AUSTRALIA skipper Lucas Neill says he is getting sick and tired of the controversial refereeing decisions dogging the Socceroos' 2010 World Cup campaign.
After losing Tim Cahill to a straight red card in the first game against Germany for a tackle that should have only received a yellow card, the Socceroos were again forced to play with 10 men against Ghana when Harry Kewell received his marching orders for a deliberate handball on the goal line.
Kewell will now be suspended for the final group game against Serbia in Nelspruit on Wednesday - as will veteran defender Craig Moore after he picked up a second yellow of the tournament against Ghana - but at least Cahill will be back after missing the Ghana game following the automatic one-match suspension he received following his red card against Germany.
Neill said the chance to give Moore and Kewell, who was sent off after just 25 minutes against Ghana after being left out against Germany following his recent lack of match fitness due to his long-running groin problem, another chance to play at this World Cup will give the team added motivation against Serbia.
Australia needs to beat Serbia and hope the Germany-Ghana game being played at the same time is not a draw to have any chance of making it to the second round of the tournament.
"This time Moorey is going to miss a match and Harry will miss a match and Timmy has just missed a match so we have got to give them another bite at the cherry (by reaching the second round)," Neill said.
"But whoever comes in (against Serbia to replace Moore and Kewell) I know they are going to give that same spirit and that same performance (as during the 1-1 draw with Ghana) so let's hope it's enough."
With Australia still bottom of the group with just one point and by far the worst goal difference - compared to Ghana which is on four points and Germany and Serbia which have three each - Neill said the Socceroos cannot afford any more controversial refereeing decisions to go against them in their final group game if they hope to qualify for the knockout stages.
"Let's just hope we get the next big decision in the next game because it swings in roundabouts - or it should - and we are due our time," Neill said.
"So far we have only had swings, so let's pray for a roundabout."
But despite the setbacks throughout the campaign to date, Neill remains confident the Australians can qualify for the second round of the World Cup for the second tournament in a row following the much-improved effort against Ghana - which was in stark contrast to the meek effort in the opening game against Germany when the Socceroos went down 4-0.
"We got a little bit of a reality check from Germany to give us a reminder that at this level you get punished (for errors)," he said.
"We worked hard after that game on making sure we didn't give away cheap chances like we did in the first game and then we just really got together and became that family again and found that Aussie spirit and spark that was missing in the past couple of games."
"And that all came back against Ghana (when Australia hung on for a draw despite playing with 10 men for most of the game following Kewell's early sending off)."
"And if Australia continues to play at that kind of level and with that kind of spirit on the world stage then we are going to be in the top 20 for years."
Related Articles

Socceroos midfielder embraces move to England

Cardiff City snap up sought-after Socceroos starlet
