Kuala Lumpur: Asian champions Australia are aiming to advance to a fourth successive FIFA World Cup but must first overcome a tricky clash against Honduras as the Socceroos return to the Intercontinental Play-offs for the first time in 12 years.
Back in 2005, Australia qualified for their second FIFA World Cup – following their debut at West Germany in 1974 – after defeating Uruguay on penalties in Sydney following a 1-1 aggregate scoreline with the South American heavyweights.
Ange at the helm
Coach Ange Postecoglou took over from Holger Osieck at the end of 2013 and helmed Australia in Brazil 2014, where defeats to Chile, the Netherlands and Spain saw the Socceroos finish bottom of the ‘Group of Death’.
However, the Greece-born coach then steered Australia to their first AFC Asian Cup title when they beat Korea Republic 2-1 after extra-time in the final on home soil to make up for their runners-up finish four years earlier.
Return to the World Cup
Australia’s maiden appearance at the FIFA World Cup resulted in a group stage exit in West Germany but, after waiting 32 years to finally return, they produced a competition to remember in 2006 under Dutchman Guus Hiddink.
After falling behind to Japan in their opening game, Tim Cahill scored Australia’s first-ever FIFA World Cup goal before the attacking midfielder and John Aloisi wrapped up a 3-1 victory.
Debut knockout round appearance
Defeat to Brazil followed before a 2-2 draw with Croatia set up a last 16 clash with eventual winners Italy, where heartbreak ensued as Francesco Totti’s 95th-minute penalty saw the Italians advance 1-0.
Four years later in South Africa, luck was again not on Australia’s side as they followed up an opening-day loss to Germany with a draw against Ghana and a win over Serbia. But the Ghanaians pipped them to the group’s runners-up spot on goal difference, before a second consecutive group stage exit followed in 2014.
Road to Russia begins
In the 2018 qualification campaign, Australia comfortably progressed from the second round with seven wins from eight games, before being drawn in Group B alongside Japan, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Iraq and Thailand.
There was little indication of problems to come when the Socceroos saw off Iraq and the UAE in their opening two fixtures – the latter thanks to Cahill’s winner 15 minutes from time – to claim maximum points from two games played.
Socceroos drop points but remain unbeaten
A 2-2 draw in Saudi Arabia was largely viewed as a point gained while a 1-1 scoreline at home to Japan was far from disastrous. But Australia proceeded to draw their next two fixtures to the group’s bottom sides – Thailand and Iraq – and suddenly their qualification hopes were being seriously questioned.
Goals from Jackson Irvine and Mathew Leckie ensured a much needed 2-0 home win over the UAE, before Tomi Rogic struck the winner in a 3-2 home victory against Saudi Arabia to put Australia’s campaign firmly back on track.
No automatic qualification
Postecoglou’s side would have then qualified for the FIFA World Cup with a win in Japan but a 2-0 reversal saw the Samurai Blue advance at their expense.
Their ensuing 2-1 final-day victory over Thailand – following another Leckie goal – was then only enough to secure a Continental Play-off berth against Syria after the Saudis saw off Japan 1-0 to grab the second automatic qualification spot from Group B.
Cahill to the rescue
Syria had surprised many by finishing third in Group A and, after Robbie Kruse had given Australia the lead in Melaka, Omar Al Soma’s late penalty meant the return leg in Sydney would start all square.
Al Soma opened the scoring early on at Stadium Australia but Cahill headed home the equaliser soon after and, following an onslaught on the Syrian goal, Cahill scored an extra-time winner – his 50th goal for his country – as Australia booked a date with Honduras.
Play-off regulars
Australia are familiar the Intercontinental Play-offs, losing out to Scotland (1985), Argentina (1993), the Islamic Republic of Iran (1997) and Uruguay (2001).
They finally ended their Play-off jinx in 2005 when, after a 1-1 aggregate draw with Uruguay, John Aloisi struck the winning penalty in a shootout to send the Socceroos to the finals.
Photos: Lagardere Sports, Getty Images, Images Courtesy of FFA – Photographer Carlos Furtado
Source: the-afc.com