World Cup 2010: Australia

World Cup 2010: AUSTRALIA

FIFA ranking: 19

Overall World Cup record: 1-4-2

Coach: Pim Verbeek

Best performance: Second round, 2006

Overview: Australia ended a 32-year World Cup drought in 2006, reaching the knockout stage, and many veterans from that squad are back this summer. Keeper Mark Schwarzer was brilliant in qualifying, posting seven consecutive shutouts to help the Socceroos win their Asian zone bracket. Tim Cahill, Everton’s creative midfielder and the first Australia to score a World Cup goal, leads the attack for Dutch-born coach Pim Verbeek.

-- Kevin Baxter