AUSTRALIA

Australia's World Cup record: 1974 1st rd, 2006 2nd rd.

How Australia qualified for World Cup 2010: Asia, Group A winners


The Coach: Pim Verbeek (Holland, 53). Appointed: Dec 2007. WC experience: Player: none. Coach: 2002 South Korea assistant, 2006 Australia assistant.

Verbeek was assistant to Guus Hiddink in 2002, reaching the semi-finals, and worked alongside Dick Advocaat when he led Australia to the finals in 2006.

The Country: There are those who believe there was political movement involved when Australia were switched from Oceania to Asia for qualiying purposes. It was certainly not taxing for the Socceroos, who eased into the finals without so much as even conceding a goal in the six matches it took them to qualify. A 0-0 draw against Qatar in Doha confirmed qualification for Verbeek's team after they won 14 points in Group A of the final Asian qualifying phase.

Verbeek has been criticised by for playing boring football but the methodical Dutchman insists he is a results-orientated coach. He may be unknown generally, but his experience is vast, and he was key to South Korea’s success in 2002.

An average player, he has coached in Holland, Japan, South Korea and Germany as well as spells as national coach in the UEA and Dutch Antilles.

By September 2009, Australia had risen to 14th in the Fifa world rankings, their highest ever placing, and many believe the squad is now experienced enough to take the country to another level.

Their players are familiar enough: nine of the current squad play in England, including all three goalkeepers. And in Fulham’s Mark Schwarzer, now 37 and an international for 16 years, they have one of the most consistent in the Premier League.

In addition to Everton’s Tim Cahill, Lucas Neill and Blackburn’s Brett Emerton, their squad is supplemented by players who operate in countries as diverse as Russia, China, Italy, Turkey, Holland and Germany.