Australia

Region: Asia
Head Coach: Pim Verbeek


The Socceroos will be participating in only their third World Cup in June. The men from 'down under' qualified for South Africa in impressive style without losing a single game and only conceding one solitary goal in the process.

The Aussies find themselves in a difficult Group D and have the unenviable task of opening their 2010 campaign against a much fancied German side.

Amongst their squad will be some familiar names for watchers of Premier League football. Everton's Tim Cahill and Mark Schwarzer, fresh from Fulham's Europa League escapade will be key players. Former Liverpool star Harry Kewell, now plying his trade in Turkey will be looking to end a career ravaged by injury with a World Cup swansong.

Squad:

Goalkeepers: Mark Schwarzer (Fulham/ENG), Adam Federici (Reading/ENG), Brad Jones (Middlesbrough/ENG).

Defenders: Scott Chipperfield (FC Basel/SUI), David Carney (FC Twente/NED), Lucas Neill (Galatasaray/TUR,captain), Michael Beauchamp (Al-Jazira/UAE), Craig Moore (no contract), Mark Milligan (JEF United/JPN), Luke Wilkshire (Dinamo Moscow/RUS).

Midfielders: Mark Bresciano (Palermo/ITA), Tim Cahill (Everton/ENG), Jason Culina (Gold Coast Utd/AUS), Brett Emerton (Blackburn Rovers/ENG), Richard Garcia (Hull City/ENG), Vince Grella (Blackburn Rovers/ENG), Brett Holman (AZ Alkmaar/NED), Mile Jedinak (Antalyaspor Kulubu/TUR), Carl Valeri (US Sassuolo Calcio/ITA), Dario Vidosic (FC Nurnberg/GER).

Strikers: Josh Kennedy (Nagoya Grampus/JPN), Harry Kewell (Galatasaray/TUR), Nikita Rukavytsya (FC Twente/NED).

Random Facts About Australia's Squad

* 7 members of the squad currently play in English football.

* Only 2 members of the squad currently play in Australia's Hyundai A League.


Pete Guest