Rustenberg, is the scene for what Lucas Neill believes to be the most important match he has ever played, and what is one of the biggest ever for the Socceroos brief and rollercoaster World Cup history.
"This is the biggest match of my career", Neill declared.
"This is by far the biggest game in Australia's football history. We did so well in the last campaign and we want to continue that momentum."
"I am the leader of this group and the captain. I don't want to be the guy who looks back on his career as someone who led out Australia to a World Cup and didn't get out of the group.” the Galatasary defender told AAP.
Neill will expect better from his side than the performance laid out against Germany.
Bested by a rampant German team while not unexpected was far more damaging than a 2-0 loss to Brazil in 2006. The World Cup in Germany four years ago is seemingly the yard stick of all Socceroos fare, how this side compares to last time around.
2006 is long ago
The halcyon days of 2006 are far behind a team similar in its personnel, but very different in its outlook. Australian keeper Mark Schwarzer feels that Australians now expect results than just a good showing on the world stage.
"Maybe in 2006 there was a degree of euphoria and celebration. Now it's about performance and meeting expectations." Schwarzer said
This evening they face Ghana, a team Australia has a good record over, but a side rapidly developing into one of the strongest African footballing nations.
The last time they faced off it was an awkward encounter in Sydney with the Socceroos winning 1-0, however the 'Black Stars' are now a very different prospect.
Ghana stars in Italy
Despite losing Chelsea superstar Michael 'the bison' Essien before the World Cup began, Ghana has some of Africa's best developing stars including Italian based players Sulley Muntari who plies his trade at European champions Inter Milan, Stephen Apiah at Bologna and Kwadwo Asamoah at Udinese.
Playing in the worlds top leagues, against the worlds top players shows that long gone are the all too familiar African traits of inconsistency and lack of concentration in African football, this is a new Ghana.
To win a game like this the Socceroos need to go back to a winning formation from the qualifiers and rediscover the spirit that has brought them to the finals on the back of a stoic defence and a team that plays at its best on the counter attack.
Grella hoping to be back for Serbia clash
The mountain has become that little bit steeper with the absence of midfield enforcer Vince Grella to a knee injury with a hope that he will be available for the Serbia match.
"Vince is (still with) the group. We will try everything to make him fit, that's what the medical staff is for," Verbeek said despite the Blackburn player being hooked at halftime during the Germany match.
"He will do everything to be fit, but we have to wait to see what the reaction is with this injury for the upcoming days.” Verbeek Said.
With reports that the Socceroos have trained well this week it will take more than a concerted effort to overcome a Ghana side playing at a World Cup in Africa and on a wave of adrenalin following a hard fought win over Serbia.
"The players reacted very well to the loss against Germany. We know what we have to do," Verbeek said.
Whether Kewell plays or not, whether Verbeek implements the right strategy one thing is for certain, if Australia puts on a performance similar to the one against Germany Socceroos fans can expect little from the match.
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