The big one! Australia v Germany World Cup preview!

Exactly four years and one day after Australia kicked off their 2006 World Cup campaign in spectacular style, the Socceroos will today (or tomorrow Australian time) be heading into battle against a slightly tougher opposition than 2006, but with the same intention, to show the world that we mean business! After a weeks talk of Germany threatening to embarrass Australia, the pragmatic Dutchman Pim Verbeek will be looking to show his Germany counterpart, Joachim Low, that he was seriously mistaken.

Predictions

Kieran: Can we beat Germany? Can we beat the sixth rank team in the world? That's what it all comes down to. Germany have a solid goalkeeper, with Manuel Neuer a capable replacement for the injured Rene Adler. At the back, only Phillip Lahm will stand-out to many, but Germany certainly have a quality defence.

The midfield however is where Germany will really shine, with the absence of Michael Ballack providing the perfect opportunity for youth sensation Mesut Ozil to show why he is one of the most highly rated young stars in Europe.

Alongside Ozil may be another young star, 23-year-old Sami Khedira. The Stuttgart midfielder captained Germany's youth side to the U21 European Championship, and will be looking to reproduce his form for Germany on the big stage. On the wing for Die Mannschaft will be Bayern Munich star Bastian Schweinsteiger, and after helping his side to a Champions League final this year, Schweinsteiger will be looking for glory in South Africa. Australia will have to keep him quiet if they are to get anything out of the game.

The World Cup is here! Along with an assortment of news!

AND IT'S HERE!!!!!!!



With two entertaining draws, the FIFA World Cup has now officially kicked-off. So, what better time to give you a quick little wrap of the Socceroo/Australian football news.

First up is the news that Australia has officially pulled out from the 2018 World Cup bidding process. It seemed inevitable after the Asian Football Confederation claimed they would be backing Europe for 2018, and yesterday Frank Lowy made it official. However, this may actually be beneficial for our 2022 bid, as we seemed to have earned some good-will from FIFA, and it will mean that neither Europe or South America can bid, effectively leaving North America and Asia. Despite competition from a strong US bid, the temptation to bring the World Cup to a new stage may be all Australia's bid needs if it can get the backing of the AFC.

Secondly, German manager Joachim Low has told the media that he believes his side can embarrass Australia in their opening game of the World Cup. However, with the mighty Carl Valeri (dinho) in midfield, and pragmatic Pim Verbeek at the helm, Australia will be looking to spring a surprise...

In other news, Fulham have rejected an offer from Arsenal for goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer. British newspaper the Daily Star also claims that Schwarzer has told Fulham manager Roy Hodgson he would be interested in the move, but I stress that the Daily Star isn't exactly known for their accurate reporting. Personally, if Schwarzer was to become first choice (which would only be logical, I can't see Arsene Wenger spending money on an ageing second-choice keeper), I think it would be a great move for the Socceroos custodian. What do you think?

And finally, WORLD CUP WORLD CUP WORLD CUP WORLD CUP WORLD CUP!!!!!

http://australia.worldcupblog.org/world-cup-2010/the-world-cup-is-here-along-with-an-assortment-of-news.html

Emerton joins Ruka on the 'need a new club' list

Brett Emerton has been told by English club Blackburn Rovers that he will not be needed next season. The 31-year-old has been transfer-listed by the Ewood Park club, despite still having two years on his current contract. The news will come as a serious blow to Emerton, who is currently trying to overcome a calf injury, but will be hoping to show any potential suitors his skills over the following weeks.

Emerton will join Nikita Rukavytsya as Socceroos looking for new clubs, after the Ukrainian-born forward was not kept-on by Dutch side FC Twente at the end of the season. Ruka, who could play a key role at the World Cup, coming off the bench looking for an impact, has told SBS he is hoping to stay in Europe, and was not thinking of a return to the A-League.

Got to feel for the lad really, but I suppose no better time to be transfer-listed than just before the Cup.

In other news, 1 sleep till the WORLD CUP!!!! GET EXCITED :)

Half Time Heroes World Cup Special

Australia's best web magazine has just released its World Cup special. So have a read.

Open publication - Free publishing - More world cup

I'm in there on page 32 with a preview of Spain's World Cup hopes, and again on page 35 with a wrap of the Spanish domestic season. Let me know what you think!

