© EuroFootball.com
Current coach of the Australian national team and future coach of the Russian national team, Dutchman Guus Hiddink, announced the list of 23 players who will travel to the World Cup finals.
The only surprises in the lineup are powerful German striker Joshas Kennedy, who plays for Dynamo Dresden, and Australian defenders Mark Milligan and Michael Beauchamp.
G. Hiddink also included one of the team's leaders, midfielder Tim Cahill, despite concerns from his club Everton about the player's injured knee, and goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer from Middlesbrough, who has recovered from a fractured cheekbone.
This will be the second time Australia participates in the World Cup finals - the first time this team achieved this was in 1974. The 'Socceroos' earned their ticket to Germany by winning the Oceania qualification group and defeating Uruguay in the playoffs last November.
Gus Hiddink's team, who reached the semi-finals of the tournament with the Netherlands in 1998 and South Korea in 2002, will face opponents from different continents in Group F - the world champions Brazil, and the national teams of Japan and Croatia. The first match of the Australians will be played on June 12th in Kaiserslautern against Japan.
Australian national team composition:
Goalkeepers: Mark Schwarzer (Middlesbrough), Zeljko Kalac (Milan), Ante Covic (Hammarby);
Defenders: Michael Beauchamp (Central Coast), Craig Moore (Newcastle), Lucas Neill (Blackburn), Tony Popovic (Crystal Palace), Mark Milligan (Sydney);
Midfielders: Mark Bresciano (Parma), Tim Cahill (Everton), Scott Chipperfield (Basel), Jason Culina (PSV), Brett Emerton (Blackburn), Vincenzo Grella (Parma), Stan Lazaridis (unattached), Josip Skoko (Stoke), Mile Sterjovski (Basel), Luke Wilkshire (Bristol);
Forwards: John Aloisi (Alaves), Harry Kewell (Liverpool), Archie Thompson (PSV), Mark Viduka (Middlesbrough), Josh Kennedy (Dynamo Dresden).
