Australia's late surge to grab a FIFA World Cup™ last-16 spot came up agonisingly short and left the Socceroos with mixed emotions on Wednesday. The Australians produced their best performance of the tournament to down Serbia 2-1 at the Mbombela Stadium, yet it wasn't enough as Germany and Ghana went through to the knockout phase.
Australia's campaign looked irreparably damaged after their opening 4-0 rout by Germany, but a hard-fought 1-1 draw with 10 men against Ghana and their win over the Serbs restored their reputation.
"I have mixed feelings now," said coach Pim Verbeek, who finished his 30-month tenure with the Socceroos on a high note. "It was a great result and a great performance, but we are not in the final 16. That was the plan when we came to South Africa, but it didn't work out that way and I cannot blame any one of the players, who worked very hard last week when everybody else thought it was over."
In the end Australia finished on four points with Ghana, but the Africans progressed on a superior three-goal difference and will play the United States in the round of 16 at Rustenburg on Saturday. It was Australia's horror opening loss to the Germans in Durban which ultimately proved insurmountable for the Socceroos source:http://www.fifa.com
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