Germany youngsters seek to impress against Australia

Published>Sat, Jun 12 10 06:16 PM

Durban, June 12 (DPA) A young German national team will seek to overcome Sunday the absence of captain Michael Ballack when they make their debut in Group D of the 2010 World Cup football against Australia in Durban.

Germany's youngest team in over seven decades have an average age of around 25 in their likely starting line-up, while their Australian rivals at Moses Mabidha Stadium are on average over 30, in many cases veterans of the 2006 World Cup.

'They all want to show what they can do,' Germany coach Joachim Loew said of his youths.

Loew, 50, who led Germany to the final in Euro 2008, is ambitious for the ongoing global event.

'In a tournament, the goal is always to win every match,' he stressed.

Australia are expected to put up a defensive side in an effort to nip that effort at the bud. And they will most likely rely on Everton midfielder Tim Cahill to make a difference up front, as he did at Germany 2006.

Loew will have a comfortable pick from his current squad, since all players were fit by Saturday. Earlier, injuries prevented both Ballack and first-choice keeper Rene Adler from playing in South Africa at all.

History may weigh in on the relatively-warm Durban night. And that would hardly benefit the Socceroos.

While Germany have won three editions of the World Cup (1954, 1974 and 1990), Australia remain a humble player in the global football scene.

The Socceroos have taken part in fewer World Cups than Germany have won: in 1974 they could not get past the group stage, while in 2006 they could only make it to the second round. In their first World Cup participation, in fact, Australia were beaten by both West Germany and East Germany.

But of course football is full of surprises.

And Australia nearly pulled off a big one at Germany 2006, losing 1-0 to eventual champions Italy in the Round of 16 on a controversial penalty scored five minutes into injury time.

And it remains to be seen whether Germany's youngsters can impose their individual hierarchy and the weight of their country's football history Sunday in Durban.

The Europeans' manager Oliver Bierhoff noted that all that would need to be confirmed on the pitch, and that this might not prove so easy.

'Now comes the moment of truth. We now have to show how we can perform,' Bierhoff said Saturday. 'The opening match in particular is a hard task for our young team.'

On paper, Germany are better than their rivals, and German captain Philipp Lahm, a veteran at 26, thinks they have the stuff to back that up on the pitch.

'Of all the national teams I have played in so far, this is the team that has the most quality,' Lahm warned.

And that is quite a warning: Lahm came third in the 2006 World Cup and was runner-up in the Euro 2008.

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