Aussie coach sure of Ghana win

verbeek believes he can beat Ghana

Australia coach Pim Verbeek believes the Socceroos have the advantage over Ghana ahead of their Group D clash at next year's World Cup on 19 June.

 
Verbeek is confident his side's better head-to-head record against the Black Stars makes gives him the upper hand in their second Group match in Rustenburg.

 
The Aussies recorded a 1-0 over the Black Stars in an international friendly at the Sydney Football Stadium in May last 2008 courtesy a Mile Sterjkowvski goal from a John Mensah error.

 
"It's interesting because we have a good record against Ghana, we won four times against them and two times it's a draw so we have never lost against them," Verbeek said immediately after the draw.

 
"(But) Germany is one of the best teams in the world of course and to play them, well they are a great opponent for our first game."

 
"Ghana of course is very strong physically and very skilful and Serbia beat France (in qualifying) so every game is full of challenges."

 
The Socceroos' opening game is against Germany in Durban on 13 June but Verbeek is undaunted at facing the strongest team in the group first-up, even though it will make it difficult for the team to get off to the kind of flying start it got in Germany four years ago when it famously came from behind to beat Japan 3-1 in the opening game with that result laying the foundation for the team's progression to the round of 16.

 
"I think it's always good (to face the best teams) immediately," Verbeek said.

 
"We will be prepared, we have enough time to prepare ourselves then we have about four or five days to prepare ourselves for Ghana and that match is close to our training venue."

  "Every game will be tough but we will be ready."