Australian Socceroos and the World Cup

By
for SoccerMyLife.com

Published: September 13, 2011

The Australian Socceroos are the national soccer team for Australia. Unlike in many other countries, soccer is a minority sport in Australia, much as in the United States. However, despite this, the Socceroos have made it to the finals tournament of the FIFA 2010 World Cup. This was only the third time the team had reached the finals, but also the second straight time (the first time was in 1974). Australian soccer has now reached a level comparable to some of the perennial powerhouses.

The Australian Socceroos team was established in 1922 and went on a tour of New Zealand. In that tour they lost twice and tied once. For many years thereafter the geographical isolation of Australia limited the range of opponents the team faced. When cheap air travel began after World War 2, the Socceroos began to face more varied rivals. The Socceroo team uniform consisting of gold shirts and socks and green shirts, became better recognized in world soccer circles.

In 2005 a decision was made by the FFA (Football Federation of Australia) to take the team to a new level. It was promoted as a legitimate contender for the World Cup, and the newly appointed manager Guus Hiddink employed some new players and strategies to improve the team, with great success. The qualifying campaign culminated on November 16 2005 with a match against Uruguay in which, after the teams remained tied through two extra time periods, Australia won the ensuing penalty shootout 4-2. This was the first time in history that a team had qualified for the World Cup in a shootout. Soccer fans throughout Australia were ecstatic. Although Australia did not go on to win the World Cup, the Australian Socceroos were now a force to be reckoned with.

Australia qualified more easily for the 2010 World Cup, which will be played in South Africa. It is estimated that around six thousand Australian soccer enthusiasts will be in attendance. Australia will be playing against several teams who have been world champions before, such as Serbia, and the one of the toughest teams they will have to beat is Germany, which has won the World Cup three times already.

Another indication of Australia’s rise in the soccer world is the hopes that the country has to host the World Cup in 2018. In Sidney authorities are planning to remodel its Olympic Stadium, so that more spectators can be accommodated. However these plans depend on how well the Australian Socceroos perform in 2010.

For the Australian Socceroos the 2010 World Cup is a huge opportunity for what is, still in Australia, an under-rated sport. The Socceroos doing well on the world stage – would see the local soccer scene take off against its many competitors for players and funding in the local Australian scene.

Author: Lis Sowerbutts
Article Source: EzineArticles.com

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