FIFA World Cup 2022 - The Socceroos Look To Continue Their Fairytale Run

A warm and humid night in Doha was recently the stage for one of the greatest football moments in Australian history. 

After a tense and timid 120 minutes against Peru, it came down to a penalty shootout to determine Australia’s fate heading into the FIFA World Cup. But as Martin Boyle saw his spot kick saved, and 25 million collective hearts sunk as the country's worst nightmare was being realised. 

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Australia needed a hero, and then late substitute and much-maligned goalkeeper, Andrew Redmayne came to the rescue. He saw Luis Advíncula’s spot kick clatter against the post, before diving low to his right and denying Alex Valera, sending Australia to the World Cup in the most unlikely of circumstances. 

But the job isn’t done, with the Socceroos being drawn into Group D alongside France, Denmark and Tunisia. While France and Denmark are familiar opponents, Tunisia will be a new ground for the Socceroos, having only played them twice in their history. 

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The manner in which the Socceroos qualified for Qatar was dramatic to say the least, and if they are to shock the world and get out of the group, then it would have to be in even more dramatic circumstances. 

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Let’s take a look at how the Socceroos could shock the world in Qatar. 

The famous Socceroos spirit

'Aussie DNA' is a term coined and used by Graham Arnold in the lead-up to the two must-win games against the UAE and Peru. While this was sneered at by many critics, as people viewed this as a cheap disguise for the clear lack of cohesive tactics by Arnold, it’s been proven that without this 'Aussie DNA', the Socceroos would be watching the World Cup from home. 

Despite the lack of concrete evidence to determine what exactly the ‘Aussie DNA’, we can take a good guess based on what we saw in those faithful games in June. 

Despite going to the match against the UAE as favourites, this game wasn't as streamlined as what it perhaps should've been. The Socceroos were coming off back-to-back losses against Japan and Saudi Arabia, and their only win in their last seven came against Vietnam at home. 

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Skipper Trent Sainsbury was a late withdrawal with an injury and the overall feeling from fans was at a considerable low. Despite this, the Socceroos got onto the front foot, scoring first just after the hour mark through Jackson Irvine. 

Although they conceded only minutes later, it was an Ajdin Hrustic goal with six minutes to play that saw Australia get through part one or their two-part qualification adventure. 

The tougher test, taking on Peru, came six days later. Peru got the better of the Socceroos four years early in Qatar, and were ranked 23rd in the world coming into this match. 

As we all know, it was Andrew Redmayne's heroics that came to the rescue, as the Socceroos replicated their 2005 qualification triumph in arguably as dramatic of circumstances. 

What these matches showed was an unwavering never say die attitude that the Socceroos must take with them to Qatar. They were down and out, they had been ridiculed and criticised more than any other Socceroos squad in recent memory. 

Graham Arnold was treated similarly, one of the most criticised Socceroos managers ever. The Australian public wouldn't have batted an eyelid if the Socceroos fell at the early stage against UAE, because that is what most people expected to happen. 

However, there was something deep within that squad that didn’t allow that to happen. Motivation and attitude are something that will outweigh anything to do with tactics or personnel, and will likely be a major catalyst for any success the Socceroos can have in Qatar. 

Socceroos Group D Preview

Australia's opening group game is against France, and it is projected as one of the toughest openers of the tournament. With the Stats Insider model projecting Australia as an 8% chance of beating France, it's clear that they will need to dig deep.

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Although the Socceroos were able to secure a draw against Denmark in the group stages of 2018, the Danes present a similar challenge to France this time around. The Denmark side has improved to a point where the Socceroos will need an even stronger effort than offered in Samara nearly half a decade ago.

When looking at Tunisia, this is the match in which the Socceroos must win if they want to advance to the knockout stages for the first time since 2006. Australia hasn't won a World Cup match in two tournaments, and this is as good a chance as any to get those elusive three points. 

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The burden will be on Graham Arnold to get this side able to break Tunisia down tactically, and this is a game that Socceroos supporters should expect to see their side have the lions' share of possession and shots at goal.

With Aaron Mooy finding a new lease on life playing for Celtic, as well as Ajdin Hrustic, Martin Boyle and Harry Souttar, who will return from a very long injury layoff, the Socceroos have more than enough talent to upset any country on their day.

The likes of Garang Kuol, Daniel Arzani and Marco Tilio will then provide a unique spark should they make the final squad heading to Qatar. 

While they might be looking towards 2026 due to their incredible young crop of talent, Australia can most definitely make a splash in Qatar. 

They’ve got the reigning champs in the first match, and there isn’t a better platform to stage an upset win than when the eyes of the world are watching. 

While it might be unlikely, stranger things have happened, and the Socceroos have all the momentum they could ask for heading into this tournament. 

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