Australian striker Harry Kewell, though injured, has big hopes for his national team.

Little is expected of the Antipodeans who sit in joint-42nd position in the FIFA/Coca-Cola World Ranking. Indeed it is only the Socceroos’ second appearance at the world’s showpiece event, with their first

“Everyone was saying when the draw was pulled out ‘You’ve got Brazil’,” he[Kewell] said.

“We’ll enjoy it. At the end of the day, it’s 11 versus 11 men. The way football is going in this day and age, strange things have happened. We’re full of confidence. At the end of the day, we know we can play on the highest level. We’ve just got to go out there and prove it.

“The squad gets on well. We all play for each other. No one thinks they’re bigger or better than anyone. Everyone puts themselves on a par level and just works, works hard and enjoys football. Everyone can play and play very well.”

Unfortunately for him and his team, Harry Kewell is uncertain to be part of Australia’s team in the first match of the World Cup, with Japan, though they hope this would not be the case.

The 27-year-old is out of Australia’s friendly with the Netherlands on 4 June and is a major doubt for the final warm-up game against Liechtenstein three days later, but he expects to be available for the Socceroos’ opening group game against Japan in Kaiserslautern on 12 June.

“The injury is not ideal but I am expecting to be back and ready in time for the tournament,” he said. “I’m so disappointed that I couldn’t get back to Melbourne for the game against Greece but it was out of my control. I now have to focus on what is within my control, and that’s working hard.”

Source: WCoffsite