Harry Kewell is determined to play in Australia’s World Cup opener against Germany.

But it’s unlikely the Socceroos forward will be fit to play a friendly match with New Zealand on Monday.

Rachel Tinney reports.

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TRANSCRIPT

At their first training session, Harry Kewell joined the team for a customary photo op with the Prime Minister before being restricted to running drills.

He is currently fighting a groin injury which he says has been blown out of proportion.

Harry Kewell, Socceroos Forward: “People are again saying it’s terrible but I think a lot of people don’t realise that four weeks, three or four weeks ago I was training for Galatasaray.”

The Socceroos farewell game with New Zealand at the MCG marks the start of three build-up matches ahead of the World Cup.

Australia hasn’t played New Zealand since 2005 and the cross-Tasman rivalry is heating up.

The provisional 31-man squad which went into camp on Tuesday will be reduced to 23 on June first before the opening World Cup match on June 13.

Rachel Tinney, QUT News.