With the clock ticking steadily towards Russia, we’re counting down a list of the ten best moments in Socceroos history.
Only ten? Where do we draw the line? And what constitutes a best moment anyway?
For me, it’s a moment in time that made us change the way we think about the Socceroos. And it doesn’t just have to be one moment, or even a single game.
It’s simply a point that made people sit up and take notice that Australians could play football. And not just Socceroos fans, but the rest of the world as well.
Let’s get the ball rolling then.
Can three straight defeats and a goal difference of minus six really be counted as one of the best moments in Socceroos history?
‘So near yet so far’ would make a great title for a biography of the Socceroos.
And that was certainly the case in 2014, when Ange Postecoglou took his hastily prepared side to Brazil to face the might of Chile, the Netherlands and Spain.
As the second-lowest ranked team – only Cameroon sat below Australia in the official FIFA rankings going into the tournament – the Socceroos were always destined to land a tough draw.
But surely even Postecoglou – never a huge respecter of reputations – groaned a sigh of disbelief at the sight of three of the world’s best sides being drawn in Australia’s group.
True to form, Australia got off to the worst possible start when some calamitous defending allowed Chile’s star man Alexis Sanchez to sidefoot home some 12 minutes into the Socceroos’ group stage opener in Cuiaba.
And things turned from bad to worse when an unmarked Jorge Valdivia smashed home a piledriver barely two minutes later.
But then something strange happened. The Socceroos, perhaps now unburdened by the weight of any expectation, started to play.
Ivan Franjic won a ball back and midfield and played a one-two with Mat Leckie before swinging over a cross for Tim Cahill – who else? – to head home.
Then Cahill, followed by the ubiquitous Leckie, forced Chile’s captain and goalkeeper Claudio Bravo into a couple of important saves.
And when Mark Bresciano forced Bravo to smother from close range deep into the second half, the Chileans were clearly on the ropes.
But then, as is so often the case when one team is chasing the game, Chile launched a quick-fire counter-attack in stoppage time finished off by Jean Beausejour, and that was that.
Except it wasn’t. If the Chile game taught Postecoglou and his team anything, it was that they could match it with the best sides in the world.
And they did precisely that in their second group stage game against the Netherlands in Porto Alegre.
If we had to pick one moment that summed up the best and the worst of the Socceroos, let’s make it Tim Cahill’s stunning goal against the Netherlands.
His running volley was one of the best such goals ever seen international football – reminiscent of Marco van Basten’s over-the-shoulder effort against the USSR in the final of Euro 88.
And it came, of course, just a minute after Arjen Robben had opened the scoring.
That Cahill’s incredible strike came against a Netherlands that knows a thing or two about spectacular goals helped it go viral around the world.
But the fact it came in a losing performance – despite the Socceroos taking a 2-1 lead early in the second half – marked it out as a typically Australian goal.
So near yet so far? It’s always the way with the Socceroos.
Australia would go on to lose 3-0 to defending champions Spain in a dead rubber in Curitiba to finish bottom of the group.
But it was the all-out attacking displays against Chile and the Netherlands that left Socceroos fans brimming with optimism.
They helped fuel the belief that the Socceroos could take the game to any opponent in world football – no matter their reputation.
That’s something Bert van Marwijk will hope to use to good effect when Australia kicks off their Russian campaign against France.
As we count down the greatest moments in Socceroos history, we want you to tell us what your favourites are. Have your say in the picker below!
Check out the rest of the countdown:
10. Australia’s performances – and Tim Cahill’s goal – in 2014
9. When we almost qualified for USA 94
8. Charlie Yankos’ stunning free-kick against Argentina
7. Beating France and Brazil in 2001
6. England 3, Australia 1: Beating the Poms in their own backyard
5. Knocking Croatia out of Germany in the craziest game in Australian history
4. Australia’s historic 3-1 win over Japan in Kaiserslautern
3. Making our debut on the world stage in 1974
2. Winning the Asian Cup in Australia
1. John Aloisi’s penalty
The Australian men’s football team is sure to produce some more memorable moments in Russia this year. Catch all the action in the best way possible by coming together with your friends and family and watching it on an epic big screen Samsung QLED TV. Explore the big-screen range.
