Image source : Sporting News
Australia will participate in the World Cup group stages in Qatar in 2022 for the 5th time in a row.
The Socceroos followed the roundabout road to this World Cup, defeating the UAE and Peru in playoff matches after failing to directly qualify for the FIFA tournament.
Australia will be hoping that their time in Qatar lasts more than just three games because they have only previously advanced to the World Cup knockout rounds once, at the 2006 tournament in Germany.
Australia's path to the 2022 FIFA World Cup Finals
Australia overcame Peru in a penalty shootout in Qatar to become the penultimate team to earn a spot in the World Cup 2022.
With their victory over the South Americans in the inter-confederation play-off, Australia continued their streak of appearing in every World Cup final since 2006.
Although the Socceroos barely defeated the UAE to get to the play-off final, it was a far from impressive showing in the AFC qualification process as they placed third behind Japan and Saudi Arabia in the second stage.
Just before the penalty shootout against Peru, Australia manager Graham Arnold made the brilliant choice to change out goalkeeper and captain Mat Ryan for Andrew Redmayne. Alex Valera's go-ahead effort was saved by the Sydney FC goalkeeper to secure the victory.
Arnold claimed after the game, "He's a very good penalty saver and I did something that could hurt them mentally." "They were probably wondering, 'Why is this man being brought on, he must to be terrific,' in their minds.
"Perhaps that is why they hit the post. To bother Peru's penalty takers requires a 1% mental effort. Although a risk, it paid off."
Australia was placed in Group D in Qatar, along with France, Denmark, and Tunisia.
Key Players
This is not, by any measure, a vintage Socceroos squad. The days when this team’s FIFA World Cup campaigns would be spearheaded by household names such as Tim Cahill, Harry Kewell and Mark Viduka now seem a distant memory.
Spirit and togetherness exists in plentiful supply, too, and those attributes came to the fore when – after a difficult, COVID-hit AFC qualifying campaign – the Socceroos ground out play-off wins over United Arab Emirates and then Peru to qualify for a fifth successive World Cup.
No-one in Australia will need reminded that they have fallen at the first hurdle in the last three of those global finals, and emerged winless from the last two. But having prevailed as underdogs against the Peruvians, Arnold’s charges are determined to upset the odds once again – starting with holders France on 22 November.
We look at five players whose form and fortunes will be crucial to the Socceroos’ hopes.
Martin Boyle
Position: Forward
Age: 29
Image source : Sporting News
This attacker, who was passed over by Scotland for selection, has spent the previous few years demonstrating to his home nation what they're missing.
Before being chosen by the Socceroos, Boyle, who is married to Scotland women's international Rachael Small, had never even visited the country. As he revealed the previous year, his selection was made completely by coincidence after Graham Arnold met two of his former Hibernian teammates and discovered of his Australian ancestry from them.
Once he joined the green and gold, he made an immediate impact, outperforming Tim Cahill on the Australian legend's 108th and final international appearance by scoring two goals and setting up another in his debut start. Boyle has kept up his impressive play since then, scoring goals and dishing out assists while putting pressure on defences.
That speed will be one of Arnold's most effective offensive weapons in Qatar, and any counterattacking strategy will undoubtedly revolve around it because Australia is likely to often be on the defensive. The 29-year-old should arrive at his first World Cup confident and prepared to leave his imprint because he is back at Hibernian and scoring goals following a stint in Saudi Arabia.
Ajdin Hrustic
Position: Attacking midfielder
Age: 26
Image source : Sporting News
Hrustic is without comparison as Australia's most inventive midfielder, with the future of the brilliant Tom Rogic still unknown. The Verona playmaker emerged as the Socceroos' standout performer throughout the Qatar 2022 qualification campaign because to his elegant and assured ball handling and ability to score and create.
That much has been quickly acknowledged by teammates, with winger Matt Leckie praising Hrustic's capacity to "select a pass or do something amazing at any stage of the game." His propensity for the extraordinary from set pieces, which was frequently displayed throughout the World Cup qualifying matches, should also cause World Cup defences to take precautions.
The 26-year-old recently switched from Eintracht Frankfurt of the Bundesliga to Verona of Serie A, making him one of the rare Australian players playing in one of Europe's so-called big five leagues. His club career has followed a similar trajectory to his international success, and last season he helped Eintracht win their first European championship in more than 40 years by scoring one of the game-winning penalties.
Awer Mabil
Position: Winger
Age: 26
Image source : The Guardian The very reality that Mabil is in this World Cup is motivating. After all, this is a young man whose parents fled the conflict in Sudan and gave birth in a refugee camp in Kenya. As a child, he lived off of one meal per day while playing football barefoot with a rolled-up sock for footwear.
When Australia took up Mabil's family in 2006, the abilities developed in those terrible situations shined brilliantly. His subsequent rise has been the stuff of dreams, and his affinity for his new nation was confirmed when he converted the sixth penalty in the Socceroos' victory over Peru in the World Cup qualifying shootout.
Since making an emotional debut in 2018, this brilliant, elusive winger has contributed far more than the coolly delivered penalty. He is one of the players who will be counted on to give Arnold's team the attacking inspiration they will need against some of the best teams in the world. He is currently playing in La Liga with Cadiz after a successful seven-year stint with the Danish team Midtjylland.
Aaron Mooy
Position: Midfielder
Age: 31
Mooy, a staple in midfield for much of the past decade, remained to be important throughout the World Cup play-offs.
He hadn't participated in a competitive game for four months when he arrived in Doha, and his entire preparation consisted of a few one-on-one sessions with Australia's previous strength and conditioning coach. Even though this might have implied Mooy would be a late-game replacement, he actually started both games and finished them. Against Peru, he played the full 120 minutes before converting a penalty. What that young person accomplished was simply outstanding, Arnold praised later.
Additionally, it demonstrated that, barring an injury, the Socceroos will very certainly ask this elegant and calm technician to anchor their midfield in Qatar. Arnold is also optimistic that Mooy's move from Shanghai to Scotland, where he is currently playing for Celtic under former Australia coach Ange Postecoglou, will be essential to guaranteeing that he comes in top shape.
Mat Ryan
Position: Goalkeeper
Age: 30
The 'Grey Wiggle', Andrew Redmayne, will undoubtedly be back on the bench for the World Cup itself even though he was Australia's shootout hero in the play-offs. The team's captain and current-generation player with the most appearances is Mat Ryan.
This status was not granted by mistake. Despite the fact that Ryan is just 6 feet tall, which has sometimes been cited as a possible problem, he is a fantastic shot blocker and a great player with the ball in his hands.
While a loan to Arsenal and a permanent move to Real Sociedad didn't result in much in the way of playing time, Ryan shone especially brightly during a four-year stint with English Premier League team Brighton. Ryan's recent move to Danish champions FC Copenhagen should give him the necessary pre-tournament match practise. Arnold has praised him as "a superb goalkeeper," so his spot for Australia should be secured in either case.
In Qatar, Ryan has stated that he "wants to shock the world and prove that we can match it with the finest out there." Australia's captain will undoubtedly need to put up some outstanding performances if they are to do that.
