Australia-Serbia
Group D
Mbombela Stadium
Nelspruit, 20.30
Group D
Mbombela Stadium
Nelspruit, 20.30
After kicking off with a humbling 4-0 loss to Germany, Australia regained a certain amount of pride when they followed up with a 1-1 draw against Ghana. Their prospects remain slight, however, given they must now overcome Serbia and hope the Black Stars get the better of Germany to seal their advance. As for the Plavi, they sprung an upset by downing Joachim Low's group favourites 1-0 in the wake of their loss to Ghana by the same scoreline so providing Germany lose their last match, a draw will be enough to qualify.
Aiding his cause, coach Radomir Antic welcomes Aleksandar Lukovic back against the Socceroos following his sending-off in the first game. Opposite number Pim Verbeek will be deprived of the services of both Harry Kewell, sent off against Ghana, and Craig Moore, suspended after collecting a pair of cautions, but on the plus side he is able to restore Tim Cahill to the starting XI.