Scoring goals with Golgol

When Golgol Mebrahtu stepped out onto the pitch at Members Equity Stadium in Perth it marked the end of a remarkable journey that had taken him from Eritrea to Australia and finally to an A-League contract with Gold Coast United. But his debut was just the first step on his journey to hopefully represent Australia at the 2012 Olympics.

Mebrahtu’s fairytale football story started when he was spotted by Gold Coast manager Miron Bleiberg while playing football on a Brisbane pitch. Impressed by what he saw, Bleiberg suggested Mebrahtu attend trials, and a few months later he signed for Gold Coast.

Stepping up from the Brisbane Strikers to an A-League team was a huge step, and Golgol was initially nervous, but he soon settled in. Recalling the transition, Mebrahtu says, “I knew it would be a big step and I was nervous when I saw the likes of Michael Thwaite and Shane Smeltz at training, but after a couple of weeks I got used to it and really settled in well.”

Mebrahtu had started playing football while still living in Africa, but didn’t have much time to play. “There was little in the way of organized football for us kids to play and my family were very focused on education, so most of our time was spent learning more academic things. Occasionally a bunch of kids from the neighbourhood would gather together for a kick-about, but that was about it.”

But a move to Australia when he was ten changed this, and shortly after he was turning out at under eleven level for Brisbane Olympic. Not long after this he was kicking the ball around regularly and playing whenever he could.

A more detailed wrap of Australia's 23-man World Cup squad

So the squad has been announced, the shocks have occurred and it’s now down to business for the 23 remaining Socceroos. The biggest surprise was the exclusion of Rhys Williams from the squad, while the cutting of Tommy Oar, James Holland, Eugene Galekovic and Shane Lowry were all fairly self-explanatory.



Williams’ absence from the final squad has led to a war of word between Pim Verbeek and Middlesbrough manager Gordon Strachan. Verbeek has claimed that his decision to exclude Williams was based on his pelvic injury, which he claims Strachan only made worse in the final few weeks of the season. Strachan however has angrily hit back, claiming that he never put Williams under pressure to play. You can read the full war of words here and here.

But in more important news, the squad!

Goalkeepers: Adam Federici, Brad Jones, Mark Schwarzer

No surprises here. Galekovic was only ever in the squad as a back-up, and I doubt he will have had any realistic expectations of making the final squad barring any injuries. In terms of the pecking order, Schwarzer is obviously the undisputed number one. Federici and Jones will then fight it out for the spot on the bench, and I would think that Fed will win, due to his good season at club-level this year.

Defenders: Michael Beauchamp, David Carney, Scott Chipperfield, Mark Milligan, Craig Moore, Lucas Neill, Luke Wilkshire

Defence is the area that came under most scrutiny from Pim’s knife, with three defenders (Lowry, Williams and North) all missing out on the final 23. While I feel that the decision to cut Williams is harsh, if Verbeek’s claims of medical issues are true, the decision is probably justified. Sadly, Craig Moore and Lucas Neill will probably be starting together, with Wilkshire on the right and either Chipperfield or Carney on the left. While we will miss the versatility of Williams, Beauchamp and Milligan will hopefully hold us in good stead.

The squad is announced...finally.

After a long wait, Pim Verbeek has finally announced his squad of 23 for the 2010 FIFA World Cup. While the team list had to be in at 8am this morning (Australian Eastern Time), Pim kept the list under wraps so he could confer with players and the medical team. But finally, Verbeek has announced that (as expected) James Holland, Tommy Oar and Eugene Galekovic will all miss out. Less expected however is the news that Rhys Williams and Shane Lowry will also miss the cut.



The decision allows both Dario Vidosic and Richard Garcia the opportunity to remain in the squad. It will however leave the Socceroos light at the back, with Jade North already cut from the squad.

The squad is:
Goalkeepers: Adam Federici, Brad Jones, Mark Schwarzer

Defenders: Michael Beauchamp, David Carney, Scott Chipperfield, Mark Milligan, Craig Moore, Lucas Neill, Luke Wilkshire

Midfielders: Mark Bresciano, Tim Cahill, Jason Culina, Brett Emerton, Richard Garcia, Vincenzo Grella, Brett Holman, Mile Jedinak, Carl Valeri, Dario Vidosic

Forwards: Joshua Kennedy, Harry Kewell, Nikita Rukavytsya

More to follow.

So what do you think? Right move by Pim, or is he an idiot?