Australia: "Down Under" is finally on a high

If coincidence is the issue, Australia will have to wait a long time for their third World Cup participation. The "Socceroos", put together from "Soccer" and their national animal "Kangaroo", played their first World Cup in Germany in 1974. Thirty two years later the FIFA World Cup is again hosted by the country of the three-time World Cup champions – and Australia has qualified for the second time in their history. The men from the Fifth Continent successfully cleared the final hurdle -- the play-off matches against the fourth-finishing South American team. There was no team on their side of the globe that could endanger the Yellow-Greens. The New Zealanders, tough opposition in the past, have recently found it impossible to compete with their neighbours.

Here you can find information about the star of the team ...

The FIFA Continental Federation Oceania, OFC, is made up by Australia and a further eleven countries, among them such teams as Fiji, Tonga and the Cook Islands. Also the last-ranked nation in the FIFA World Rankings, American Samoa, which suffered the highest-ever World Cup defeat when they lost 31-0 to Australia at Coffs Harbour on April 11, 2001.

No wonder that the "Aussies" are somewhat bored in this environment, although the matches with New Zealand offer some excitement. That’s why Australiawill play in the Asia qualification from the 2010 World Cup. This will clearly increase the Australian chances and will certainly be welcomed by their Oceania opponents. In 1966, the recently founded Football Federation Australia, FFA, took part in their first World Cup qualification and since then have regularly won the OFC tournament – with the exception of 1981, when New Zealand triumphed. But because the football governing body FIFA does not grant a fixed starting right to Oceania, the “Socceroos” must always play-off against one of the football greats. That happened in 2001, when Australia defeated Uruguay1-0 at home, but lost the return match against the two-time World Cup champions 3-0, thus dashing earlier high hopes and being forced to remain at home.

But as there is a well known belief in life that one encounter usually leads to a second meeting, there was a repeat of that duel against the “Urus” in November 2005. And this time the Socceroos triumphed. After a 1-0 defeat in Montevideo and a 1-0 victory at home, success came with a dramatic penalty shoot-out. The celebrated hero of the day, in front of 83,000 spectators in Sydney’s Olympic Stadium and 3.4 million Australian TV viewers, was “half” German: goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer, son of German immigrants, who saved two penalties. It was the highlight of his career for the 33-year-old regular keeper of Middlesbrough FC. The 1.94m tall goalkeeper started his professional career in Dresden in 1994 and played a total of six Bundesliga matches for Dresden, and later 1. FC Kaiserslautern, before moving in 1996 to Bradford FC in the English third division. "A dream has come true for me”, disclosed Schwarzer, whose sister lives in Stuttgart. “Matches on German soil always have a high emotional importance for me”.

It was certainly not by chance alone that the Socceroos qualified for the 2006 FIFA World Cup, for the Australian footballers have long since left the somewhat “exotic” stage. The Oceania champions performed well at the 2005 Confederations Cup in Germany, though losing three times, including a 4-3 defeat by Germany. But because demands always increase with improved performances, coach Frank Farina resigned, somewhat disappointedly. Dutchman Guus Hiddink was contracted -- an internationally experienced coach who led the Netherlands into the semi-finals in 1998 and South Korea in 2002. The 59-year-old, however, coaches Australia only part-time, while he continues to guide PSV Eindhoven.

The best Australian players are all playing with European clubs, principally in England. In August 2005 a new professional league, the "Hyundai A-League", was installed “Down Under” with eight teams, but so far has attracted only the second-level of players. A famous name is Pierre Littbarski, 45. The German 1990 World Cup champion coaches Sydney FC; Schwarzer’s team-mate at Middlesbrough FC is captain is Mark Viduka, 30; the latter’s attacking partner in the Australian colours, Harry Kewell, 27, won the 2005 Champions League with Liverpool FC; John Aloisi, 29, who scored four goals in the Confed Cup, now earns his money with CD Alaves in Spain.

The Aussie midfield in particular meets international standards. "Uncut diamond” Tim Cahill, 26, the team’s top goalscorer in the World Cup qualifiers with seven goals, is a regular player with Everton FC; Brett Emerton (four goals in the qualifiers), also 26, laces up his football boots for Blackburn Rovers. Director Mark Bresciano, 25, and Vincenzo Grella both play with FC Parma in Italy. Hiddink has top alternatives in midfield with Scott Chipperfield (30, FC Basel/Switzerland), Jason Culina (25, PSV Eindhoven/Netherlands) and Josip Skoko (30, Wigan Athletic/England). The "Socceroos" weakness is the sometimes careless inner defence, with veterans Tony Vidmar (35, NAC Breda/Netherlands) and Tony Popovic (32, Crystal Palace/England) starting to show their age. Right defender Lucas Neill (27, Blackburn Rovers) has a tendency to play too far forward.

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