Coach: Pim Verbeek
Key Player: Tim Cahill
World Ranking: 20
World Cup Record: Two appearances – 1974 & 2006
Group D Schedule:
13 June – Germany v Australia
19 June – Ghana v Australia
23 June – Australia v Serbia
Verbeek's well-drilled defence allowed Australia to coast through qualification in Asia, but the side may lack the skills to score goals against the world's best.
Despite improvisation with the attack during the qualifiers, Australia, for all their midfield riches, lack a striker with the power and presence to replace Mark Viduka.
Verbeek will hope lanky Josh Kennedy can provide a foil for midfielders Tim Cahill, Harry Kewell and Mark Bresciano to score the necessary goals.
Tim Cahill entered Australian folklore by scoring twice, including his country's first World Cup goal, after coming off the bench in the group match against Japan in 2006.
The Socceroos have never lost when this attack-minded midfielder has scored and the Everton player is one of the Premier League's most consistent performers.
Final Squad:
Goalkeepers: Mark Schwarzer (Fulham), Adam Federici (Reading), Brad Jones (Middlesbrough).
Defenders: Lucas Neill (Galatasaray), Craig Moore (unattached), Scott Chipperfield (Basel), David Carney (Twente Enschede), Luke Wilkshire (Dynamo Moscow), Mark Milligan (JEF United), Michael Beauchamp (Al-Jazira).
Midfielders: Tim Cahill (Everton), Mark Bresciano (Palermo) Vince Grella (Blackburn Rovers), Brett Emerton (Blackburn Rovers), Jason Culina (Gold Coast), Harry Kewell (Galatasaray), Brett Holman (AZ Alkmaar), Carl Valeri (Sassuolo), Mile Jedinak (Antalyaspor), Richard Garcia (Hull City), Dario Vidosic (Nuremberg).
Forwards: Josh Kennedy (Nagoya), Nikita Rukavytsya (Twente Enschede).
