Having qualified for their second successive World Cup finals with relative ease, Australia could be one of the surprise packages of the tournament.
Having reached the last 16 in Germany, Pim Verbeek's side are rated as a 3-1 chance by Sky Bet to get as far as that stage again from a group that contains Germany, Serbia and Ghana.
They are favoured not go beyond round one, Paddy Power offering 4-9 although with strengths based on hard-running and organization, allayed with midfield goals from Tim Cahill, Harry Kewell and Mark Bresciano, they could come through. Incidentally, should Australia qualify they could face England or the USA in round two.
Other stage of elimination bets for the Socceroos are quarter-final (9-1 Sky Bet, Boylesports), semi-final (25-1 Sky Bet, Boylesports, Paddy Power), runners-up (100-1 Boylesports) and winner (125-1 Sky Bet, Boylesports, Paddy Power).
However, Victor Chandler are offering more value at 150-1 on an unlikely success. Sky Bet and Bet Fred also make them 66-1 on reaching the final, while Australasia being the continent of the winner is an ambitious 150-1 with Victor Chandler.
With a record of a goal every two games for his country, Everton's Tim Cahill is favoured to be Australia's top scorer at the tournament at 10-3 with Paddy Power. Even so, even the most optimistic Australia fan wouldn't take the 2500-1 being offered by Sky Bet on Cahill to be the World Cup's top scorer - and Australia winning the tournament. Still, Gary Lineker was top scorer in 1986, while still at Goodison Park.
An injury-free Harry Kewell could be worth taking to be Australia's top scorer instead at 4-1, with others worth keeping tabs on including Josh Kennedy (4-1), Celtic's Scott McDonald (9-2), Brett Emerton (5-1) - who is more prolific, and plays in a more attacking role for country - and Mark Bresciano (6-1) - the Palermo midfielder could prove a key man in South Africa (all odds at Paddy Power).
Although no longer part of Oceania, New Zealand remain Australia's great rivals in that part of the world. The All Whites will be playing in only their second finals after their qualification courtesy of a 1-0 play-off success over Bahrain, although at odds of 3000-1 to win the tournament (Expekt) they are not expected to stay long. Ricki Herbert's team are also 500-1 with Bet Fred to reach the final.
Paired with Italy, Paraguay and Slovakia, Rory Fallon, match-winning hero from their play-off victory, believes his side can get past the latter sides and reach the knockout phase. Should they get off to a good start against Slovakia in their first game, then his confidence could be well placed. Sky Bet make them 7-1 to reach the last 16, with Holland being potential opponents in round two. They are 1-25 on not to make it through, which in light of their general record (they won only twice in 2009, against Jordan and Bahrain) looks realistic. Sky Bet are also offering 25-1 on a last-eight berth, and 100-1 on a semi-final spot.
Recommendations:
Australia to be eliminated at the last 16 stage 3-1 Sky Bet
Mark Bresciano to be Australia's top scorer 6-1 Paddy Power
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