Caltex Socceroos are going to Russia!

The Caltex Socceroos are officially bound for a fourth consecutive FIFA World Cup.

Australia, you can breath again.

Wednesday night’s 3-1 intercontinental playoff win over Honduras finally brought an arduous journey to a wonderful conclusion in front of a sold-out Stadium Australia.

Captain Mile Jedinak single-handedly did the damage to put the seal on a successful road to Russia 2018, which began almost 30 months ago. 

Jedinak scored the very first in a 2-1 win in Kyrgyzstan back in June 2015, setting into motion a memorable run to the world’s biggest sporting event.

It’s the fifth time the national team has qualified and stands as an achievement made sweeter by the challenges cleared along the way.

Ange Postecoglou’s men visited 11 different countries and played 22 matches over more than two years of qualifying.

The upshot of such a gruelling path is the time the team has spent together and they will be better for it come June next year.

Postecoglou’s side only lost twice throughout the entire adventure, carving out an exciting, attack-minded identity along the way.

And it all came together on home soil, further cementing Australia’s status as a bona fide World Cup competitor.