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Australia - Team Profile
24/05/2006
Although Australia could field a team of Premiership stars it is not being unkind to say none of them would make it into the England squad. That is not to write off their chances now they have legendary Guus Hiddink in charge of team affairs with ex-Dutch ace Johan Neeskens as his assistant. Hiddink led South Korea to the semi-finals in the last World Cup and has established himself as one of the shrewdest coaches in the world. His style is more getting the players at his disposal performing to their best rather than implementing a strict tactical regime. Their backline will be marshalled by Middlesboro goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer with Blackburn's combative full-back Lucas Neill on the right and FC Basle's Scott Chipperfield. A revitalised Tony Vidmar (well known to fans of Rangers, Middlesborough and Cardiff) now playing in Holland for NAC Breda was supposed to partner Crystal Palace stalwart Tony Popovic in the centre of defence but he had to withdraw from the squad on health grounds so there may be a place for Craig Moore who recently played his first game of the season for Newcastle following his summer move from Borussia Moenchengladbach (He formerly played in Scotland for Glasgow Rangers).
Spoilt for choice in midfield Hiddink could call on Harry Kewell (playing his best football for Liverpool since his arrival in 2003), Blackburn Rovers' Brett Emerson, Stan Lazaridis from Birmingham and formerly with West Ham, Vincenzo Grella and Marco Bresciano from Italian club Parma as well as the likes of Bristol City's Luke Wilkshire and Everton's hearthrob Tim Cahill if he recovers from injury in time.
Up front they have the much travelled Mark Viduka (Croatia Zagreb, Celtic, Leeds and now of Middlesborough), Archie Thompson, who once scored 13 goals in a World Cup qualifier and now with Hiddink at PSV Eindhoven in Holland and the experienced John Aloisi who will be remembered by Portsmouth and Coventry fans and is currently plying his trade in Spain. An alternative striker could be Dinamo Dresden front man Joshua Kennedy.
Ironically, the last time Australia qualified for the World Cup was in 1974 - when the tournament was last held in Germany. They come here this time with a much better chance having knocked out Uruguay in a play-off to reach the final stages and despite their tough group will fancy their chances of reaching the quarter final.