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Aussies the first SWC arrivals

Johannesburg - With the kind of fanfare that is usually reserved for their more celebrated cricketers, the Australian soccer squad became the first of the visiting World Cup squads to arrive in South Africa when they landed at Johannesburg's OR Tambo Airport on Thursday evening.

The Socceroos, as they are known, held a brief session for photographers and TV crews, but there were no interviews before they were whisked off to the squad's headquarters on the outskirts of Johannesburg.

But Australia's Dutch coach, Pim Verbeek, announced before the squad's departure from Australia that they would waste no time and start training within 24 hours of their arrival in South Africa.

Australia have also arranged World Cup warm-up games against Denmark on June 1 and the United States on June 5 before tackling Germany, Serbia and Ghana in what is regarded as one of the toughest of the eight opening-round World Cup groups.

Spearheaded by prolific Everton goal-scorer Tim Cahill, Fulham goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer, former Leeds United and Liverpool star, Harry Kewell, and captain Lucas Neill, the 28 players who arrived in South Africa are based mainly in England and other European countries.

Verbeek axed Middlesbrough striker Scott McDonal and former Crystal Palace midfielder Nick Carie from his initial squad after The Socceroos had beaten New Zealand 2-1 shortly before their departure for South Africa. The Dutch coach will trim his squad further to 23 players by May 31 - the final cut-off date as decreed by Fifa.

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