One Socceroo with first-hand knowledge of virtually the entire German team may be lucky to get any game time in Sunday's World Cup opener in Durban.

Attacking midfielder Dario Vidosic, 23, has battled at close quarters with the stars of "Der Mannschaft" while playing for MSV Duisburg in Germany's Bundesliga, on loan from Nuremberg.

"I have played against Bayern Munich away and Werder Bremen ... I have basically played against their whole starting eleven," Vidosic said.

"So I know them pretty well."

The up-and-coming Socceroo, however, is playing second fiddle at South Africa 2010 to veteran Brett Emerton.

He can expect to play a part only in the later stages against Germany, if at all, unless Emerton's troublesome calf gives him grief.

And that is something Vidosic doesn't want to happen.

"We are all friends," he said.

"No-one wants anyone to be injured.

"If the opportunity came it would be unbelievable to get out there on probably the greatest stage of any sporting event.

"The World Cup is the pinnacle of football.

"But it's Pim's (coach Pim Verbeek's) decision."

Vidosic has done everything asked of him so far by Verbeek.

He scored the equaliser in Australia's fortunate 2-1 win over New Zealand last month in the Socceroos' farewell match in Melbourne.

His finishing in training in Johannesburg has also been razor-sharp.

But if South Africa's World Cup turns out to be mostly an off-field learning experience for him, he will have few complaints.

"We are all waiting for our chance but it's great training with these guys," he said.

"Even at dinner, or in the rooms, listening to the Harrys (Harry Kewells), basically everyone ... they're playing where we want to play,

"It's great being around them.

"You get stories about things going right and going wrong ... you can learn so much from them."

He said Germany had "a lot of younger blood coming through" but the absence of injured captain Michael Ballack would be a big loss.

"It's like us losing (captain) Lucas (Neill)," he said.

"Ballack has been around major tournaments for a long time and they will miss him."

Brought to you by AAP © 2024 AAP