- Title: SOUTH AFRICA: FOOTBALL/SOCCER: WORLD CUP 2010: Australia prepare to face Germany
- Date: 13th June 2010
- Summary: DURBAN, SOUTH AFRICA (JUNE 12, 2010) (REUTERS) INTERIOR OF THE MOSES MABHIDA FOOTBALL STADIUM AUSTRALIAN FOOTBALL TEAM ARRIVE ON THE MATCH PITCH TELEVISION BROADCAST CAMERA VIEW OF ARCH OVER STADIUM AUSTRALIAN TEAM WARMING UP EXERCISES TELEVISION BROADCAST CAMERA AUSTRALIAN TEAM WARMING UP RUNNING WIDE OF MEDIA CONFERENCE (SOUNDBITE) (English) LUCAS NEILL AUSTRALIAN CAPTAIN SAYING: "Like I said, we are under no illusion, it's a very, very tough game, probably the toughest game certainly in our short history in the World Cup to be playing in, but it is a game in which we respect our opponents but we wont go into the game with any fear." WIDE OF STADIUM WITH AUSTRALIAN TEAM TRAINING IN THE DISTANCE BALL SKILL TRAINING VARIOUS GOALKEEPER TRAINING (SOUNDBITE) (English) LUCAS NEILL AUSTRALIAN CAPTAIN SAYING: "Yes, because this is the first game in the tournament and obviously everyone knows that if you lose your first game it becomes very difficult." WIDE OF MEDIA CONFERENCE (SOUNDBITE) (English) LUCAS NEILL AUSTRALIAN CAPTAIN SAYING: "We know we're the underdogs and we know we're going to have to be at our very, very best to get near the German side on the night, but we are going to give it everything we have got and that is like what our manager touched on, this is what Australia is all about, from the fist second to the last, we never give up and with a bit of luck on the night, who knows what is possible." SKILLS TRAINING ON THE FIELD GRANDSTAND PLAYERS PRACTICE BALL CONTROL (SOUNDBITE) (English) PIM VERBEEK AUSTRALIAN COACH SAYING: "It's a tough game, but we know the Australian mentality. They will go from the first to the last second of the game and that's what we will need. We already have great support outside, the fans are already there, so they will be there tomorrow also, and that is what we need." VARIOUS GOAL SCORING PRACTICE (SOUNDBITE) (English) LUCAS NEILL AUSTRALIAN CAPTAIN SAYING: "The last time it was an unknown journey. We didn't know what to expect. The way that ended kept us all hungry, wanting us to come back and experience it again. Like Pim touched on, the colour outside already, the support outside is amazing, makes us very proud to be the lucky ones to go out and represent the green and gold." INTERIOR OF THE MOSES MABHIDA FOOTBALL STADIUM
- Embargoed: 28th June 2010 13:00
- Keywords:
- Location: South Africa
- Country: South Africa
- Topics: Sports
- Reuters ID: LVABC3IAACEIKZPZ582LMEGL6IOM
- Story Text: Australia's opening game against Germany on Sunday (June 13) will be the toughest the Socceroos have ever encountered in their three World Cup campaigns, captain Lucas Neill said on Saturday (June 12).
The three-times world champions have won all of their opening matches at the previous five World Cups and have not been defeated in the first game since 1982, when Algeria beat West Germany 2-1.
"It's a very, very tough game, probably the toughest game certainly in our short history in the World Cup," Neill told a news conference in Durban's spectacular new Moses Mabhida stadium. "But we won't be going into the game with any fear."
Australia have faced Germany once before at the World Cup, going down 3-0 in 1974. Australia also lost 4-3 to Germany in the 2005 Confederations Cup.
Organisation and strong defence got Australia through to the knockout stage in the 2006 World Cup in Germany, where they were unlucky to lose to eventual champions Italy.
The Socceroos also played Brazil in Germany four years ago, but 31-year-old Neill said Saturday's game would be tougher.
"Yes, because this is the first game in the tournament and obviously everyone knows that if you lose your first game it becomes very difficult," he said.
"We know we're the underdogs and we know we're going to have to be at our very, very best to get near the German side on the night," said the defender.
Coach Pim Verbeek, who has been criticised for a no-frills, defensive style, said all 23 players were fully fit, but gave nothing away about his final selection.
The Dutchman said he could count on his players to give their all against Germany.
"It's a tough game, but we know the Australian mentality. They will go from the first to the last second of the game and that's what we will need," he said.
Australia crashed out of the 2006 World Cup in the second round when Italy converted a disputed penalty with the last kick of the game after a tackle by Neill.
"The last time it was an unknown journey. We didn't know what to expect. The way that ended kept us all hungry, wanting us to come back and experience it again," he said. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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