Australia's odds to win the World Cup
400/1
Best World Cup
Second round 2006
2018 World Cup
Group stage
Australia's World Cup Schedule
|
Date |
Fixture |
Location |
|
22nd November 7pm |
Al Janoub Stadium, Al Wakrah |
|
|
26th November 10am |
Al Janoub Stadium, Al Wakrah |
|
|
30th November 3pm |
Al Janoub Stadium, Al Wakrah |
Road to Qatar
If any team could be said to have reached the finals the hard way, then it would have to be Australia, who had to get through 20 games to earn their spot in Qatar. Eight straight wins got the Socceroos through their first group phase, and another three wins suggested they would also cruise through phase two. But just one win from their subsequent seven games left them facing a two-tier playoff. A late goal earned a 2-1 win over UAE, and it was even tighter in the inter-continental playoff against Peru, when a tense goalless draw required a nerve-jangling penalty shootout to see the Aussies into the finals.
Recent form
Such a demanding qualification campaign left Australia with little time to prepare for the main event, but they will be happy with the way things went in September when they met New Zealand in a couple of local derbies (if that's the right term for venues that were 1400 miles apart!). The Socceroos might not have learned much from their 1-0 win in Brisbane and their 2-0 victory in Auckland, but those successes will at least give them a positive vibe to take to Qatar.
Australia squad
Goalkeepers: Mathew Ryan (FC Copenhagen), Andrew Redmayne (Sydney FC), Danny Vukovic (Central Coast Mariners)
Defenders: Aziz Behich (Dundee Utd), Milos Degenek (Columbus Crew), Thomas Deng (Aibirex Niigata), Joel King (Odense Boldklub), Nathaniel Atkinson (Hearts), Fran Karacic (Brescia), Harry Souttar (Stoke City), Kye Rowles (Hearts), Craig Goodwin (Adelaide United)
Midfielders: Aaron Mooy (Celtic), Jackson Irvine (St Pauli), Ajdin Hrustic (Hellas Verona), Bailey Wright (Sunderland), Cameron Devlin (Hearts), Riley McGree (Middlesbrough), Keanu Baccus (St Mirren)
Forwards: Awer Mabil (Cadiz), Mathew Leckie (Melbourne City), Martin Boyle (Hibs), James Maclaren (Melbourne City), Jason Cummings (Central Coast Mariners), Mitchell Duke (Fagiano Okayama), Garang Kuol (Central Coast Mariners)
Team insights
Probable formation: 4-1-4-1 Australia will kick off their campaign as underdogs to progress, but after the way they overcame Peru in the playoff, that mantle might just suit them down to the ground. With few so-called big names to call upon, head coach Graham Arnold will depend on his team's defensive discipline and organisation that is built on that compact formation. Goalkeeper Mat Ryan and his back four will have a crucial and potentially busy role, as will the top flight experience of Celtic's Aaron Mooy as the protective midfield link between the two lines of four. Goalscoring chances are likely to be limited, putting pressure on the likes of Mitchell Duke, Awer Mabil and exciting Newcastle-bound youngster Garang Kuol to make the most of whatever chances come their way.
World Cup prospects
Assuming they lose their opener against World Champions France, then Australia's second game against Tunisia is likely to decide which of those two teams has anything left to play for on Matchday 3. Denmark will arguably be as difficult to overcome as the French, but in a one-off game, the Socceroos will still harbour hopes of causing an upset. Best hope: A competitive group stage, and who knows…
Read more about each of Australia's Group D opponents: