Australia attacker Harry Kewell is hoping to feature in his side's World Cup opener with Germany.
Socceroos star optimistic of side's chances in South Africa
Australia attacker Harry Kewell is hoping to feature in his side's World Cup opener with Germany, after returning to full fitness.
The Socceroos talisman has had a frustrating season with injury and has only managed a few minutes of pitch-time with Turkish club Galatasaray.
Kewell, formerly of Leeds and Liverpool, is happy with his recovery and says the choice is now in the hands of coach Pim Verbeek as to whether he plays against Germany on Sunday.
He said: "I am happy with the way I am travelling, I am very happy with the way things are going.
"I can't make his (Verbeek's) mind up for him, he's the one who has the final decision on who plays and what happens.
"Look, all I can be is 100 per cent ready the same as any other player."
Australia have been drawn in Group D for the South Africa tournament and take on Serbia and Ghana as well as the Germans.
Kewell is optimistic of his side's chances having crashed out of the 2006 competition in the second round, and he knows the importance of the opener against the three-time champions.
"We're sharp. We're fit, we're strong, we're up for it," he added.
"We've come a long way, we've gone the route of qualifying properly this time (through Asia), which has been fantastic.
Fun
"The players have done all the hard work and it's kind of the fun part now to go out and show the world what we are capable of doing.
"We are all excited and we will be watching the opening match tomorrow, but as soon as that's done and dusted it's down to business.
"It's country versus country now and that's where you have to step up and show what you're worth.
"It's important to get off to a flyer at the World Cup, to get three points.
"Let's face it, we are probably hitting the hardest team in the tournament to come up against, especially first off the bat.
"We all know what Germany is capable of doing at a World Cup, but it's a World Cup and anything can happen.
"People are a lot more wary now of the players we have, but as a team we're still not that well known out there, but I am quite sure now a lot more teams are focused in what we are capable of doing."
