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June 25, 2010

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Australia looks ahead to future

HAVING qualified for two consecutive World Cups and put in a respectful performance at both, Australia is likely to go through a rebuilding process now as it set its sights on Brazil 2014.

Its 2-1 defeat of Serbia on Wednesday restored some pride but was not enough to send it through to the last 16 of the tournament. It finished level on points with second-placed Ghana but lost out on goal difference.

The Aussies will be disappointed to have fared worse here than at Germany 2006, when they made the knockout stages and lost narrowly to eventual champion Italy.

Ultimately, they will surely look back on their opening 0-4 defeat at the hands of Germany as their undoing. It was that result that wrecked their goal difference and they were always playing catch-up in the group after that. They were also left to rue the two red cards they received in their opening two matches.

The end of Australia's 2010 World Cup campaign marks the end of the road for its coach Pim Verbeek, who had already said he would step down after the tournament, as well as some of its older players such as defender Scott Chipperfield.

"I think Australia is going to go through a rebuilding stage now," 34-year-old Chipperfield said. "A few players are finishing up so it's time for some new players to come through now over the next couple of years or so.

"We have some talent coming through but we still have to see how they go at the international level, they haven't been tested yet."

One of those younger players is 26-year-old Brett Holman, who scored two of Australia's three goals at these finals. Players like 23-year-olds Nikita Rukavytsya and Dario Vidosic are already establishing themselves in Europe. Midfielder Carl Valeri, 25, is likely to be a key figure in Australia's plans for 2014.



 

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