Coach: Guus Hiddink

Australia qualified for their first World Cup finals since 1974 with a play-off win over Uruguay and will be looking to do a whole lot better this time.

They failed to score a single goal in that tournament, which was also held in Germany. That probably won't be the case in 2006, as Australia have some good attacking players to choose from.

Mark Viduka is a proven goalscorer whose power and finishing ability could prove decisive in the chase for second place behind Brazil in group F.

Mark Bresciano, Harry Kewell and Tim Cahill are also adept goalscorers from midfield and will look to create chances for Viduka.

They lack the same class of players in defence, but the Socceroos' biggest asset could prove to be manager Guus Hiddink, whose South Korea side reached the semis against all odds in 2002.