World Cup 2018 Australia team profile: How they qualified, star man, World Cup record, fixtures

The Socceroos, members of Asian qualifying section since 2006, have had to travel to claim their spot in Russia. Jordan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Bangladesh, Japan, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Iraq, Thailand, Syria (with a detour in Malaysia) and finally Honduras.

They easily topped a group containing Jordan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Bangladesh, but limped through the next round, claiming third behind Japan and Saudi Arabia in the third round of qualification.

Ange Postecoglou’s men overcame two two-legged affairs against Syria and Honduras to secure a fifth appearance at the finals.

The 38-year-old midfielder/striker has an improbable strike rate of 50 goals in 105 games for the Socceroos. Russia 2018 will be his fourth appearance and were he to score, he would join Pele and the Germans Uwe Seeler and Miroslav Klose as the only players to do so. He currently has five goals to his name at World Cup finals.

He re-joined Millwall after some 14 years after leaving the club but failed to hit the target in 10 league games this season and is currently a free agent.

The 19-year-old has had meteoric rise. He has been a sensation for Melbourne City this season, exploding on to the scene in January and not looking back since.

The winger only made his debut for the nation team against Czech Republic on June 1 2018, before being named in Bert van Marwijk’s 23-man squad. His searing pace, beguiling dribbling and pinpoint delivery will be crucial if Australia are to emerge from Group C.

The Socceroos found themselves in a pickle after Ange Postecoglou decided to resign as manager in November.

The Football Federation Australia turned to Bert van Marwijk, who manoeuvred an unfancied Saudi Arabia side to the World Cup ahead of Australia, after the Dutchman left his post as the Green Falcons' boss in September.

Van Marwijk has World Cup predigree, having led the Netherlands to the 2010 final.

The Socceroos first made the finals in 1974 but there was a 32-year hiatus before their next appearance. They made it out of a tough group that also included Brazil, Croatia and Japan but were felled by eventual winners Italy at the round of 16 in 2006.

However, they failed to emerge from the Group Stage in either 2010 and 2014.

"We did not have the best players but we had the best team," said Bert van Marwijk of his 2010 Netherlands team.

The Socceroos will hope for more of the same in Russia.