Socceroos World Cup player ratings
World Cup overall tournament player ratings for Socceroos who started matches in South Africa:
MARK SCHWARZER: A good tournament, but some hiccups. Produced some awesome saves to keep Australia in both the Ghana draw and Serbia win. But directly at fault for two of the goals conceded in the tournament. Still one of Australia's best. Rating: 7.
LUKE WILKSHIRE: Solid as always. Pinpoint crosses from the right still Australia's deadliest route to goal and his workrate high as ever. Missed chance against Ghana to win it and perhaps change Socceroos' tournament destiny, but did work of three men in that match. Rating: 7.
LUCAS NEILL: Awful against Germany, superb in final two matches to cap off an excellent captain's tournament. Led from the front, both on field and off with spirited public defence of his team, tactics, harmony and whingeing accusations. Rating: 8.
CRAIG MOORE: Sad end for a great Socceroo. Poor against Germany but made amends with a commanding performance against Ghana. Then missed final match because of suspension. Three World Cup campaigns and has rarely let his nation down. Rating: 6.
MICHAEL BEAUCHAMP: Stepped in for Moore in solid fashion against Serbia, dealing well with Serbia's strikers and doing all that was asked of him and more. Surely has inside running as Neill's new central defensive partner. Rating: 7.
DAVID CARNEY: Gave Ghana little change when a surprise selection for second match, but really tested defensively against Serbs, especially in first half. Always looks comfortable going forward, but perhaps more regular football will help defence. Rating: 5.
SCOTT CHIPPERFIELD: Horror first match against Germany countered by two excellent and lively cameos further up pitch off bench. Probably his last international appearance and has been a great servant. Rating: 6.
CARL VALERI: Grew in confidence every game throughout the lead-up and during World Cup. Has gone from back-up holding midfielder to Australia's midfield string-puller, and especially good against Ghana and Serbia. A lot to look forward to over next few years. Rating: 7.
VINNIE GRELLA: A sad exit. His lack of recent football showed with a disappointing 45 minutes against Germany before the hook came out. Knee injury then ruled him out of remaining two matches. Rating: 4.
JASON CULINA: Not his greatest tournament. Played out of position against Germany and it showed, caught in possession too often against Ghana, then just workmanlike against Serbia. Perhaps a victim of his own versatility here. Rating: 5.
BRETT EMERTON: Only Socceroo on song against Germany, but didn't really fire against Ghana - though he moved position three or four times, and just okay against Serbia. Rating: 6.
TIM CAHILL: Ineffective and sent off harshly against Germany, then back to his brilliant best against Serbia with trademark goal and high octane effort in midfield. We can only wonder whether Australia could have qualified for round of 16 if he'd played against Ghana. Rating: 6.
BRETT HOLMAN: Came into the tournament much-maligned, and leaves as Socceroos' player of the tournament and leading scorer. Two World Cup goals, three in past six games, and hopefully thousands of new fans because he deserves it. A watershed tournament. Rating: 8.
MARK BRESCIANO: Left out for Germany, solid against Ghana - creating goal with cleverly taken free-kick - and okay against Serbia. Busy but really only a fair to middling tournament. Rating: 6.
RICHARD GARCIA: Tried as striker against Germany and failed, though really worked hard. Only other appearance was 10-minute late cameo against Serbia. Hard to assess but cannot be faulted for effort. Rating: 6.
HARRY KEWELL: Never has one groin been watched by so many, for so long, for so little. Just 25 minutes of action before his red-card ended his tournament. Rating: 5.
JOSH KENNEDY: Out of favour first two games, before he played against Serbia and was left spinning his wheels against tough centre-back pairing. Rating: 4.
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