Australia doesn’t have to beat Brazil, even if we don’t get a draw, our
hopes of progressing from Group F into the second round are very much alive.
That’s the luxury that the win over Japan has given the Socceroos: we can
play the game on our terms.

There are
four players carrying a yellow card from the Japan match – Craig Moore, Tim Cahill,
John Aloisi and Vince Grella. If any of these players were to pick up another
yellow they would automatically be suspended from the crucial match against Croatia. Hiddink has the option of
protecting these players in order for them to play against Croatia.

However,
ask any professional sportsman and they’ll tell you they like to test
themselves against the best in the business. Can you imagine Tim Cahill sitting
this game out? World Cups only come around every four years and qualifying for
one can take 32 years. This is a tournament to live in the moment, play like
it’s your last match. Australia should go all out in the game as
the world is watching. Beating Japan warranted praise, taking it up to Brazil demands respect.

Australia has played Brazil five times: winning once, losing
once and coming out equal on three occasions. That’s a pretty handy record
against the world’s greatest football nation.

Hiddink
will most likely employ his 4-2-3-1 formation. Brazil plays with Ronaldo and Adriano up
front and Kaka and Ronaldinho floating around behind them. Moore and Neill will
have the task of covering the two Brazilian strikers with Chipperfield and
Emerton providing cover. Australia’s two defensive midfielders, Grella
and Culina, will aim to occupy the space that Ronaldinho and Kaka love to drift
into and setup deadly attacks. Australian cannot give away possession like they
did against Japan, as the Brazilians are lethal when
they surge forward into the space that has been created.

Whatever
happens, this is what we craved so badly in wanting to reach the World Cup.
We’re not here to make up the numbers or be the toys for the big boys to play
with. A spirited display on Sunday will go a long way to achieving this.

Likely team
line-up: Schwarzer; Emerton, Neill, Moore, Chipperfield; Grella, Culina; Kewell,
Cahill, Bresciano, Viduka.

Our
prediction of Australia beating Japan by two goals was spot on and on
Sunday we expect Australia to hold Brazil to a draw. Come on Aussies!

For more Australian World Cup coverage, visit
The Soccer Squirrel.