Australia's World Cup soccer team player Viduka runs with team mates during a training session in the German town of Kaiserslautern.[Reuters]

Australia will play their opening World Cup against Japan held in Kaiserslautern, Germany on Monday night.

This will be Australia's first appearance in the World Cup Finals since its match against Chile in Berlin in June, 1974.

"I would like to wish the Socceroos (Australian players ) well (and) I think there will be millions of our fellow countrymen and women watching them and cheering them on," Howard told reporters in Sydney.

"They have been wonderfully well trained for it, they are very professional, and they are very dedicated.

Federal Opposition Leader Kim Beazley also said he will watch the game tonight and wished for a "great Socceroos win."

Tonight's match is crucial for both Australia and Japan, as they will play world champions Brazil and Croatia in the rest of the opening-round matches