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David McDaniel
Guest
It has to be 2006. Shwartzer penalty saves 1 and 2 then an Aliosi penalty getting us there. Follow that with the first World Cup Finals win against Japan then drawing with Croatia to make the last 16. Lastly, that magnificent fight against the fancied Italians to go down in the last minute to a questionable penalty. I don't think anything since can get past that glorious year. I have goosebumps thinking about it. The world sat up and took notice.
David McDaniel
Guest
It has to be 2006. Shwartzer penalty saves 1 and 2 then an Aliosi penalty getting us there. Follow that with the first World Cup Finals win against Japan then drawing with Croatia to make the last 16. Lastly, that magnificent fight against the fancied Italians to go down in the last mnute to a questionable penalty. I don't think anything since can get past that glorious year. I have goosebumps thinking about it. The world sat up and took notice.
Troy Chandler
Roar Rookie
Top moment regarding the World Cup, not an easy one to nail down. One of the b st times I’ve had (results aside) was for the 2010 World Cup. The year prior I had been advised I had acrued too much leave at work, so they said I had to use some of it, and soon. I knew the World Cup was just around the corner, so boldly, I suggest I take the time off for the whole tournament. They agreed. I was able to watch just about every game, as it happened, yes, even the Socceroos games, as dire as that campaign was. Only managed to see one of those games at home though. Watched them against Germany in 3D in a cinema and against Serbia on a big screen at an outdoor viewing site in Brisbane City. Not exactly a “moment” as such, but still memorable to me.
At work
Roar Rookie
We may have played well against Italy in THAT game, but the reality was that we were not threat to score, even after they went a man down. Let's all be happy we made it to the 2nd round and played well against the eventual champions.
Puntermatt
Guest
Throw in the 2006 WC arm wrestle with World Champion Italy that was 0-0 until THAT 89th minute dive. We arguably played Italy better than any other team that WC and Guus still had subs up his sleeve ready to hit Italy in extra time.
j binnie
Guest
Due to the location and time of playing, probably one of the Socceroos finest moments will never be enjoyed by football fans. Surely when Jimmy Mackay thrashed a 40 metre shot, and scored, to take the Socceroos to the 1974 World Cup would be classed as a defining moment in our games history. .Cheers jb
j binnie
Guest
pc -Yes Depay scored the all important 3rd goal but forget that for a moment and concentrate on the success, or failure, of Van Gall's tactics both at the WC and at Old Trafford. Not good. The fact that in changing he pushed Robben further forward was the death knell for our lads. cheers jb.
MQ
Guest
I know it was only an Olyroos game, but Ned Zelic scoring a late goal against Holland to qualify for the Olympics is certainly right up there as a highlight.
Kangajets
Guest
Brian Great list , throw in the 4-1 win over Argentina with yankos goal in 1988 The best match I’ve ever seen Australia play was the 1-1 all draw against maradona Argentina in Sydney. Ned zelic and Robbie Slater were amazing that night .. Just as magical as Uruguay 2005 and Korea 2015
Brian
Guest
Sorry but if we really want to mature 0 points is not a highlight. For me we showed a lot more in 1993 drawing with Argentina in Sydney and losing 0-1 in Buenos Aires then we showed in Brazil. The only notable highlight in Brazil was Timmy's truly world class goal. 1. 2005 beating Uruguay 2. 2006 making round of 16 ahead of Japan and Croatia 3. 1997 draw with Brazil and wins over Uruguay and Mexico to make the Confed Cup Final - could you imagine our current mob beating Mexico and Uruguay? 4. making 1974 World Cup 5. 2015 Asian Cup win 6. beating France in 2001 confed cup 7. Beating Serbia 2-1 in 2010 WC one of 2 World Cup wins 8. 1993 narrow playoff loss to Maradona's and Battistuta's Argentina 9. 2011 Asian Cup semi-final thrashing of Uzbekistan 6-0 10. Beating Yugoslavia at Seoul in 1988 making the Quarter-Finals
The Phantom Commissioner
Roar Rookie
Well yes but that formation seemed to work against Spain, so it emphasizes even more how well we played surely. You could argue van Gaal got a slice of fortune in that Hollands RB got injured in the 43rd minute and then he brought on Memphis Depay and changed the formation, Depay was the difference in the end.
