The countdown is on to the start of the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia and as part of our countdown to the tournament, we are profiling every Australian player who's been to a FIFA World Cup.
Next up is Adam Federici, one of three goalkeepers selected by Pim Verbeek for Australia at the 2010 tournament in South Africa.
READ: FIFA World Cup: Countdown for the Caltex Socceroos
Cap number: 539
World Cups played at: 2010
Position: Goalkeeper
Age at World Cup: 25 (now aged 33)
Clubs played for:
Wolverhampton Wanderers, Torres, Reading, Maidenhead United, Northwood, Carshalton Athletic Southend United, AFC Bournemouth
Best World Cup moment:
Federici was part of the 2010 squad, sitting on the bench for all three group matches in South Africa, including the gripping 2-1 win over Serbia.
With the experienced Mark Schwarzer in excellent form, Federici was unable to force his way into the starting side and didn’t get onto the pitch in any of the three games.
Career highlight:
Federici made his full senior international debut in 2010 in the pre-FIFA World Cup friendly against New Zealand. It was the first of 16 caps for the national team so far.
At club level he was part of the Reading team that reached the FA Cup semi-finals in 2015, going down to eventual winners Arsenal. It was the first time in 88 years the Royals reached the last four.
In the same season, he was named Reading’s Player of the Season.
Also, in a Championship match back in 2008, Federici scored the only goal of his senior career, a stoppage-time equaliser in a 1-1 draw against Cardiff after he came up for a late corner.
Post-playing career:
Federici is still playing, having just finished the recent EPL season at AFC Bournemouth.
Did you know?
Before he became a full Caltex Socceroo, Federici was once approached about the possibility of playing for Italy due to his parent’s Italian heritage.
"I am stunned. Playing for Italy never crossed my mind. But to be contacted by the world champions in the run-up to the World Cup is pretty incredible," he told the Sun Newspaper back in 2009.
