Australia won't win the World Cup, according to national team coach Pim Verbeek.
"We cannot win the World Cup," said the Dutchman, who is leaving as Australia coach after the World Cup to take up a technical position with Morocco. "We can surprise, but to win the World Cup you need at least 20 very good players."
Australia will play in Group D with Germany, Serbia and Ghana.
"We have a good, experienced selection, but we also have inexperienced players who are not playing at the highest level," Verbeek said in an interview with Alpha magazine. "If you think you can win the World Cup with those players - not really."
Verbeek, however, did praise his players, saying they had no egos and deserved more recognition for what they had achieved over the past two years.
Australia led Group A in Asian qualifying ahead of second-place Japan without losing a match and only conceding one goal.
"They come into the team, and whether they are coming from the A-League or Everton, you don't see any difference," Verbeek said of his players. "It has to do with the Australian mentality. If you look for the team spirit on the field and outside the field, it's really good. The most important players in my team are also the best. That makes life so much easier."
Australia plays its opening World Cup match in Durban on June 13 against Germany.
