Australia
Australia, long the dominant team in FIFA's weak Oceania region, switched to the larger Asian zone for qualifying for the 2010 tournament. But the tougher competition the Australians expected never posed much of a challenge: the Socceroos allowed only four goals in their 14 qualifiers, and they opened the second stage with seven consecutive shutouts. The single goal they allowed in their final qualifier, against Japan, was the first their defense had given up in a year.
Goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer and defender Lucas Neill anchor that defense, just as they did in Germany four years ago, but is that a good thing? Schwarzer is 37 and Neill is 32, and their experience will not make them faster than the players running at them this time around. Tim Cahill and Brett Emerton, who like Schwarzer play in England's Premier League, are the engine that drives Australia's midfield. They each scored four goals to lead Australia in qualifying, but their ability to feed strikers like Harry Kewell and the 6-foot-4 Josh Kennedy - without losing their connection to a defense that may need their help - will be a more difficult and more important task.
Once they get to South Africa, the Socceroos can help themselves with a fast start. If they emerge from their first game, against Germany, with a win or a tie it will change the math for everyone in the group.
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