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The Guardian - AU
The Guardian - AU
Sport
Jack Snape in Melbourne

The World Cup is football Christmas and every Socceroo wants their name on the nice list

Lucas Herrington chases the ball in a Socceroos match
Lucas Herrington has his eyes on the prize in the Socceroos win over Cameroon, and will hope to impress Tony Popovic once more against Curacao. Photograph: Darrian Traynor/Getty Images

‘Twas the match before the World Cup,
When all through the squad,
The Socceroos jostled,
To receive Popa’s nod.

The most anticipated time in football’s four-year cycle is upon us, and the greatest present of all will be unwrapped within months. But while fans may be scheming for a long lunch when the Socceroos play Paraguay, or musing whether to buy the home or away kit, Australia’s players have something more pressing to worry about.

More than 50 World Cup aspirants have been in Socceroos camps over the past year, so ahead of Tuesday’s send-off match against Curacao in Melbourne, the final squeeze is on.

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