SYDNEY (Reuters) – Holger Osieck has taken quite a bit of flak during Australia’s World Cup qualifying campaign and it was as much with relief as euphoria that the coach greeted the win that sent the Socceroos to Brazil on Tuesday.

A lacklustre campaign that featured only two wins from seven matches before the 1-0 victory over Iraq at Sydney’s Olympic Stadium has tested the relationship between the German and Australia’s football fans and media.

SYDNEY, June 18 (Reuters) – Holger Osieck has taken quite a bit of flak during Australia’s World Cup qualifying campaign and it was as much with relief as euphoria that the coach greeted the win that sent the Socceroos to Brazil on Tuesday.

A lacklustre campaign that featured only two wins from seven matches before the 1-0 victory over Iraq at Sydney’s Olympic Stadium has tested the relationship between the German and Australia’s soccer fans and media.

SYDNEY (Reuters) – Substitute Josh Kennedy’s dramatic goal seven minutes from time sent Australia to the World Cup finals for the fourth time on Tuesday, ending a nervous night for 80,523 rain-soaked fans packed into Sydney’s Olympic Stadium.

Six minutes after coming on as a substitute for Tim Cahill, Kennedy rose alone in the middle of the penalty area to head Mark Bresciano’s cross past the dive of Iraq goalkeeper Noor Sabri and into the net.

SYDNEY, June 18 (Reuters) – Substitute Josh Kennedy’s goal seven minutes from time sent Australia into the World Cup finals for the fourth time on Tuesday, ending a nervous night for 80,523 rain-soaked fans packed into Sydney’s Olympic Stadium.

Six minutes after coming on as a substitute for Tim Cahill, Kennedy rose alone in the centre of the penalty box to head Mark Bresciano’s cross past the despairing dive of Iraq goalkeeper Noor Sabri and into the net.

SYDNEY (Reuters) – Shane Williams accepts that his stunning recall to the British and Irish Lions will be a one-night cameo but firmly believes fellow winger Christian Wade could go on to play in the test series against Australia.

The pair have flown thousands of miles to bolster the cause and will start against the ACT Brumbies in Canberra on Tuesday, giving respite to a bruised and battered Lions backline before the first test against the Wallabies on Saturday.

SYDNEY, June 17 (Reuters) – Shane Williams accepts that his stunning recall to the British and Irish Lions will be a one-night cameo but firmly believes fellow winger Christian Wade could go on to play in the test series against Australia.

The pair have flown thousands of miles to bolster the cause and will start against the ACT Brumbies in Canberra on Tuesday, giving respite to a bruised and battered Lions backline before the first test against the Wallabies on Saturday.

SYDNEY (Reuters) – Captain Lucas Neill has warned Australia that football can shatter dreams as well as make them come true, meaning Tuesday’s seemingly straightforward World Cup qualifier against Iraq at Sydney’s Olympic Stadium is no formality.

With Iraq already out of the World Cup running and having lost two of their most experienced players to retirement, Australia are expected to win comfortably and claim their ticket to Brazil for next year’s finals.

SYDNEY, June 17 (Reuters) – Captain Lucas Neill has warned Australia that football can shatter dreams as well as make them come true, meaning Tuesday’s seemingly straightforward World Cup qualifier against Iraq at Sydney’s Olympic Stadium is no formality.

With Iraq already out of the World Cup running and having lost two of their most experienced players to retirement, Australia are expected to win comfortably and claim their ticket to Brazil for next year’s finals.

SYDNEY, June 17 (Reuters) – British and Irish Lions centre Jamie Roberts is a ‘grave doubt’ for Staurday’s first test against Australia because of a hamstring strain, team doctor James Robson said on Monday.

There was better news about the hamstring injury to Welsh winger George North, who was a “great chance” to play, Robson said, while England centre Manu Tuilagi was progressing well with his shoulder injury.

SYDNEY (Reuters) – Australia have named complacency public enemy number one ahead of their bid to seal a third successive World Cup berth with victory over Iraq in front of a sell-out 80,000 crowd at the Olympic Stadium on Tuesday.

The Socceroos put themselves in the driving seat for the second spot in Asian qualifying Group B and the place in Brazil that goes with it by thrashing Jordan 4-0 last week. Victory over 2007 Asian Cup champions Iraq will secure it.