Football Media Resource
Marco Bresciano
Overview
For the first time in 32 years Australia will be at the World Cup finals later this year. The Socceroos ended their long wait by dramatically beating Uruguay on penalties at the end of their two-legged qualifying play-off to spark celebrations across Australia.
Australia's first attempt to qualify for the World Cup was for the 1966 tournament in England. An unprepared team playing their first international for seven years were brushed aside 9-2 on aggregate over two play-off games against North Korea.
Eight years later, The Socceroos made it to their first World Cup in 1974.
For the following three decades they suffered the agony of falling at the final World Cup qualifying hurdle by losing a series of play-offs to nations including Scotland, Argentina, Iran and Uruguay before finally booking a return trip to Germany in 2006.