Largely there to make up the numbers at the World Cup, it is difficult to see Australia make a name for themselves here.
Drawn with France, Denmark and Peru, the odds are stacked against the Socceroos to even win a match - let alone escape Group C.
2018 World Cup Qualification
Australia made light work of their first group stage in qualifying, tasting defeat just once in their eight matches to safely reach the second and final group stage in Asia.
That was where things began to get difficult, though. Australia only lost one of their 10 games but four draws meant they had to settle for third place and an historic play-off against Syria.
A Tim Cahill goal in extra time in the second leg put the Socceroos through to the inter-confederation play-offs, where a Mile Jedinak hat-trick saw off Honduras after a 0-0 draw in South America in the first leg.
Tournament History
Australia have played in for the World Cup four times in their history prior to this tournament, although this will be their fourth consecutive edition.
Of the 11 goals they have scored at the finals, Cahill is responsible for five of them and will be aiming to score in his fourth World Cup here.
Only once have they ever got out of the group stages, back in 2006 when they reached the last 16 before losing to eventual champions Italy.
dabblebet2018 World Cup Squad
GK | DEF | MID | ST |
---|---|---|---|
Brad Jones | Aziz Behich | Daniel Arzani | Tim Cahill |
Mathew Ryan | Milos Degenek | Joshua Brillante | Tomi Juric |
Danny Vukovic | Matthew Jurman | Jackson Irvine | Robbie Kruse |
Fran Karacic | Mile Jedinak | Mathew Leckie | |
James Meredith | Massimo Luongo | Andrew Nabbout | |
Josh Risdon | Mark Milligan | Nikita Rukavytsya | |
Trent Sainsbury | Aaron Mooy | ||
Dimitri Petratos | |||
Tom Rogic | |||
James Troisi |
Latest World Cup odds
Market | Price |
---|---|
To win the World Cup | 250/1 (251.0) |
To make the World Cup final | 125/1 (126.0) |
To win Group C | 18/1 (19.0) |
To qualify from Group C | 16/5 (4.20) |
To be the Top Asian team | 13/5 (3.60) |