9 days to go: Tommy Oar's FIFA World Cup Story

As part of our countdown to the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia, we profile every Australian player who's been to a World Cup.

Today we continue the countdown with Tommy Oar, an Australian winger who played in all three group stage matches at the 2014 World Cup.

READ: FIFA World Cup Countdown for the Caltex Socceroos

Cap number: 538

World Cups played at: 2014

Position: Winger

Age at World Cup: 22 (now 26)

Clubs played for: Brisbane Roar, FC Utrecht, Ipswich Town, APOEL

Tommy Oar alongside Tim Cahill and Mat Ryan during the national anthem.
Tommy Oar alongside Tim Cahill and Mat Ryan during the national anthem.

Best World Cup moment

Tommy Oar started all three of Australia’s group stage matches at the 2014 World Cup.

Then just 22-years-old, it was an incredible experience for a youngster who has since kicked on with his career.

Career highlight

As with many of the players who played a part in the 2014 World Cup Finals, Oar was among the group which won the 2015 Asian Cup.

Oar scored his first international goal against Asian giants Japan in qualifying for the 2014 FIFA World Cup and also nabbed his only other senior national team goal against Kyrgyzstan, the second of the Caltex Socceroos' 51 goals on the road to qualifying for Russia in 2018.

A move to Cypriot club APOEL has earned Oar his first club silverware, as the side won the First Division this season. He also featured in the qualifying stages of the side’s UEFA Champions League campaign.

Oar goes up against the Netherlands' Robin van Persie in Porto Alegre.
Oar goes up against the Netherlands' Robin van Persie in Porto Alegre.

Post-playing career

Oar is still playing. He currently turns out for Cypriot club APOEL but missed out on selection in Bert Van Marwijk’s 23-man squad for the upcoming 2018 FIFA World Cup.

Did you know?

Tommy Oar claimed Goal of the Tournament at the 2011 FIFA Under-20 World Cup with a stunning free-kick to secure the young Socceroos their only point of the campaign.

At the 2014 World Cup, Oar swapped shirts with Dutch right-back Daryl Janmaat and Chilean right-back Mauricio Isla.

Tommy Oar  in action against Chile.
Tommy Oar in action against Chile.