Ghana v Australia 2am kickoff

TEAM NEWS

Australia could make wholesale changes to their side following their 4-0 thrashing by Germany. Tim Cahill is suspended so Harry Kewell is likely to start up front and he may be partnered by Josh Kennedy.
Defensive midfielder Vince Grella has been ruled out with a knee injury.
Ghana have no injury worries and could pick the same XI that impressed in beating Serbia 1-0, which means Kevin-Prince Boateng is set to keep his place and win only his third cap for Ghana.
One booking from suspension: Vorsah, Tagoe (Ghana); Moore, Neill, Valeri (Australia).

MATCH PREVIEW
Fresh from being torn to shreds by Germany's young pups, Australia's Dad's Army now have to face the youngest team in the competition, Ghana, as they desperately try to salvage their World Cup dream.
The Socceroos' defeat to Germany was an unmitigated disaster. Coach Pim Verbeek, hardly a darling of the Australian press, has been absolutely lambasted in the media with one newspaper saying his tactical decisions made him look like a "rabbit in the headlights rather than a magician pulling one out of a hat."
Never a man to take a risk, his decision to play a virtual 4-6-0 formation with midfielders Tim Cahill and Richard Garcia of Hull asked to play as deep-lying attackers was a shambles. Rumours of discontent in the squad have hardly helped matters, with regular starters Mark Bresciano and Josh Kennedy said to be fuming at being left out.
The Black Stars of Ghana were the first African team to pick up three points at this World Cup and were good value for their win over Serbia. Germany's defeat to the Serbians on Friday has blown Group D wide open, but the Ghanaians would be a step closer to the second round if they beat the Aussies in Rustenberg. This would set up an intriguing final group game against Germany, which could determine who plays England in the last 16.

MATCH STATS

Head-to-head
- This will be the seventh meeting between the sides. Australia have won four of the previous meetings, Ghana two and there has been one draw.
- They have played each other before in South Africa when Australia beat Ghana 1-0 in a friendly in Durban in 1996.
Germany
- This is the 100th match played by an African side at the World Cup.
- Following his goal against Serbia, Asamoah Gyan has now scored in five of Ghana's 10 matches in 2010. He became the first Ghanaian to score in two World Cups.
- Gyan was the first striker to score at the 2010 World Cup. His goal ended a record streak of 10 World Cup goals scored by either a defender or midfielder. Portugal's Nuno Gomes (2006) was the last forward before Gyan to score a World Cup goal.
Ghana
- Five players have been sent off in the last three World Cup matches involving Australia.
- Australia lined up with the fifth-oldest team to play in a World Cup match against Germany. They had an average age of 31 years and 282 days which was the oldest team to play at a World Cup for 12 years.
- Craig Moore debuted for Australia against Ghana in a friendly in June 1995.

MATCH OFFICIALS

Referee Roberto Rosetti (Italy)
Assistants Paolo Calcagno (Italy) and Stefano Ayroldi (Italy)
Fourth official Carlos Simon (Brazil)

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/world_cup_2010/matches/match_25/default.stm

HN, another pic of Pauline Hanson please.

Well if Pim can't handle it maybe Ossie Ardiles will, as he has stated he wants the job.

Love that Holman scored considering every aussie football supporter has been bagging him for 2 years

Go Aussie imo, have to support them cause I live here but honestly want to see them do well.

Most Australians were supporting us against Slovakia and not sure why everyone wants them to lose so much.

That is bullsh*t.