Germans, the nation that has hosted two of Socceroos’ final two trips in 1974 and 2006 would leave little room for Aussies to advance but Australians are keen to revisit the history by repeating the feat they performed 4 years ago by reaching the Round of 16. However, they are left with little margin of error in the presence of three times world champions as well as Ghana and Serbia.
Neutrals are going to enjoy a spectacular clash between the two. The German tetra of Arne Friedrich, Per Mertesacker, Bastian Schweinsteiger and Lukas Podolski would face the Australian trio of Mark Schwarzer, Craig Moore and Tim Cahill.
Two of them had met once before but it was around 36 years back when West Germany dumped Australia in the first round of FIFA World Cup as they were making their debut at the world stage but went home without scoring even a single goal.
The key duel will be between the two goalies of the opposite sides and comparison between the two is but quite starker. Mark Schwarzer is the name of a professional who is laden with exhaustive experience of professional games with most appearances by a foreigner on English Premier League. The fact that Mark’s parents immigrated to Australia from Germany in 1968 would add salt to the clash.
At the opposite end of football field, Manuel Neuer would be guarding the German goal post that will be making his debut after Rene Adler injury. The second choice keeper though has five senior caps for Germany it would not be easy for him to stop Klose and Lukas gunning for German goal.
The German squad may be said the most fresh and young squad in the FIFA World Cup 2010 at South Africa as Coach Joachim Low’s 23 men squad has an average age of 26.
Germans are favorites for the match but they have to be careful because Australia has nothing to lose and they would give everything they have got to beat Germans.