Zebra in 2022, Australia seeks to reconnect with the 2006 generation

It ended badly, but it was Australia’s biggest moment at the World Cups. The selection that participated for the second time in the tournament (the first had been in 1974) took Italy to the limit in 2006.

The team that three games later would be world champions needed a controversial penalty, in extra time, to beat the rival Oceania 1-0 in the round of 16.

“It was not a penalty. I will die saying that there was no foul”, said before the 2018 World Cup defender Lucas Neill.

He committed the infraction inside the area on the side Fabio Grosso and that would be converted by Francesco Totti.

It was also the moment that Australia proved that it would have some relevance in the international football scene. As of 2006, it was present at all the World Cups. This despite being moved to the Asian qualifiers to have more competition. Against Oceania countries it was very easy.

He just couldn’t repeat the result of 2006, when he defeated Japan and Croatia to get the spot. In 2010, 2014 and 2018 they dropped out of the group stage.

Australia arrives in Qatar unexpectedly. With the worst generation since the emergence of the team that had Harry Kewell, Mark Viduka, Mark Schwarzer and Tim Cahill, from the beginning of the century, the team went to the repechage and had to face Peru in a single match in Qatar. The decision after 120 minutes of low technical level had to be resolved on penalties.

That’s when the Socceroos’ reserve goalkeeper (Australia’s nickname) shined, with his exotic style of dancing on the line before the opposing kick. Andrew Redmayne, 33, saved Advincula’s shot to send his country back to the World Cup in the most surprising way since beating Uruguay to qualify for the 2006 tournament.

“I know we’re not considered favorites to qualify, but it’s still one of the biggest motivations in football to prove other people wrong,” says Melbourne City forward Jamir Maclaren.

He is the main goal hope of the selection. In the qualifiers, he scored seven times in ten matches.

Australia is the underdog in a group that is almost identical to the one they faced in Russia in 2018. They will debut against world champions France on November 22nd. Then there will be Tunisia and finally Denmark. The hope is to arrive with chances of classification to define the spot against the Danes.

The two Europeans were opponents four years ago. Australia lost 2-1 to France and drew 1-1 with Denmark.

Despite the exposure obtained thanks to the penalty save against the Peruvians, Redmayne will not start. The position belongs to Captain Mat Ryan, 30, ex-Arsenal (ING) and currently at Real Sociedad (ESP). He was present at the 2014 and 2018 World Cups. The most important piece in midfield is Ajdin Hrustic, 26, champion of the last Europa League with Eintracht Frankfurt (ALE).

The hope of giving the team an unexpected moment that could surprise the opposing marking may come from Awer Mabil, 27. The Kenyan-born attacking midfielder plays for Cádiz (ESP) and started being called up by coach Graham Arnold just this year.

Even if Australia falls into the group stage, qualifying is already a victory for Arnold. His name was received by the press with disbelief, when he was announced as the new coach of the national team in 2018. Three months before the playoff against Peru, he considered resigning.

“I almost did it. I just didn’t do it because of the players,” he said, tired of the criticism.

In the end, he was responsible for a gamble that could have meant an avalanche of complaints, but it paid off: swapping Ryan for Redmayne before the penalty shootout.

“I don’t care about doubters. I only care about my players,” he said after qualifying.