To see the final Socceroos training session and press conference...

To see the massive scarf supporting the Socceroos unveiled today on Bondi Beach...

  

The Australian team and particularly coach Pim Verbeek has been savaged like never before following the 4-0 mauling at the hands of Germany in their opening game which has left the Socceroos' hopes of reaching the second round of the 2010 tournament on a knife-edge.

Because of the damage that defeat did to the Socceroos' goal difference, only two wins against both Ghana and Serbia in their final group game will be enough to guarantee the team reach the knockout stages, as they did four years ago in Germany.

However Chipperfield says he is surprised at how quickly the team has been written off on the basis of just one performance against what was always going to be the strongest team in the group in three-time winners Germany.

"We have heard a bit of it from back home but we have had one bad game and all of a sudden half the team should retire and things like that," he said.

"Obviously it was disappointing but we are experienced enough to know we have a bad games but then you just move onto the next game.

"You can use it as motivation and we've had a lot of criticism in the past and we know if win against Ghana the press will turn around and be behind us.

"If we win on Saturday then I guess everyone is happy back home again as well but we let ourselves down and the country down last weekend but we still have time to turn it around."

Verbeek's team selection for the Germany game has been roundly criticised after he left out experienced trio Harry Kewell, Josh Kennedy and Mark Bresciano and played Tim Cahill, Richard Garcia and Jason Culina in positions they are unaccustomed to playing.

However Chipperfield denied Verbeek's change of formation for the Germany game had either led to tension within the camp or was to blame for the humiliating defeat.

"It wasn't the tactics that hurt us," he said. "It was individual player errors so we didn't play to our tactics that we wanted to play and we allowed the German team too much space and they got in behind us."

But it won't get any easier against Ghana, who beat Serbia 1-0 in their opening match, particularly as the Socceroos will be without suspended Tim Cahill and injured Vince Grella.

"We don't want it to be all over after two games so we have to work hard on Saturday night," he said.

"But Ghana are unpredictable, they are a strong team and fast all over the park and of course they are going to be confident after their 1-0 win over Serbia."

To see the final Socceroos training session and press conference...

To see the massive scarf supporting the Socceroos unveiled today on Bondi Beach...