Assessing Australia's World Cup odds

With the Socceroos having completed their last big official match before next World Cup, commentators have turned their attention to Australia's chances for South Africa 2010.

Saturday's game against Oman barely registered on the radar of World Football as most of the media's attention focussed on the World Cup qualifying play-offs.

Australia are already on the plane to South Africa 2010, having qualified in June, and Davidde Corran assessed the overall strength of the squad for The Roar.

"We can start to consider the make-up and potential of the Socceroos squad that will head to South Africa next year", he said.

"For me, depth seems to be the biggest problem. Looking over recent Socceroos squads, three areas standout."

He pointed to a lack of other capable strikers behind Josh Kennedy, and a lack of decent back-up for 'keeper Mark Schwarzer.

He also asks whether Australia have enough talent when it comes to bringing the ball out from the back – with many sides now playing one up front, allowing the opposition extra freedom with a spare centreback.

Bookmakers seem to agree the Socceroos currently have a lack of depth - Betfair's World Cup betting market rates them as 140.00 for next year's tournament.