If there is one Australian sporting team that represents the country’s diverse multicultural community, it is the Socceroos.
Football has always battled for headlines in Australia, but it hit the front pages in 1974 when the Socceroos qualified for the FIFA World Cup for the first time.
"To qualify for that, you were essentially one of the 16 best nations on earth, that was a major achievement for Australia which was not a football country and a part-time football country," recalled SBS football commentator Les Murray.
The team of semi-professionals performed admirably against host nation West Germany, East Germany and even earned a point against Chile.
But it would take another 32 years for the Socceroos to return.
On a special November night in 2005 John Aloisi’s penalty sent Australia into delirium and the 2006 World Cup in Germany.
Few would have expected the Socceroos to progress but a win against Japan and a come from behind draw against Croatia sealed a spot in the last 16.
The fairytale was brought to an end by an Italian penalty, but Australia had made its mark on football’s most important stage.
"Overall you can have doubts about the penalty, the free kick wasn't a free kick in my opinion, but overall we are knocked out, but overall I can be very proud of the guys who performed at this World Cup," said then coach Guus Hiddink at the time.
The Socceroos qualified again in 2010, but failed to match the performances of the previous campaign.
The road to Brazil 2014 was a tough, eventually Josh Kennedy’s header secured progression.
Australia could barely have imagined a tougher draw, pitted against Spain, the Netherlands and Chile.
"Everyone will be writing us off in this group, which I think is logical but from our perspective we got some opportunities to show the world we can play some good football, against the best nations in the world," said coach Ange Postecoglou.
An inexperienced squad will be looking towards talisman Tim Cahill for inspiration in Brazil.
"Once we're over the white line, they know that I'm going to give everything and they've got to do the same, regardless of our age being young or old, I really want to make an impact, not only on the pitch but with these youngsters as well," said the Socceroos all-time leading goal scorer.
The Socceroos will again need to overcome the odds at this World Cup, but history suggests they could do just that in Brazil.
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