The Socceroos have had plenty of experience with World Cup playoffs, but one is looming larger than the others ahead of Wednesday night’s decider with Honduras.
Across Australia’s six previous playoffs, only once did the Socceroos begin with an away draw.
That was Iran in 1997, and no one in the national team camp needs reminding about how the home leg went.
For two elder statesmen of the team – Tim Cahill and Mark Milligan – it was a formative football memory, and a tragic one at that.
“I was just a young pup then,” Cahill said, “I remember it was a sad moment.”
“We were a fully loaded squad then and it was heartbreaking not to qualify.”
As they aimed to reach the 1998 tournament in France, the Socceroos took a 1-1 draw back from an away leg in Tehran with a FIFA-estimated crowd of 128,000 people.
Goals from Harry Kewell and Aurelio Vidmar in the home leg at the MCG put one Australian foot into the World Cup, only for Iran to score two late goals through Karim Bagheri and Khodadad Azizi.
The final result was 3-3, with Australia’s then 24-year wait to play at the World Cup lengthened by another four years due to the away goals rule.
It’s a scenario that could play out on Wednesday night.
The Socceroos inability to hit the back of the net means a score draw will send Honduras through on away goals.
Milligan – who watched the Iran tie as a 12-year-old – said for that reason he didn’t see Australia as favourites to progress.
“With the away goals (scenario), that’s why I say at the moment we’re on an even par with them coming into this match,” he said.
“It’s still up in the air. At nil-nil coming back here no-one takes too much of an advantage from that.
“We are doing all we can to put it in our advantage obviously with the way we prepare and way we recover and way prepare for a match.
“We have a lot of systems in place so it is very important that we stick to that and going into Wednesday knowing it’s do or die.
“We know our history and we know things that have happened previously but we’re paving our own path.”
AUSTRALIA’S HISTORY OF PLAYOFFS
2017: Honduras
Honduras 0-0 Australia, San Pedro Sula
2005: Uruguay
Uruguay 1-0 Australia, Montevideo
Australia 1-0 Uruguay, Sydney (Australia won 4-2 on penalties)
2001: Uruguay
Australia 1-0 Uruguay, Melbourne
Uruguay 3-0 Australia, Montevideo (Uruguay won 3-1)
1997: Iran
Iran 1-1 Australia, Tehran
Australia 2-2 Iran, Melbourne (Iran won 3-3 on away goals)
1993: Argentina
Australia 1-1 Argentina, Sydney
Argentina 1-0 Australia, Buenos Aires (Argentina won 2-1)
1985: Scotland
Scotland 2-0 Australia, Glasgow
Australia 0-0 Scotland, Melbourne (Scotland won 2-0)
1969: Israel
Israel 1-0 Australia, Tel Aviv
Australia 1-1 Israel, Sydney (Israel won 2-1)
anon
Roar Pro
Yet Australia couldn't score a single goal.
Stuart Thomas
Expert
No reply button on the comments below. As an ANZ membe I was very frustrated at the Adele concert that screwed our perfect surface last year. My wife attended and I still remind her of the damage she did. Certainly no reference to the woman's weight, that would be insensitive.
Grobbelaar
Roar Guru
It will end nil-all, and Australia will go through on penalties 4:3 - bookmark this.
Grobbelaar
Roar Guru
I only needed to see Bangladesh for exactly 3 minutes to know they were hopeless. Play last week, yesterday or tomorrow, it's unlikely they would be anything other than hopeless. 90 minutes of Honduras the other day was certainly enough to know they were one peg above Bangladesh.
KJ
Roar Rookie
Do you have anything to back this up? Or just a gut feeling? I don't think anyone is out there saying it's a foregone conclusion. Rather I actually see much of the opposite. I personally was buoyed by the fact we performed better than expected away and Honduras has struggled with the travel. How many away games has Honduras drawn with goals or won this campaign? How many home games has Australia won at home compared to drawing with goals scored? Again, I don't think it's a foregone conclusion at all. It is football after all. In addition, I don't think any of the players feel it's wrapped up either. The hubris of any fans are irrelevant in that case. Bring on tomorrow!
dontgetupsetwihmeplease
Guest
I actually think Australia are a little bit over confident and many Australians are suffering from hubris. Unfortunately I have a feeling that Australia will miss out on a football world cup spot with a 1-1 draw. I also think Australia and their coaching staff have done well to get Australia is this far in an increasingly competitive competition.
punter
Guest
Play nice guys.
Waz
Guest
But we’re not playing them “the other day” we’re playing them tomorrow night. Ask your financial planner - past performance is no guarantee of future returns
Waz
Guest
who isn’t ???
Fadida
Guest
Are you saying Adele is fat?
Fadida
Guest
I always thought an away goal was worth 7, 8 if the game was on a Friday and the refere was called Nathan
Grobbelaar
Roar Guru
Honduras looked pretty hopeless the other day, about one step up from Bangladesh.
Grobbelaar
Roar Guru
I just knew you were being mischievous!
Stuart Thomas
Expert
Has Adele been anywhere near it?
Stuart Thomas
Expert
Someone might also lock Peter Hellier up for a similar time period.
Stuart Thomas
Expert
For a minute there I thought you wrote 'Ange has the hearts of the journalistic community in her cold hands.' At first I thought of Postecoglou, then I realised you meant Lansbury? I am so nervous about this one.
chris
Guest
Apologies Punter and I agree with what you say
anon
Roar Pro
Ange with his pitch excuse. I think he has used it for every away fixture, the MCG in the middle of winter, most ANZ Stadium matches. He mustn't realise he doesn't play qualifier in Europe. In Asia, Ange!
Waz
Guest
confidence doesn’t win you games though; over-confidence and complacency in football can often lead to upsets. Milligan sets the right tone here - Honduras are desperate to get to the WC as well and he knows it.
punter
Guest
KJ & Chris, sorry I do fully understand the away goals process. I was being sarcastic. I'm still struggling that people don't appreciate 0-0 scoreline in the 1st leg. Yes I prefer a score draw, but most coaches would gladly accept a 0-0 1st leg & back their players to do the job at home.