Talk:Australia men's national soccer team/OriginalVersion
The Socceroos are Australia's national soccer team. They are organized by the Australian Soccer Association, the national governing body for soccer in Australia. The Australian team is known for it's tragic failures in attempts to qualify for the World Cup, most notably the 1998 and 2002 events. The national team played at the World Cup finals in West Germany in 1974, to date that has been their only appearance on football's greatest stage.
In 1997 Australia had to play Iran over two legs with the winner progressing to the finals to be held in France. Australia under Terry Venables tied the away leg 1-1 and looked like they were going to France, leading 2-0 in Melbourne, however Iran managed to get two goals and went through on away goals.
In 2001 Australia once again had to win a two leg playoff to advance to the finals to be held in South Korea and Japan, this time the opposition was the 5th placed South American team, Uruguay. In the first leg in Melbourne, Australia won 1-0 thanks to a Kevin Muscat penalty, this however was not enough and Australia's qualification campaign ended in tears as they lost 3-0 in Montevideo.
Perhaps the most recent highlight of Australian football has been the 3-1 victory over England in a friendly in London.
Current players include:
Harry Kewell Mark Viduka Brett Emerton
Records
Most appearances
- 87 - Alex Tobin (1988-2000)
- 84 - Paul Wade (1986-96)
- 64 - Peter Wilson (1970-79)
Most goals in a match
- 13 - Archie Thompson v American Samoa, 2001
- 8 - David Zridilic 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