Do you think Australia has a chance of getting past the first round? "An Aussie fan with big dreams,GO AUSSIE"
368013
Australia will be going in as an underdog. It's easier to play with that tag. They have some pretty good EPL players with them. The ball is round n doesn't stop rolling till the final whistle. Neither has it got eyes. A penalty may not result in a goal but a deflection, back pass or wild shot may. That's the beauty of football. Australia has an even chance like any other team. By hook it'll have a better chance. By crook (like the hand of god, etc) it'll have an even better chance.
541235
Oh ye of little faith....\nThe Socceroos are destined for greatness and will win the Cup, smashing the great South American football conspiracy once and for all and facilitating a new world order in football!!!\nGo you 'roos :)
991679
I do, but then I'm Australian :D\n\nNo, but seriously.  It just made me so sad.  Having extra time, we could have brought on two more players, and the game could have gone either way.  I am so happy with how the team played over the four matches, and I would have been happy (well, happier) to have seen them lose in an honest fashion.\n\nHopefully being part of Asia now, Australia will qualify for many many more world cups and become less of an easy target for poor referreeing decisions.
1173933
Australia have yet to make the final of the World Cup finals, if that's what you mean. However, they have reached the finals twice (after battling through qualifying) this year and in 1974.
599922
Have Faith!!!\nAnd Pray!!\nBest of luck to you and your team!!!\nP.S. Australia will win!!!\nOi! Oi! Oi!
1046785
Hey there Clive,\n\nI agree with you. The Australian side has gone through many years of flatness but has also undergone a period of growth and development which now seens to be coming together. Their attitude of it's not over till it's over saw an incredible rise in determination in their game against Japan. They continued to play and perform as a team. Add to those you mentioned Brett Emerton and John Aloisi and there is definite potential there to put up an acceptable challenge to Brazil and Croatia, who are both great sides. A win against Brazil would be fantastic but if they can contain them from not scoring goals well that is positive also. I think the key will be for Guus to play them in positions they excel in. Changes or corrections can't be made against Brazil as late in the game as they were V's Japan. When players were played back in their accepted positions the team performed far better. They are no walk overs anymore. They have talent and loads of untapped potential.\n\nCan I just add losing to Brazil, if that is the outcome, is nothing to be ashamed of and I will be proud of them no matter what happens. They could just provide a couple of the biggest upsets of the tournament. Let's hope so anyway.
827063
I think they have the best chance to win the world cup it's true... they're machines! They may choke.... but all teams have those bad games! I think they'll be in an ideal position with Carter on the field!\n\nBut I'd LOVE to see Ireland win! We've had some absolutely shocking seasons and now things are really coming together! Blistering back-line and a scrummage pack that took SA to the sword last weekend! It'll prove a valuable benchmark if we can win all our autumn internationals! \n\nThe other teams fanciable are the Austrailians and maybe France if they're on form on the day! Wales under their new coach may suprise a few!!! England don't have a chance of retaining their world cup..... Austrilia should have won that on the day..... shame he missed that last penalty... then it all would have been so different!
924074
No contest...Australia will triumph!
692415
They have a Chance!!!\nBut the Aussies will win!!!\nOi! Oi! Oi!
1114946
Firstly from an Aussie thank you for your congratulations and wishes. That is really nice. Now I don't know why you nearly or otherwise felt sorry for Japan, I certainly didn't. They were very nasty and negative verbally toward our boys prior to the tournament and match. They were the more aggressive party and some of their tactics left a lot to be desired also. So I don't feel sorry for them at all and the correct score should have been 3-0 Australia. \n\nI hope they beat Croatia, I believe they have an excellent chance and that isn't an offence to Croatia, but Australia put together a strong finish and their fitness stood out toward the end. That must come into consideration V's Brazil too. That's going to be a hard match for the boys but they can compete if they are in the right frame of mind. Looking forward to that match.
