Jun 09 2010 02:08 PM
Re: Better Know Your World Cup Group D Teams
The intimidating name for the Spanish national football team is La Furia Roja (The Red Fury).
The German team has the steely and simple Die Mannschaft (THE Team).
Team Cameroon are known as the Indomitable Lions.
and Australia are.... the Socceroos?
Boiiiing.
The Aussie national football team has an incredibly shit house nickname, no doubt created by some marketing firm on a late Friday arvo before holiday, but despite their bodgy recent form, they're a decent group of blokes who could be ridgy-didge come Sunday and surprise some Joe Bloggs.
History
This is just the third World Cup appearance for the Socceroos. They were unceremoniously dumped in the first round of their 1974 debut without scoring a goal, but made a better showing in '06, advancing out of Group F with Brazil before getting bounced by the eventual champs Italy in the knockout round. They got here in 2010 by kicking ass in the Asian Football Confederation qualifiers, finishing first in their group ahead of Japan, and beating teams like Iraq, Qatar, and Uzbekistan along the way.
Squad
There's some talent in Oz, and I mean more than just the Shiela's, though that is what I was primarily referring to. They're a veteran group (second oldest team in the WC) and are currently ranked 20th in the world by FIFA. The Roos are led by a solid midfield that includes Everton's Tim Cahill (20 international goals, 40 caps) and Blackburn Rovers' Brett Emerton (17 goals, 72 caps). Former Liverpool striker Harry Kewell might be the biggest scoring option up front, but he's been nursing a sore groin (that's a sore "donger" to you and me).
37-year old Fullham keeper Mark Schwarzer has become one of the more reliable goalies in the Premier League (and has made him a target of Arsenal's in the current offseason). He has a team-leading 75 caps and could be the stalwart that helps Oz advance past the first round. He also writes children's books about a fictional footballer called "Megs". Cute. Defender Lucas Neill, formerly of Blackburn, West Ham United, and Everton, is your team captain.
Goalkeepers: Adam Federici (Reading), Brad Jones (Middlesbrough), Mark Schwarzer (Fulham)
Defenders: Michael Beauchamp (Melbourne Heart), David Carney (Twente), Scott Chipperfield (Basel), Mark Milligan (JEF United), Craig Moore (no club), Lucas Neill (Galatasaray), Luke Wilkshire (Dynamo Moscow)
Midfielders: Mark Bresciano (Palermo), Tim Cahill (Everton), Jason Culina (Gold Coast), Brett Emerton (Blackburn), Richard Garcia (Hull), Vince Grella (Blackburn), Brett Holman (Alkmaar), Mile Jedinak (Antalyaspor), Carl Valeri (Sassuolo), Dario Vidosic (Nuremberg)
Forwards: Josh Kennedy (Nagoya Grampus), Harry Kewell (Galatasaray), Nikita Rukavytsya (Twente)
Sked
June 13 v. Germany
June 19 v. Ghana
June 23 v. Serbia.
This is a pretty tough group, so it'd be huge for Australia to pop Germany one in the first match, especially after their lackluster performances in their most recently friendlies, a 3-1 loss to the US, and an uninspired 2-1 win over New Zealand before heading to South Africa. If so, it looks like they'll have to do it without Cahill and Kewell, who might both be out injured against the Germans. The Aussies did beat Denmark 1-nil in a tuneup on Tuesday. Good on ya, Roos.
The Uni
The home kit is this beautiful green and gold number, modeled by Tim Cahill (going head-to-head with America's Clint Dempsey) below.
The badge is sweet, too:
The away kit is, meh, OK looking.
Outlook:
Tough group and injuries abound, but there is some talent there. Prediction: out in the first round, but I'm rooting for em and are hoping they sneak through.
Aussie, Aussie, Aussie, oy oy oy!
