Australia-Germany Preview

Germany is accustomed to cruising into the knockout stage of the World Cup. This time, it has to get through perhaps the toughest group in South Africa.

The Germans look to open the tournament by extending their group-phase unbeaten streak to 18 when they face Australia in Durban on Sunday.

Germany has won three World Cups and lost in the final four times. The team has dominated the group stage, going 12-0-5 since being stunned 2-1 by Algeria in 1982.

It has won five consecutive Cup openers, but both streaks could be in jeopardy in Group D, which includes Australia, Serbia and Ghana - all considered capable of advancing deep into the tournament.

As host four years ago, Germany lost 2-0 in overtime to eventual champion Italy in the semifinals before rebounding with a 3-1 win over Portugal to claim third place.

The team followed that up by reaching the final of the 2008 European Championship, falling 1-0 to Spain. Germany didn't have many problems getting to South Africa, going 8-0-2 while outscoring opponents 26-5 during qualifying.

"There is some pressure here but we want to go into Sunday's match with confidence and we hope to win," forward Lukas Podolski said. "We want to have a good start but it will be tough."

The 25-year-old Podolski has been superb for Die Mannschaft, scoring 38 goals in 73 games. He had three goals in the 2006 World Cup and was named the best young player of the tournament.

The Poland-born Podolski scored in a 3-0 win over Hungary two weeks ago, and he'll be paired with Miroslav Klose, who is appearing in his third Cup.

Klose, who has 48 goals in 96 games, topped the 2006 tournament with five tallies.

Australia thrived as the underdog in 2006, advancing from the group phase before falling 1-0 to Italy on a controversial stoppage-time penalty kick in the round of 16.

The Socceroos are unlikely to be taken lightly this time, especially after qualifying with a 6-0-2 record and 12-1 scoring advantage.

"I think we surprised a lot of teams at the last World Cup. Obviously it's difficult a second time around," forward Harry Kewell said. "I think it's important to get off to a fly at the World Cup, to get three points, so I think let's face it - we've probably hit the hardest team in the World Cup to come up against, especially first off the bat."

Kewell will likely start up top Sunday. He has 13 goals in 45 games for the national team, getting three in qualifying and one in a 2-all tie with Croatia at the last World Cup.

Kewell appears to have put an injury-riddled spell at Liverpool behind him, scoring 27 goals in 65 games over two seasons with Turkey's Galatasaray.

Germany took the most recent meeting with Australia 4-3 at the 2005 Confederations Cup as Podolski scored the winner. The only World Cup matchup was a 3-0 victory for West Germany in 1974.