Australian national football team aspires to go beyond the last-16

Australian national team

Australia's national football team aspires to make further progress this time in FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 and go far beyond the qualification for the second round the team had achieved before 16 years ago in 2006 FIFA World Cup edition as the best achievement during its participation in the world cup final.

This is the sixth time Australia's national football team has qualified for the FIFA World Cup, and the fifth time in succession. The team participated in the last five editions 2006, 2010, 2014, 2018, 2022, and successfully qualified for 1974 FIFA World Cup. 2006 FIFA World Cup hosted by Germany saw the best participation for Australia's national football team in their history. The team succeeded to qualify from the group stage but were then knocked out by Italy, with the latter going on to win the title. Australia's national football team makes its debut in group D within FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 by facing France's national football team, the title holder, on Nov 22, followed by Tunisia and Denmark on Nov 26 and 30, 2022. The three matches will take place at Al Janoub Stadium in the southern city of Al Wakrah. Football Federation Australia has chosen the New Aspire Academy Athlete Accommodation facility (Doha, Aspire Zone) as the venue for the team's accommodation during FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022, and will conduct its trainings at the stadium No. 5 of Aspire Zone training facilities. Australia's national football team qualified for FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 after a long and difficult career and started with being qualified for 2022 FIFA World Cup qualification AFC Second Round that included Jordan, Kuwait, Nepal, and China teams after collecting 24 points for winning all its matches to be qualified for group B in the decisive third round. In the decisive round, Australia came in third place in Group B in Asia qualifying for 15 points after Saudi Arabia 23 points and Japan 22 points. Australia has progressed to the World Cup playoff after beating UAE 2-1 in the playoffs, they then beat Peru 5-4 on penalties to reach the World Cup. Australia is in Group D alongside France, Denmark, and Tunisia. The team relies on several of its outstanding footballers to achieve their goal of reaching the last-16. These players include Aaron Mooy of Celtic F.C. along with defender Bailey Colin Wright of EFL Championship club Sunderland, the Socceroos winger Awer Mabil who playes for Cadiz, striker Jamie Maclaren, left winger Matthew Leakey, and attacking midfielder Ajdin Hrustic among many others. Considering the strength of their three rivals in group D that includes France, Denmark, and Tunisia national teams, it seems that the ambition of Australia's national football team is difficult to achieve, albeit is not impossible. The most famous players in Australia's history are attacking midfielder Tim Cahill and goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer with 109 matches. Mark Bresciano is their most-capped player at the World Cup, with nine matches spread over three participations.