Italy face Australia's Socceroos in their first knockout match in the World Cup Finals in Kaiserslautern on Monday.

Italy's Azzurri are without Alessandro Nesta and Daniele de Rossi and Australia are missing Liverpool’s Harry Kewell and Blackburn’s Brett Emerton.

One player definitely missing for the Australia head coach Guus Hiddink’s Socceroos is Blackburn Rovers midfielder Brett Emerton who misses the match through suspension, with Luke Wilkshire will take up Emerton’s place on the right-hand side.

Kewell, who scored a vital goal against Croatia, has been struggling to be fit in time for the match and failed in a late fitness test.

Either way, Kewell is chuffed that his team have got this far, saying: “It’s going to be fantastic. We weren't even supposed to get this far. A lot of people wrote us off, but we were quietly confident and we don't fear anybody.

“Against Italy we’ve got to out there and play our football and not worry about the opposition. It's the first time our nation have qualified past this stage, so we are going to go out and enjoy it,” finished the Liverpool midfielder.

Italy’s Azzurri head coach Marcello will be without defender Alessandro Nesta who is ruled-out with a groin strain.

His place in the starting eleven will be taken by Inter Milan defender Marco Materazzi who scored his side’s first goal against the Czech Republic.

Midfielder Daniele De Rossi will also be unavailable as he is under suspension.

AS Roma captain Francesco Totti and Mauro Camoranesi both start on the bench, with Alessandro del Piero and Luca Toni both starting the knockout match against the Socceroos.

Full starting line-up: 192.html...

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