Germany |
| Australia |
Germany vs Australia Match Live
Germany Plotting A Win
No Michael Ballack; the captain was cruelly ruled out from the 2010 FIFA World Cup following an injury he picked up in May. Still, the Germans are looking forward to make the most of their status as favorites. 2006 World Cup Young Player of the Year award winner Lucas Podolski boasted about Germany’s chances to make it against Australia this weekend. The striker told FIFA.com on Friday:
“Of course, there is some sort of pressure because we go into this game as favorites. Either way, we will go with confidence into our three group matches. We really, really want to win the opening encounter.”
He continued:
“We know that Australia will play a defensive game and that we will just have to try to find the gaps then. We will just have to use our strikers and find a way through. Germany have a very good group of young players who won the Euro Under-21 tournament last season. We’ve introduced a lot of good players like Spain. We plan to hit the ground and run away with a win on Sunday.”
Australia Get Good And Bad News
Let’s keep the good news for the end and start by learning the bad one. Fulham’s Mark Schwarzer and Reading’s Adam Federici were included in Pim Verbeek’s 23-man squad for the 2010 World Cup, and both men are expected to remain in South Africa until Australia’s campaign is over. The goalkeeper that has pulled out from the tournament is Brad Jones. The Middlesbrough shot stopper has to assist his family following a tragedy. A statement from the Australian national football team declared:
“It has been decided that Jones will not return to South Africa and will remain with his family.”
Coach Pim Verbeek had to call up Eugen Galekovic in replacement for Brad Jones.
Now the good news is about the return of a few key players ahead of Australia’s game against Germany. Talisman Harry Kewell surmounted his groin injury worries while midfielder Brett Emerton overcame his calf injury. Besides, Tim Cahill is also free from the neck injury which plagued him for some time. Cahill is now expected to shine against Germany. Speaking about his fitness on Friday, the Everton attacking player declared:
“I don’t want to focus on injuries. If the game was tomorrow, I’d be there and more than ready.”
Australia need to bounce back from the 3-1 defeat they suffered in the hands of the USA last week while Germany will be looking to get their fourth consecutive victory since losing 1-0 to Argentina in March 2010. Next up in Group D, the Socceroos will play against Ghana and the Germans will entertain Serbia.
