A look at the country’s demographics, football history and its squad status prior to the Qatar World Cup 2022.
Number of inhabitants: approx. 26 million.
Continent: Oceania
Confederation: AFC (Asian Football Confederation)
National Football Association: Football Australia
Number of members: around 550,000. (2.1% of total population)
International trophies won: 4x Oceania Cup, 1x Asia Cup
Best World Cup result: Round of 16 in 2006
Key Players
In the past: Aloisi, Cahill, Kewell, Viduka, Schwarzer, Emerton.
Key current players: Matthew Ryan, Aaron Mooy, Ajdin Hrustic, Martin Boyle.
Coach, formation and possible lineup
Coach: Graham Arnold. (since 2018)
Typical formation: 4-2-3-1 or 4-3-3
Possible lineup:
- GK: Matthew Ryan (FC Kopenhagen)
- LB: Aziz Behich (Dundee Utd)
- RB: Fran Karacic (Brescia)
- RCB: Harry Souttar (Stoke)
- LCB: Milos Degenek (Columbus Crew)
- CM: Jackson Irvine (St. Pauli)
- CM: Aaron Mooy (Celtic)
- LW: Awer Mabil (Cadiz)
- RW: Martin Boyle (Hibernian)
- ACM: Ajdin Hrustic (Hellas Verona)
- ST: Jamie Maclaren (Melbourne City)
Age Report
Players aged 25 or under in the current lineup: 1
Players aged 32 or over in the current lineup: 1
Only 1 player in this lineup will (most likely) be playing their last World Cup this year: Aaron Mooy.
There is 1 player in this lineup that can play (at least) two more: Harry Souttar.
The remaining 10 players could play in one (or in some cases maybe two) more World Cups.
Youngest player: Harry Souttar, born 22 October 1998 (24)
Oldest player: Aaron Mooy, born 15 September 1990 (32)
Average squad age: 27.5
World Cup Qatar – Group D
Fixtures:
Tuesday 22 November France vs Australia
Saturday 26 November Tunisia vs Australia
Wednesday 30 November Australia vs Denmark
Our view:
This Australia squad had to put in a lot of effort in order to qualify for the upcoming World Cup in Qatar. That being said, this is without a doubt their greatest asset and strength – their resolve. I expect them to put up a good fight in their group, but considering the quality of their opponents for the group stage (especially France and Denmark, numbers 4 and 10 on the FIFA ranking) it will most likely be an uphill battle.
Prediction: group stage exit
Update 8 November after 26 man squad was selected. Changes: no Sainsbury, no Taggart. Replaced in the starting lineup by Souttar and Maclaren. Age report updated to reflect final changes.
