Last time they qualified, in 1974 they drew 0-0 with Chile in a tough group that also contained East and West Germany.
Coach
Guus Hiddink
Star Player
Mark Viduka
previous WC appearances
1
This is the Socceroos first World Cup since 1974. The standard of Australian Football is much better these days and the Wizards of Oz are looking to go further than their first round elimination 32 years ago.
World Cup Qualifiers
After three previous attempts left the Australian team watching the finals Down Under, a two-leg duel against Uruguay that ended in a penalty shoot-out brought the Australians to the long-sought finals.
Trainer
Guus Hiddink is the father of Australia's success. After bringing then-host South Korea to fourth place in 2002, Hiddink took a spot coaching the Socceroos in July and performed magic for a second time.
Stars Goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer, known as the Aussies' "German," became a national hero when he stopped two penalty shots, giving Australia a 4:2 win in the pressure cooker final against Uruguay and a ticket to the 2006 World Cup. The 33-year-old's parents left Germany in 1967, but much of Schwarzer's family still lives in Germany, while he plays club soccer in England's Premiership for Middlesbrough.
World Cup History
Australia will enter their second World Cup campaign after making the finals the last time the tournament was hosted by Germany in 1974. They will look to improve on their performance after being sent home scoreless after matches against West Germany, East Germany and Chile.
Match Schedule: Preliminary Round
June 12: Australia - Japan in Kaiserslautern
June 18: Brazil - Australia in Munich
June 22: Croatia - Australia in Stuttgart
World Cup Base
The Socceroos will be staying at the Wald- and Schlosshotel Friedrichsruhe in Baden-Württemberg's city of Zweiflingen.
Outlook
Australia's odds are a lot better this time around. Even though they didn't win a match in last summer's Confederations Cup, the side introduced one of the tournament's top scorers in John Aloisi. Australian fans are also extremely confident in Hiddink, who they expect will propel their side to even better performances than win over Uruguay. It must not be forgotten that they are in the same pool as Brazil.
Squad :
Goalkeepers: Mark Schwarzer (Middlesbrough), Zeljko Kalac (AC Milan), Ante Covic (Hammarby)
Defenders: Michael Beauchamp (Central Coast), Craig Moore (Newcastle United), Lucas Neill (Blackburn Rovers), Tony Popovic Crystal Palace), Mark Milligan (Sydney FC)
Midfielders: Marco Bresciano (Parma), Tim Cahill (Everton), Scott Chipperfield (Basel), Jason Culina (PSV Eindhoven), Brett Emerton (Blackburn Rovers), Vince Grella (Parma), Stan Lazaridis (free agent), Josip Skoko (Stoke City on loan from Wigan Athletic), Mile Sterjovski (Basel), Luke Wilkshire (Bristol City)
Strikers: John Aloisi (Alaves), Harry Kewell (Liverpool), Archie Thompson (PSV Eindhoven), Mark Viduka (Middlesbrough), Josh Kennedy (Dinamo Dresden)
1st Prize : 50mb space
2nd Prize : 25mb space
3rd Prize : 10mb space
Consolations: 10 Pen Drives
We will select winner of the final contest soon.Please keep on checking the site.
Total entries:335
correct answers:295 Previous Winners
Poll
Who was your favorite football star in Fifa World Cup 2006?
Team Profile 
Australian Football Team 
