Australia
Appearances at World Cups
The national team of Australia is the only national team in the world who has victories in two confederations under its belt. It happened thanks to the victory of Australia at the AFC Asian Cup where it participated after switching to the Asian zone because of the absence of due competition in Oceania. The Socceroos have participated in world cups four times. Moreover, two of the last performances were prepared through the Asian Confederation already.
In the qualification on the road to Russia, the Australians had many difficulties going through two play-off stages in the end. The third position in the group made Australia met with the sensation team of Syria, whom the whole world seemed to support in this battle. Winning after two meetings, the Australians faced Honduras. A return game in Sydney became decisive, in which the host team was stronger – 3-1.
YEAR | g | W | D | L | М | TOTAL |
1974 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 0-5 | 4 th place in group |
2006 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 5-6 | 1/8 |
2010 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3-6 | 3 rd place in group |
2014 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 3-9 | 4 th place in group |
Total | 13 | 2 | 3 | 8 | 11-26 | - |
Head coach and best player
Bert van Marwijk will train Australia at the World Cup. However, the national team played the qualifying stage with another specialist. Ange Postecoglou left this post after a conflict with the head of the local football federation. Then there was done an active work to look for a coach. The candidacy of Roberto Mancini was even called in the press once. In the end, the Dutch specialist was chosen, who, which is notably, ruled Saudi Arabia and also left it after reaching the WC.
Defender from English Huddersfield Aaron Mooy is likely to become van Marwijk's conductor of ideas. The football player perfectly suits the type of the player needed for this function and is able to become the leader of the Australians at the World Cup. What is more, Mooy has Dutch roots. But other facts can tell about him from a perspective of play. For instance, he has been one of the best players in steals in the EPL for long.
- Preliminary squad: Ryan – Wright, Sainsbury, Degenek – Leckie, Jedinak, Mooy, Behich – Rogic, Kruse, Cahill.
Base camp and cities
Australia found its training base camp in Kazan – its football players will be kindly given Ak Bars's site and Trudovye Rezervy complex. The national team will also play the first match in the tournament in Kazan – against France. Then there will be Samara (a game against the national team of Denmark) and Sochi (Peru).