No team coming into this World Cup has had a stranger build-up than Australia.

First there was the marathon qualification process where they set a new record for the most games ever played to qualify for a World Cup. The Socceroos required 22 games, stretched over 29 months and travelled over 250,000 kilometres to reach.

The longest and hardest qualifying campaign that any nation has endured in the tournament’s history finally culminated with a 3-1 win over Honduras on November 15 last year at the Olympic Stadium in Sydney, the venue of so many famous victories for the green and gold over the years.

And once the team had finally sealed their place as the 32nd side at this tournament – the coach, Ange Postecoglou, promptly resigned claiming he needed a break from coaching.

The holiday didn’t last too long as Postecoglou announced less than a month later he would be returning to management immediately with Japanese club side Yokohama F. Marinos.

With just over seven months to the World Cup, Football Australia had to quickly find a manager and the man chosen was former Holland manager Bert van wijk, who took the Netherlands to the 2010 World Cup final and had led Saudi Arabia to this year’s tournament before falling out with the country’s federation.

He himself will be replaced by Graham Arnold, the former Sydney FC manager, after the summer. Van Marwijk has a difficult task
with Australia predicted to lose all three matches against France, Peru and Denmark.

If he can match the Socceroos’ best-ever performance at a World Cup – reaching the Round of 16 – in Germany in 2006, it will be a considerable achievement.

At Australia’s three other World Cup appearances they did not make it out of the group stage.

He has an aging squad with his best source of goals still 38-yearold former Everton striker Tim Cahill, spent most of his time on the bench at Millwall last season.

The defence isn’t much better, as was seen in the 4-1 loss to the non-World Cup bound Norway in March. The midfield is stronger and van Marwijk does have options – but not enough to do more than salvage a draw or two.

KEY PLAYER

Aaron Mooy

Aaron Mooy attempts a shot on goal during the Friendly against the  Czech Republic won 4-0 by the socceroos.

The 27-year-old Huddersfield midfielder is one of the few players in the Australian squad who is a regular starter in one of Europe’s top leagues. An exciting player when given time and space, and one of the main reasons for the Terriers being promoted and remaining in the Premier League, Postecoglou did not find a way to fully unleash his talents at national level.  Hopefully Van Marwijk will have better luck.

COACH

Bert van Marwijk

Australian head coach Bert van Marwijk

Drafted in to perform a rescue mission after the sudden resignation of Postecoglou just six months out from Russia 2018. He has World Cup credentials, leading the Netherlands to the final in 2010. Coached KSA from 2015 to 2017, leading them to World Cup qualification.

CAPTAIN

Mile Jedinak

Mile Jedinak celebrates with team mates after scoring one of his hat-trick against Honduras.

Captain courageous, and former Crystal Palace hardman, Mile Jedinak is the go-to man for the Socceroos. Not a noted goalscorer, but when Australia really needed him he popped up with a hat trick in the final qualifier to ease the Socceroos past Honduras 3-1.

YOUNG STAR

Daniel Arzani

Daniel Arzani runs on to make his international debut against the Czech Republic.

The name of 19-year-old Arzani was the last to be read during the squad announcement but now will be the first on excited fans’ lips. The Iranian-born teenager lit up the A-League season with some stellar performances for Melbourne City. The World Cup may be a tougher stage.

KEY FACTS AND STATS

– This is Australia’s fifth World Cup following on from 1974, 2006, 2010 and 2014

– They were the last nation to qualify after a marathon qualification process of 22 games

– Australia have reached the knockout stage only once (2006)

FIFA Rating

71 DEF 72 MID 69 ATT

World Cups competed at

5 (First in 1974)

World Cup record

P13, W2, D3, L8

Best finish

Round of 16 (2006)

Qualification record

P22, W14, D6, L2

World ranking

40

SQUAD

Striker Tim Cahill will be playing in his fourth World Cup.

Goalkeepers: B. Jones (Feyenoord), M. Ryan (Brighton), D. Vukovic (Genk).

Defenders:  A. Behich (Bursaspor), M. Degenek (Yokohama Marinos), M. Jurman (Suwon Bluewings), J. Meredith (Millwall), J. Risdon (Western Sydney Wanderers), T. Sainsbury (Grasshopper Club Zurich).

Midfielders: J. Irvine (Hull City), M. Jedinak (Aston Villa), R. Kruse (VfL Bochum), M. Luongo (Queens Park Rangers), M. Milligan (Al Ahli), A. Mooy (Huddersfield Town), T. Rogic (Celtic).

Forwards: D. Arzani (Melbourne City), T. Cahill (Millwall, T. Juric (FC Luzern), M. Leckie (Hertha BSC), J. Maclaren (Hibernian), A. Nabbout (Urawa Red Diamonds), D. Petratos (Newcastle Jets).

VERDICT

Drawn in a tough group, any improvement on Brazil 2014, where they lost all three matches, would be seen as acceptable.