Harry Kewell has hit out at critics on "high horses"
from Australia's World Cup rivals who think his country will be the
whipping boys of Group D, which also features Germany, Ghana and
Serbia.
Kewell has been keeping an eye on how the Socceroos are being
perceived in their opposing nations and he doesn't like what he
sees. Kewell didn't say whether it was players and coaches or media
who were knocking his team - in fact Germany's now injured captain
Michael Ballack has publicly assured reporters his side wouldn't
take Australia lightly - but the midfield wizard said he'd heard
disrespectful noises coming from all three opponents.
"A lot of people are speculating that we are the weakest team
(in Group D)," Kewell said at the launch of his new underwear range
in Australia. "I have heard reports from Ghana, from Serbia and
from Germany ... they are all sitting up there on their high
horses. But we've proved people wrong once before and we're
confident to go there and play good football.
Kewell remains under an injury cloud of his own for the
tournament as coach Pim Verbeek sweats on whether his injured groin
will recover in time to allow him to get some much-needed football
under his belt before the tournament proper. That's still a better
diagnosis than Ballack's, who has been ruled out with ankle
ligament damage - not that Kewell thinks that will make Germany
more susceptible when Australia faces them on June 13 in
Durban.
"I don't think it's a big difference. Germany's got some great
players in there so whoever's playing is going to be difficult," he
said.
The Germans remain in Australia's sights, however, as Kewell
highlighted the importance of winning the opening game for any
World Cup team. Australia defeated Japan in a famous
come-from-behind 3-1 win to set up their progression from the group
stage at Germany 2006. Australia captain Lucas Neill echoed that
sentiment while praising Kewell's impact on Australia's
chances.
"He's a player that can change a game in a split second," Neill
said. "He's one of our big guns. He'll be ready - I'm confident and
so is he."