FIFA World Cup Group D

"When it gets started, that's when the clock strikes zero," says Germany coach Joachim Loew. "Then it doesn't matter about preparation or qualification. It counts!"

Three-time world champions Germany are certainly a tournament team, an often ordinary-looking group of players that raises itself to be in the running when a big tournament comes around. A repeat performance is needed at the 2010 World Cup.

Although qualifying was handled easily enough, Germany's preparations have been far from ideal. The breakdown of Loew's contract negotiations was played out in a regrettably public light, with his future in doubt going into the summer. His leading strikers have been misfiring, and his influential captain Michael Ballack has been ruled out of the tournament with an ankle injury.

Schwarzer handing out no easy start

Australia will be looking to seize upon any German frailties when the sides meet on June 13 in Durban. The "Socceroos" hope to build on a positive showing four years ago, when they finished above Japan and Croatia in the group stage, before going out to eventual champions Italy thanks to a disputed last-minute penalty in the second round.

Australia's Dutch coach Pim Verbeek has Galatasaray winger Harry Kewell as well as a number of proven English Premier League players at his disposal. Tim Cahill of Everton should threaten the opponents' goal, while, at the other end, Fulham shot-stopper Mark Schwarzer guards their own.

Australia went seven straight games without conceding in qualifying, in large part thanks to the 37-year-old 'keeper with German roots. Schwarzer's parents grew up in southern Germany, and he himself played for Dresden and Kaiserslautern in the Bundesliga earlier in his career.

"To play against the country my parents come from in the World Cup is a dream," Schwarzer reflected. "Hopefully we can make it difficult for Germany so that they don't get the three points."

Serbia look to make use of inside knowledge

Serbia is playing in its first World Cup as an independent nation, having exited early from the 2006 tournament when they were Serbia and Montenegro. High-profile coach Radomir Antic took the reins in 2008 and steered it to automatic qualification for this summer's tournament, beating 2006 runners-up France to the top of the group.

"This team has very good, able players," said German coach Loew, no doubt with an eye on world-class names such as Manchester United defender Nemanja Vidic. Likely to partner Vidic at the back is Borussia's Dortmund's towering Neven Subotic, who has been linked with clubs across Europe. Gojko Kacar, of Hertha Berlin, and Marko Pantelic, who was his club teammate until this past season, are also likely to know plenty about the Germany side they face on June 18 in Port Elizabeth.

Ghana's Boateng to be friend or foe?

Ghana was the only African team to reach the second round of the 2006 World Cup, before being dumped out 3-0 by Brazil. A young side's performance in reaching the final of the Africa Cup of Nations earlier this year was also encouraging.

Loew thinks highly of the Black Stars, putting Ghana alongside the Ivory Coast and Algeria as the strongest African sides. "They have terrific players, who play at the top level," Loew said. The pick of the bunch is undoubtedly Chelsea midfielder Michael Essien. The 27-year-old has though missed most of the season with a knee injury and if he's less than fully fit at the World Cup, Ghana's chances of progression will be significantly reduced.

Included alongside Essien in Ghana's provisional squad for the first time was Hertha Berlin academy graduate Kevin-Prince Boateng. The midfielder, of dual German-Ghanaian nationality, was considered one of the brightest young prospects in German fooball before stumbling when he left to play in England in 2007.

Boateng will be hoping to play against his brother Jerome, the Hamburg defender who has been included in Germany's squad, when the sides meet on June 23. The reception he gets from the other members of the German side may be less than welcoming though, as he was the man who inflicted Michael Ballack's costly injury during the English FA Cup final between Portsmouth and Chelsea.

Germany should be more than capable of putting aside Ballack's absence and other distractions to progress through Group D. Eyes will be drawn to the one or two top-level performers in each of Ghana, Serbia and Australia's sides, but the lower profile players' comfort playing together as a team, and ability to step up to tournament football, is just as significant. The battle for second spot - or first, should Germany stumble - promises to be interesting.

Author: Uli Petersen / tms
Editor: Matt Hermann