Australia qualified for the World Cup after beating Peru on penalties in the continental play-offs. That match was won in remarkable circumstances. First-choice goalkeeper and captain Mat Ryan was replaced by the untested Andrew Redmayne just before the penalty shootout started. The backup goalkeeper helped his team win the shootout 5-4 by skillfully distracting two Peruvian penalty shooters with his dancing on the line.
Australia is competing in the men’s FIFA World Cup for the sixth time, but they have only been successful in winning two of their 16 matches during the actual competition. They only ever made it to the knockout rounds once, in 2006, when they lost to the host nation Germany. Australia faces stiff competition to advance further in the World Cup with France, Denmark, and Tunisia in their group this time around. However, recent events have demonstrated that Australia can ruin the party by whatever means necessary.
Even with Graham Arnold in charge, many experts are still shocked that Australia advanced to the World Cup finals. Going into the World Cup play-offs, Australia had only won once in seven games. In addition, the team had been fined a whopping $25,000 by Football Australia in October for violating coronavirus guidelines by walking along a New South Wales beach while contagious. But a stunning turn of events propelled Australia over the finish line, and Arnold will now guide his nation into a challenging group stage alongside former Manchester United assistant and Fulham manager Rene Muelensteen.
Garang Kuol, a new teenage striker for Newcastle, was one of the teenagers Arnold put to the test over the September break, and the experience of playing in prestigious tournaments will be extremely beneficial to that group of players. Along with Aaron Mooy of Celtic and former Bhoys icon Tom Rogic, Matt Ryan, a former goalie for Brighton and former Arsenal goalie, provides a wealth of experience to the back line.
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