TAB Sportsbet has Australia at $2.85 to progress to the final 16 teams. They are given little hope to win group D and are $8 with Germany expected to finish on top.

Australia open their campaign against the 2006 World Cup semi-finalists on June 13 followed by Ghana on June 19 then Serbia in the final group game on June 23. 

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The Melbourne Victory skipper and 51-capped former Socceroo says being written off by the bookies is exactly the right mentality for the green and gold heading into South Africa.

"If we do go into every game in our group stage as underdogs - that's probably where we'd like to be," he told au.fourfourtwo.com.

"And certainly it's better to be in a group where everyone can take points off everyone. If you get a so-called easier team where we go in as so-called favourites that probably doesn't suit us too well.

"The reality is it certainly could've been a lot easier but at the same time it could've e been a lot harder if you like. But I'm optimistic we can get the results.

Muscat believes a point against the Germans would be a fantastic outcome and could set us up for the remainder of the group.

"The first game is very important against Germany. Not to get beat and take it from there. Without a doubt, their [Germany's] record in World Cups speak for themselves so the fact that they're first and we get them out of the way... if we can take anything from that game would be a bonus."

Socceroo skipper Lucas Neill has echoed those sentiments telling au.fourfourtwo.com he's happy playing Germany first. "What a great way to open the World Cup," he said shortly after the draw in South Africa on Saturday morning.

"At a 70,000 stadium in Durban against one of the favoured teams for the World Cup and group favourite and yet again, Australia is underdogs and that's the way we like it, having the opportunity to take a point or three against one of the biggest nations in world football."

Muscat added that the scenario he most preferred was to reach the final game in the group stage having to force a win to go through to the knockout stage.  

"I certainly think we can get out of the group," he said. "We need to not get beat in that first game and then we've got a realistic chance of picking up points against the other two.

"The last game the Serbians, they finished ahead of France [in qualification] and we should know what they're capable of. Having to play them to win to get through to the next round for me would be the ideal scenario."

What may also help the green and gold cause is Guus Hiddink. The Dutch master will be a spectator in South Africa after Russia surprisingly failed to qualify.

The former Socceroo boss at the 2006 World Cup may be able to provide his former assistants and compatriots Pim Verbeek, Henk Duut and Graham Arnold with insight into Australia's opposition.