j binnie
Guest
PC - Note how everyone talking about the Netherlands game has chosen to concentrate on how we played, but ignored the fact that the Netherlands manager, Van Gall was playing around with a "new" system,best described as 3,5,1,1, with probably 2 of the world's best attackers at the time,Roben and Van Persie almost totally isolated from each other in the first half.The fact that he reverted to a more standard 4-4-2 after half time allowed these 2 to begin pressuring the Aussie defense and the whole "structure" of the game changed to favour the Dutch side. Van Gaal was to carry on his experimentation when he landed to Man Utd job and there are many who will tell you it was that experimenting with a back -3 formation that cost him his job at Old Trafford. Cheers jb.
Griffo
Roar Guru
It's so hard to choose just one best moment. For me it begins at Upton Park in 2003. After 18 months of inactivity the Socceroos were facing England in their own backyard to start their preparation for the 2006 World Cup. England had Sven. England also had Sven who thought it would be a nice run in the park, but Beckham et al knew it would be anything but. Sven didn't listen that the Aussies would be up for it. And so it proved with players just starting to begin their journey to or at the peak of their careers - Kewell, Emerton, Neill - and so the Aussies were in it from the start and won 3-1 to the dismay of the English press. That to me was the beginning of the golden run started by the golden generation: ⚽️ Aloisi slotting home that penalty in November 2005 to send Australia to their first World Cup since 1974; ⚽️ Cahill's brace aiding the come-from-behind-win in Kaiserslautern in our first World Cup game in 32 years; ⚽️ Making to the Round of 16, making the next three World Cups; ⚽️ and winning the 2015 Asian Cup on home soil. It's a golden run that hasn't finished. We are at the 'big dance' for a fourth straight time. For me I hope Cahill scores to become one of a small few to do so in four straight World Cups. That would not be the end of a journey of one individual in that time, rather just adding another entry to what is to me the best moment that is the continuing story of the Socceroos...
Onside
Guest
touche.
The Phantom Commissioner
Roar Rookie
We should have at least got a point from both the Chile and Holland games. We were the better side in both those matches for the longer periods, unfortunately a bad start against Chile and a calamity in goal by Matt Ryan cost us in both games. Spain really was a dead rubber and i think the boys heads were gone by then.We can say we added some excitement to the tournament as well Cahills goal was the best in Brazil (i don't give a rats what the FIFA vote was) and the Holland game was rated as one of the best....many bigger football nations went home adding nothing to the World Cup.
At work
Roar Rookie
That was what Ange gave us, mostly attractive attacking football but fairly weak in defence compared to previous managers.
AGO74
Guest
Granted these were high quality opponents but the amount of goals we gave away or at the very least could have defended better is what killed us in Brazil (at least 4 and possibly more of the 6 goals conceded vs NL and Chile were due to errors or poor defending - I can't remember the Spain game). Certainly it was a new team and we were generally excited about the way we had played however this inability to stop conceding poor goals has stayed with us these last 4 years and more than anything threatens to undo us again in Russia. Here's hoping BVM can create some defensive cohesion over these next few weeks in Antalya.
shirtpants
Roar Guru
I agree that it is a moment that made all of Australia stand up and see that we can play football. Unfortunately, we didn't get a result in either when we very well could have. The other downside to that, is that non-footballers took it as "we're hopeless" and ran with it. It was a tournament we should be proud of, although a little disappointment at what could have been creeps in. Not too far away from the big dance now!
AndyRoo
Roar Guru
Beating Serbia in 2010 was pretty great too. And a couple of friendlies stand out 3-1 over England in England was a monkey off the back, Charlie Yankos free kick against then world champions Argentina pretty much made me a life long Socceroos fan. Win over France and a draw with Brazil in the confederations cups were results that warmed the soul.
AndyRoo
Roar Guru
Mixed feelings on this one. Zero wins but team was good to watch and Ange was one of the best things about the A League. They then went on to win the Asian Cup. The way things are going that's a competition we might not even be competitive in soon (10 years). The bad feelings around the 2014 World Cup stem from it being so connected to our 2018 team. The gloom surrounding what we can expect in Russia looms over this.