Socceroos mark historic achievement

Australian sporting fans can all vividly remember that special November day in 2005 when the Socceroos qualified for the World Cup for the first time in 32 years.

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But before John Aloisi and Mark Schwarzer etched their names into football folklore, the 1973 generation blazed a trail becoming the first Australian team to qualify for a World Cup.

Today the team is honoured on the 40th anniversary of that historic achievement.

It’s even more remarkable when you consider was that most of the squad was semi-professional and had other jobs as milkmen, brick layers and even dog trainers.

They also qualified for the World Cup at a time when 16 nations participated and only one spot was reserved for all of Asia and Oceania.

The goal that clinched qualification was worthy of an historic feat.

Unfortunately for the game the scorer, Jimmy McKay, is no longer with us, but his contribution along with Johnny Warren’s and all of the 1973 Socceroos will live forever in football history.  

Watch the video above for the full story.


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1 min read

Published

Updated

By Vitor Sobral

Source: SBS


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