Australia make World Cup after dramatic shootout win

Reuters ^ | Nov. 16, 2005

[notfornothing]

Australia secured their place at next year's World Cup after Middlesbrough goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer performed heroics in a penalty shoot-out against Uruguay in Sydney.

Trailing 1-0 from the first leg at the weekend in Montevideo, Australia levelled the tie on aggregate through Marco Bresciano's first-half strike in a fiery match dominated by the hosts at Telstra Stadium.

After a wait of 32 years since their only appearance at football's biggest tournament, Australia held on in front of 82,698 fans and took the game to penalties.

Schwarzer saved twice, from Fabian Estoyonoff and Dario Rodriguez, before John Aloisi tucked away Australia's fifth spot-kick to secure a famous win.

[notfornothing]

Notice the dude in the Angels cap on the right...

Congratulations and good luck to the Socceroos; they're going to need it since they're likely to get a tough draw.

[NZerFromHK]

Congrats to the Socceroos. What's the chance they will meet the US team in the group stage? I suspect both countries play at similar levels but maybe the US's standard is a tad bit higher.

[Prodigal Son]

Switzerland made it through as well. I'm looking forward to the summer!

[notfornothing]

What's the chance they will meet the US team in the group stage?

Hmmmm....I believe they seed the top 16 teams, two to a group, and place the other teams randomly. If Australia and the US are both seeded they'll be a lot less likely to play each other, but that's not going to happen. Australia won't get a seed, obviously, and our chances aren't much better. So....

I suspect both countries play at similar levels but maybe the US's standard is a tad bit higher.

I think so too. They're really pretty similar when you think about it - both are emerging powers in relatively weak zones, neither country has much of a soccer playing tradition...but yeah, I think our boys are a bit further along. I thought Australia looked pretty tough against Uruguay though, and they're no pushover...

[NZerFromHK]

I searched archives of matches between the Socceroos and US teams and all I could find was a friendly in NIvember in 1998. In that year the score was 0:0. The US's MLS is much stronger than Australia's A-League but conversely a majority of Australian players ply their trade in the Premiership or Serie A while I think half of US squad play in the MLS (like it or not, England and Europe's soccer leagues, and maybe Argentina and Brazil as well, are still the best in terms of skills levels displayed)

I don't know - I predict if they meet in the World Cup maybe they will end in a draw?