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Football commentator Les Murray has claimed a player revolt against former coach Pim Verbeek preceded Australia's 4-0 loss to Germany at the World Cup.

Respected football commentator Les Murray has claimed a player revolt against former coach Pim Verbeek preceded Australia's 4-0 loss to Germany at last year's World Cup in South Africa.

Murray says in his book - The World Game - players took exception with Verbeek's gameplan prior to the match in Durban.

He claims captain Lucas Neill asked Verbeek to leave the room before telling players the Dutchman's tactics were "bull***."

"After the coach, Dutchman Pim Verbeek, had addressed the players, naming his line-up and the strategy, the team captain, Lucas Neill, asked the coach to leave the change room while he addressed his colleagues," Murray wrote in the book, extracts of which were published on the SBS website on Wednesday.

"Verbeek consented. On closing the door behind the coach, Neill erased Verbeek's scribbles on the whiteboard and told the players to 'ignore this bull****' and play like we normally play.

"A major bone of contention for the players was Verbeek's failure to include a recognised forward in the named team, with Harry Kewell, Josh Kennedy and Brett Holman all on the sub's bench.

"In the confusion there was so much delay that the point was reached when a FIFA match official knocked on the Australian change room and, pointing to his watch, warned the Australians that if they didn't take to the field immediately they would have to forfeit the match.

"The Aussies went out a mess and were slaughtered."

The loss proved the downfall of Australia's campaign, as they went on to draw with Ghana and defeat Serbia but narrowly missed out on reaching the knockout stages.