
Ben of Phnom Penh
Guest
different type of player, actually. That's what makes him so good off the bench is the fact he can offer something different and hence change the flow of a game.
Brian
Guest
There are 4 holes at the moment Moore, Grella, Garcia, Kennedy. - Grella I'm pretty confident can either improve or be replaced by the serviceable Valeri. - Hopefully Emerton fires up against the US to solve Garcia. - The last two holes are massive, the Moore one will be there come matchday, to be fair to Pim in 4 years no-one has stood up, the striker one could be solved if Harry is fit or Kennedy improves but I don't like our chances.
Harvey the Scouser
Roar Guru
the fact that he's in the Eredivisie puts him in Australia's top 12 best players these days