Teams

Australia became the fifth team from Asia to qualify for this winter’s World Cup, but they had to do it the long way. After finishing third in their group behind Saudi Arabia and Japan, they needed to come through two more play off matches, both held in Qatar, to make it. After defeating the UAE 2-1 thanks to a late winner, they faced Peru a week later, and narrowly overcame the South American side in a penalty shootout following a goalless draw. The antics of goalkeeper Andrew Redmayne, who threw his opposition goalkeeper’s water bottle, that had the instructions on Australia’s penalty takers, into the stand, became legend. It’s the fifth straight tournament that Australia have qualified for since making it to the tournament for the first time in 2006.