1028682
Don't listen to these people. I think anything is possible. Although I honestly don't think they can get the cup since there are so many other great teams out there. But I think they will definitly make it to higher rounds,  even though they lost from Mexico :(\n\nGO IRAN :)
751768
Well Ash, nothing wrong with being optimistic.  But mate if you think they are a chance, get your money on them now, cos you'll get great odds!\n\nOr maybe you like omens.  In 2005 Australia won the first test by 239 runs in the most one sided game of the series..... and we all know what happened after that.
1101752
Who said the wavers of the St ASBO flag would win at all?\n\nTheir first, much jubilated game, was won by scoring no goal at all (twas an own goal by the opponents) and not much in the way of international classy football ensued after that.\nThe loss of Owen will hardly be noticed as he played like a wet rag in the German heat.  Didn't see much from the short metatarsal saving performance of Rooney and as long as Gerrard and a couple of others are in then the chances are maintained.\n\nWin?  Methinks Argentina and Switzerland have more chance and keep an eye on Oz tonight.  \n\nIf Japan were to beat Brazil (don't laugh - 60% think France will be out tomorrow and tip Switzerland to be in), then Australia could be first with a 3:0 win over Croatia [the points would be equal and goal difference better than BRA due to their losing].\n\nOz retains second place with a draw or better against Croatia as\nlong as Japan do not win AND improve their goal difference by more than 2.\n\nThe line up for the 1/8th finals looks presently like this:\n\n8th Finals  \nGER : SWE  = either/or\nARG:MEX     = ARG\nENG:ECU     = ECU with a good chance\nPOR:NED    = NED\nITA:AUS       = AUS (if ITA continue at present rate)\nSUI:UKR      = SUI\nBRA:CZE     = BRA or CZE is shoot out\nESP:KOR    = The Spanish win\n\nWith all at a draw, England wouldn't even be in the 1/4 finals but, with a win (even if on a shoot out where N Europeans have better nerves than Latinos), the 1/4 finals could be\n\nGER : ARG  wowo super match but GER with cooler heads\nAUS : SUI     The Swiss would win\nENG : NED  The Dutch would win\nBRA : ESP   Super match again with the Spanish winning\n\nSo my tip for the 1/2 finals is GER : NED and SUI : ESP\nBoth good matches and all capable of winning when looking at this year's results and games.  \n\nWho wins if Germany play the Dutch.  Anybody's guess.\n\nThe Swiss could re-find their old glory and drive the Spanish to distraction with their (SUI) "delay and disturb" tactics so that they could win or force a shoot out (where the Spanish are at a latin disadvantage)\n\nGreat watching to come folks\n\nFP
877706
Dude.........\n\nWell according to the form of Australian Cricket Team, I think Australia may win the World Cup 2007.\n\nAustralia are gifted with hardworking players especially all-rounders.\n\nPlayers like \n1)Adam Gilchrist\n2)Mattew Hayden\n3)M.Hussey \n\ncan prove a good start to the innings.\n\n4)Captain Ricky Ponting is doing well in the field.He is one of the prominent players of Australia & best in the world.\n\n5)Damian Martynm, Andrew Syemonds,Bradd Hogg can prove perfectly well as allrounders & contribute the team with runs in the middle order.\n\n6)Jason Gillespie,Micheal Kasprowicz,Glenn McGath,BretLee,Mitchel Johnson etc. are the best options for the bowling order & can help the team in taking wickets.\n\nFurthermore Shane Watson has proved beneficial to the team as an all rounder.Therefore he can be very much helpfull in the team during the World Cup.\n\nIn addition majority of the Australian Players are in form, so it can be clearly analyzed that they have a lot of chance in winning the World Cup 2007.\n\nI hope you got your answer.
1097337
I live in Australia and I follow the Socceroos and i belive that drawing brazil for group f will be a real big test for the team and Gus Hiddink.\nIf we beat Brazil (which probably wont happen) then they know that we can play international soccer with the big boys.\n\nGO AUSTRALIA !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
1111979
Yes, absolutely.\n\nThe thing about Australian culture is that we are tough battlers and don’t give in easily.\n\nYou only have to look at the plight of the Socceroos to see that!
420147
Brazil will be the first to qualify.. if Japan show the same class they showed in 2002, then it will be a good fight with croatia for second place.. Aussie fans, i am sorry, not strong enough to move to the next round..