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| The '''Australia national football team''' is ]'s men's national association ] team. They are organised by the ] (until 2005 called ''Australian Soccer Association''), the national governing body for ]. | The '''Australia national football team''' is ]'s men's national association ] team. They are organised by the ] (until 2005 called ''Australian Soccer Association''), the national governing body for the ]. | ||
| ==History== | ==History== | ||
Revision as of 05:30, 27 August 2005
| Shirt badge/Association crest | |||
| Nickname(s) | Socceroos | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Association | Football Federation Australia | ||
| Head coach | Guus Hiddink, 2005- | ||
| Most caps | Alex Tobin (87) | ||
| Top scorer | Damian Mori (29) | ||
| |||
| First international | |||
| New Zealand 3 - 1 Australia (Dunedin, New Zealand; June 17, 1922) | |||
| Biggest win | |||
| Australia 31 - 0 American Samoa (Coffs Harbour, Australia; April 11, 2001) | |||
| Biggest defeat | |||
| Australia 0 - 8 South Africa (Adelaide, Australia; September 17, 1955) | |||
| World Cup | |||
| Appearances | 1 (first in 1974) | ||
| Best result | Round 1, 1974 | ||
| OFC Nations Cup | |||
| Appearances | 6 (first in 1980) | ||
| Best result | Winners, 1980, 1996, 2000, 2004 | ||
First 
The Australia national football team is Australia's men's national association football (soccer) team. They are organised by the Football Federation Australia (until 2005 called Australian Soccer Association), the national governing body for the game in Australia.
History
The national team played at the World Cup finals in West Germany in 1974, which to date has been their only appearance in this event. Over more recent years, the Australian team is known for its near misses in its attempts to qualify for the World Cup, most notably the 1998 and 2002 events.
In 1997, after winning the Oceania Football Confederation qualifying tournament, Australia had to play Iran over two legs with the winner progressing to the World Cup finals to be held in France. Australia, under coach Terry Venables, tied the away leg 1-1 and looked like they were going to proceed to the finals in France, initially leading 2-0 in the home game in Melbourne, however Iran managed to score two later goals and went through on the away goals rule.
In 2001 Australia again won the Oceania Confederation qualifying tournament. Second and third-string lineups thrashed a number of tiny island nations in a competition that made a mockery of the Confederation, including a world record 31-0 demolition of American Samoa. Still missing Harry Kewell and Mark Viduka, Australia comfortably beat New Zealand, their only real threat in the Oceania confederation. Australia then once again had to win a two leg playoff to advance to the World Cup finals to be held in South Korea and Japan. On this occasion the opposition was the 5th placed South American team, Uruguay. In the first leg in Melbourne, Australia won 1-0 after Kevin Muscat scored from a penalty kick, however Australia's qualification campaign ended unsuccessfully as they lost 3-0 in the away leg in Montevideo.
The team's miserable record in World Cup competition is not reflected in their reasonable performances in friendlies against strong European and South American sides, with victories in friendlies against France and Brazil in 2002. A particular highlight for Australian football, and the one that attracted most public attention, was the 3-1 victory over traditional sporting rivals England in a friendly in London in 2003.
It has been suggested that, in order to improve their chances in international competition, Australia should leave the Oceania confederation and join the Asian Football Confederation. Despite previous attempts to do so—each notoriously ending in failure—in March 2005, a story was leaked from Tokyo suggesting that the FFA had entered into secret discussions with the AFC on this very issue. On March 23, the AFC Executive Committee made a unanimous decision to invite Australia to join the AFC.
At a press conference on March 26 in Sydney, President of the AFC Mohammed Bin Hammam outlined reasons for this decision.
- As well as being a developed football nation, Australia brings a developed economy and this is actually what we want in football. Besides Japan, Korea, China and Saudi Arabia if Australia joins the benefits are huge, this is what we're after.
On April 17, the OFC executive committee unanimously endorsed Australia's proposed move. FIFA approved the move on June 30, and it will take effect on January 1, 2006.
In 2004, the team took the first steps towards qualification for the 2006 World Cup by topping the round-robin stage of the Oceania Football Confederation World Cup qualification tournament. The team did draw 2-2 with the Solomon Islands, which combined with other results put that team ahead of New Zealand in the standings and meaning that the two-leg playoff will be against the Solomons rather than the expected New Zealand.
Coach Frank Farina stood down from the position by 'mutual consent' on June 29, 2005 after Australia failed to win a game at the Confederations Cup 2005, citing ever increasing speculation over his position. On July 22, Guus Hiddink was announced by the FFA as the new national coach. This announcement came after intense speculation by the Australian media over potential candidates and even a premature announcement from Hiddink himself. It is believed that Hiddink will combine his roles as manager of PSV Eindhoven and Australia for now, but may elect to take over full time as national coach should Australia qualify for the 2006 World Cup.
Current notable players include Harry Kewell, Mark Viduka, Tim Cahill, Craig Moore, Mark Schwarzer and Brett Emerton.
World Cup record
- 1930 to 1962 - Did not enter
- 1966 - Did not qualify
- 1970 - Did not qualify
- 1974 - Round 1
- 1978 to 2002 - Did not qualify
Confederations Cup record
- 1992 - Not invited
- 1995 - Not invited
- 1997 - Runner Up
- 1999 - Did not qualify
- 2001 - Third Place
- 2003 - Did not qualify
- 2005 - Round 1
Oceania Nations Cup record
- 1973 - Did not enter
- 1980 - Champions
- 1996 - Champions
- 1998 - Second place
- 2000 - Champions
- 2002 - Second place
- 2004 - Champions
Records
Most appearances
- 87 - Alex Tobin (1988-2000)
- 84 - Paul Wade (1986-96)
- 69 - Tony Vidmar (1991-)
- 64 - Peter Wilson (1970-79)
Most goals
- 29 - Damian Mori (45 caps, 1992-2002)
- 25 - Attila Abonyi (62 caps, 1967-1977)
- 25 - John Kosmina (60 caps, 1977-1988)
Most goals in a match
- 13 - Archie Thompson v American Samoa, 2001
- 8 - David Zdrilic v American Samoa, 2001
- 7 - Gary Cole v Fiji, 1981
Highest team score
- 31 v American Samoa, 2001
- 22 v Tonga, 2001
- 17 v Cook Islands, 2000
Record in World Cup Finals 1974
- v East Germany in Hamburg, 0-2
- v West Germany in Hamburg, 0-3
- v Chile in West Berlin, 0-0
External links
- Archive of results 1922-
- RSSSF archive of most capped players and highest goalscorers
- RSSSF archive of coaches 1922-1998
- Socceroos Realm
| National football teams of Oceania (OFC) | |
|---|---|
| OFC Nations Cup | |
| Active | |
| Former |
|
| Associate member of OFC - Not a member of FIFA Not a member of OFC and consequently not a member of FIFA Northern Mariana Islands was only an associate member of OFC between 1998 and 2009 - Not a member of FIFA Although not geographically in Oceania, Chinese Taipei was a member of the OFC between 1976–1978 and 1982–1989 Although not geographically in Oceania Israel entered OFC World Cup qualification in 1986 and 1990 due to political reasons, though it never became a formal OFC member. | |
| International association football | ||
|---|---|---|
| World (FIFA) |  | |
| Asia (AFC) | ||
| Africa (CAF) | ||
| North America (CONCACAF) | ||
| South America (CONMEBOL) | ||
| Oceania (OFC) | ||
| Europe (UEFA) | ||
| Inter-Continental |
| |
| Non-FIFA | ||