BLACKBURN Rovers midfielder Vince Grella insists Australia face a difficult World Cup next year regardless of their draw this evening.

The Aussies romped through their Asian qualifying group to become one of the first countries to book their place in South Africa next year.

They will be hopeful of going one better than their debut World Cup finals in Germany in 2006.

Back then, the Socceroos reached the tournament’s second round before they were beaten 1-0 by champions Italy.

For tonight’s 32-team draw, Australian are considered one of the stronger nations in the Asia, Oceania and North/Central America pot.

And Grella is confident his country - that have made few personnel changes since 2006 - can make an impact.

“The squad is basically the core of the last team,” he said. “A few older players have retired and a few younger players have come in and joined the squad.

“It is basically the same team bar Mark Viduka. How are we going to go? It is really hard.

“People say we could be lucky in the draw. I don’t see it that way, because all the games in the draw will be difficult.

“It will depend on the players’ performances at the time and we are too far away to judge that.”

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