World Cup 2010 Exclusive: Australia Coach Pim Verbeek On Group D - Germany Strong, Ghana Supercharged, Serbia Without Pressure

Australia coach Pim Verbeek is under no illusions as to the task facing his team in South Africa in June.

The Socceroos, preparing for their third stint on the global stage, are to take on Germany, Ghana and Serbia.

Group D is widely recognized as one of the toughest of the eight but the Dutchman, who also led South Korea to third place at the 2007 Asian Cup, is looking forward to the challenge.

“Germany is always a favourite,” Verbeek told Goal.com. “They go to South Africa to win the trophy and we have a massive game against them.”

But it is not only the three-time World Cup winners that the boys in the Green-and Gold need to worry about. The other two teams are packed with talent.

“Ghana will play in their own continent,” warned the former Feyenoord coach and added,” they are mentally supercharged and will come to prove themselves.

There may be more pressure on Verbeek as after assisting Guus Hiddink and Dick Advocaat with South Korea at the 2002 and 2006 World Cups, he is now preparing for a first time as the main man on the global stage.

“The biggest difference is the responsibility,” he said. “Before, I was part of the coaching staff, involved in all aspects of the team building and making recommendations, but the decision maker was someone else. Today, I am the ultimate decision maker and as a result, the responsibility is on my shoulders. I have to say that I enjoy it very much.”

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