Australia did not exactly cruise through Asian qualifying for this World Cup, finishing third in their group behind the two automatic qualifiers Saudi Arabia and Japan, and only just edging out fourth-placed Oman to reach a play-off. There, they narrowly saw off the United Arab Emirates to book a spot in the inter-continental play-offs with Peru, and that match would become famous for goalkeeper Andrew Redmayne’s dancing on the goalline as he made the crucial penalty shootout save to send the Socceroos to their fifth successive World Cup.
They did it by playing 80 per cent of their qualifying games away from home. Tough border laws meant Australia didn't host any international games for more than two years, so 16 of their 20 qualifiers were on the road in an extra-long campaign that started in September 2019. The Aussies are already comfortable with the conditions in Qatar, where they were unbeaten in four qualifiers for 2022 and where they've won 10, drawn three and lost two games since 2008.
