Possible Group in 2010

CROATIA, Uruguay, Paraguay, Portugal and even a revenge mission against world champions Italy are all possible match-ups for Australia in a blockbuster World Cup farewell match in Melbourne next May, but the chances of the Socceroos resuming their age-old rivalry with New Zealand seem remote.

After yesterday's final round of qualifiers in Africa, Europe and South America, the list of the 32 teams who will be going to South Africa has finally been filled. That list, and the impending World Cup draw in Cape Town, will be used to finalise the Socceroos' build-up - which is almost certain to involve only one match on Australian soil.

While Football Federation Australia has tentatively booked ANZ Stadium for a match on the weekend of May 21 to 23, it's understood coach Pim Verbeek wants only one farewell match, which is virtually certain to be played at the MCG on May 26. Contrary to some suggestions, there is no rule preventing Australia playing a team it draws in the World Cup, although Verbeek is likely to avoid that scenario for fear of giving away too many secrets.

FFA chief executive Ben Buckley remains coy about the schedule, and possible opponents, saying: ''We're now in the process of reviewing which teams are available. We now know the results from Europe and South America, so there's a lot more clarity. But I can't confirm any dates, how many games will be played, or any teams.''

Asked who would decide, Buckley added: ''That's up to the coaching staff. Pim and the team will ultimately determine the best way to prepare for the World Cup.''

Verbeek seems intent on mirroring the schedule devised by his predecessor, Guus Hiddink, before the previous World Cup in 2006. The Socceroos played one farewell game, against Greece at the MCG - which drew a record crowd of 95,103 - before flying to Europe, where they finetuned their preparations against the Netherlands (in Rotterdam) and Liechtenstein (in the German city of Ulm).

This time around the team is likely to head to base camp in Johannesburg immediately after the farewell match in Melbourne and play at least two games in South Africa. Based on Hiddink's model, one game will be against a strong opponent and the final match against a weak opponent - although Liechtenstein didn't quite prove to be the walkover they were expected to be. With the Socceroos a big chance of drawing an African opponent, southern African minnows such as Botswana, Mozambique, Mauritius, Seychelles, Malawi, Rwanda, Burundi, Lesotho and Swaziland will all come into calculations. Minimising travel for the players in the final week will be a key consideration.

If the World Cup draw on December 5 gives Australia a relatively late start to the tournament, there is a slim possibility of a third game in South Africa, which could raise the possibility of a long-awaited match against the All Whites.

While Buckley praised New Zealand's epic victory against Bahrain in Wellington last weekend, he has cast doubts on a match-up against Australia's oldest opponents, saying: ''It was a wonderful achievement by New Zealand, and they should be congratulated. It's potentially a defining moment for the sport in New Zealand, much as our match against Uruguay [2005] was.

''Of course we all know the great rivalry which exists between the two nations, but when you're preparing for a World Cup, you can't romanticise about that. You have to look at what's best for the team.''

While Australia have played New Zealand 62 times since their first meeting in Dunedin in 1922, the two nations have not met since Australia's switch from Oceania to Asia in 2005. Earlier this week, New Zealand Football chairman Frank van Hattum said he would ''love'' to resume the rivalry in a ''meaningful way''.