Australia makes three changes

Australia has made three changes for this afternoon’s (morning AEST) Round of 16 match against Italy in Kaiserslautern. Mark Schwarzer, Marco Bresciano and Luke Wilkshire come into the side.

Australia has made three changes for this afternoon-s (morning AEST) Round of 16 match against Italy in Kaiserslautern.

Apart from yesterday-s announcement that Mark Schwarzer would be back between the sticks at the expense of Zeljko Kalac, Socceroos coach Guus Hiddink has included Bristol City midfielder Luke Wilkshire for the suspended Brett Emerton, while Marco Bresciano comes in for injured Harry Kewell.

Both Emerton and Kewell are big losses, with Emerton-s energy and running a feature in the first three games, while Kewell was starting to get into form with a solid 90-minute performance that included the all-important equalising goal that got Australia through to the last 16.

Italy will be without Alessandro Nesta, with Marco Materazzi his likely replacement.