Grella pins hopes on Aussie trio

Australia are looking to their big-match players to upset three-time champions Germany in Sunday's 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa™ opener in Durban, with it 28 years since the Germans last having lost an opening match in Spain.

The Socceroos go into the match as outsiders and skipper Lucas Neill says his team would be satisfied with a draw in their opening match. But defensive midfielder Vince Grella believes Australia can do even better and has earmarked Tim Cahill, Harry Kewell and Mark Bresciano as the players to cause the Germans grief.

Grella said the trio will be the key to Australia bringing off a massive FIFA World Cup™ shock. "You need the special players in a team and we have a couple of them in Bresciano, Cahill and Kewell, if he's fit," said Grella, who has been capped by his country 46 times.

Australia's Jones given leave

Australia reserve goalkeeper Brad Jones has been granted leave from the Socceroos' FIFA World Cup camp because of a family illness.

The Australian federation (FFA) released a statement today confirming Jones has returned to Perth yesterday to be with his family. It is not known whether the Middlesbrough goalkeeper will return to the squad but the FFA have revealed they are in discussions over the possibility of calling up a replacement if needs be.

"Socceroos goalkeeper Brad Jones has been granted leave from the 2010 FIFA World Cup camp after receiving news of a serious illness in his family," read the statement. "Jones left South Africa yesterday to be with his immediate family and it is unclear at this stage whether he will return and participate in the tournament.

"Football Federation Australia (FFA) has applied to FIFA for the ability to replace Jones in the Socceroos squad if necessary due to 'special circumstances' and is awaiting written approval. "FFA requests that Jones' and his family's privacy are respected during this difficult time."

Verbeek: I'm not concerned

Australia coach Pim Verbeek brushed aside suggestions that the 3-1 friendly defeat to the USA on Saturday would have a detrimental effect on their 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa chances. The Dutchman, who was Guus Hiddink's assistant during the 2006 FIFA World Cup™, saw his team fall to a first-half double from Edson Buddle and a late strike by Herculez Gomez.

Tim Cahill scored Australia's solitary goal in the first half as Verbeek's men struggled to deal with the pace of the American's attack, but the coach rejected the idea that his team's confidence will suffer as a result. "I'm not concerned," he said. "They didn't create that many chances in the first half and it was only when we were pushing forward that chances seemed to fall to them.

Emerton: Our experience will be invaluable

A long-serving and integral member of the Australia line-up, Brett Emerton is once again set to be a vital cog as the Socceroos aim to make their mark at the 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa™. Now 31, Emerton’s tireless work-rate and aggressive running on the flanks seemed to have only improved with age.

Emerton has displayed his versatility both in domestic football, for Blackburn Rovers, and for his country, featuring at times in central midfield, or as a right full-back or right midfielder. After 12 years in the national team, Emerton is currently Australia’s most capped outfield player and he will shortly be eyeing the national record of 87. Sure to be prominent in Pim Verbeek’s plans over the coming month, Emerton tells FIFA.com how he is feeling and how the Socceroos are shaping up heading into South Africa, four years on from their breakthrough showing at Germany 2006.

FIFA.com: Are you feeling fit and fresh following the rigours of a long English season?
Brett Emerton: I am feeling OK. Obviously very excited and looking forward to the World Cup, so the sooner it comes around the better really.

You have rarely been injured in your career but you missed a large chunk of 2009 with a serious knee injury. Are you fully recovered from that and has the time off helped in any way?
As far as fitness is concerned, I am feeling very good at the moment. I picked up a couple of minor injuries at the end of the season which kept me out of a few games, but this has given me the opportunity to freshen up a little bit and make sure I am ready and raring to go come the first game against Germany.

Australian Profile

After a 32-year absence from the world stage, Australia made a strong statement at the 2006 FIFA World Cup™, reaching the knockout stage where it took a last-minute goal from eventual champions Italy to eliminate Guus Hiddink's team. The squad, now under another Dutchman, Pim Verbeek, features many of the Germany 2006 personnel and is a battle-hardened and experienced group.

Unlike four years ago when Australia qualified through via the Oceania zone, and finally a dramatic play-off against Uruguay, the preparation for the Socceroos this time is very different following a lengthy campaign across the length and breadth of Asia.

The road to South Africa
The Socceroos impressed in a 14-match Asian qualification campaign overcoming some of the continents best to finish top of Group 1 and be one of the first nations to reach South Africa 2010. Australia also finished top of the previous qualifying stage ahead of Qatar, China and Asian champions Iraq, despite losing matches to the latter two. The next and final stage proved a triumph for Pim Verbeek's tactical acumen as the Socceroos remained undefeated across eight matches, five points clear of Japan, with Bahrain, Qatar and Uzbekistan trailing well behind.

Verbeek shields injured Kewell from media

Australia coach Pim Verbeek decided to spare ex-Liverpool star Harry Kewell from the media because he wants to wait until the attacker is fully fit. Turkey-based Kewell is recovering from a persistent groin injury and had been due to speak after the Socceroos completed the latest training session at their northern Johannesburg base.

Verbeek, assistant Australia coach to fellow Dutchman Dick Advocaat at the 2006 FIFA World Cup™, will see his side take on fellow qualifiers Denmark on Tuesday before facing USA next Saturday in their last warm-up. He is hoping for a vastly-improved performance from a 2-1 home win over New Zealand last week as they prepare to tackle Germany, Ghana and Serbia in Group D.

Emerton back in action

Brett Emerton has returned to full training two weeks ahead of Australia's opening 2010 FIFA World Cup™ match against Germany.

A calf injury has limited Emerton's participation in the pre-tournament camps in Melbourne and Johannesburg, but the Blackburn midfielder was back in action on Sunday. The 31-year-old may not be risked in tomorrow's friendly against Denmark, while former Liverpool player Harry Kewell is also likely to sit out the game.

Kewell is continuing his rehabilitation from a groin injury and coach Pim Verbeek has said all along that Kewell will be focused on getting fit for the Germany game. Goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer has recovered from the thumb sprain which kept him out of last week's friendly against New Zealand at the MCG.