Australia’s group qualifier this September in Melbourne is set to write another chapter in the Caltex Socceroos’ World Cup qualification history.
Against Thailand on Sept 5 is the final game of Group B qualification for the 2018 FIFA World Cup, and you don’t want to miss being part of the night.
The explainer: why Sept 5 is a crunch clash
Crunch World Cup qualifiers take you an emotional rollercoaster.
So much at stake, the drama, the nerves, it’s like nothing else.
As an example, so many Australians will tell you about “that night” against Uruguay when we qualified for the World Cup in 2005 in Sydney.
It was special for so many reasons. And here’s why...
Socceroos make history in the 70s
While Australia's first international was played against New Zealand in 1922, its first attempt at qualification for the World Cup wasn't until 1965, and it took until 1974 before it made it.
And with just 16 nations competing at the 1974 World Cup in West Germany, it was an even harder task for our part-time national team players.
But they famously wrote their names into our history books in Hong Kong after a mammoth qualification route.
November 13, 1973
Under the guidance of coach Rale Rasic, Australia prevailed from the first stage of qualifying, winning a group that included New Zealand, Indonesia and Iraq.
Australia then faced Iran home and away, winning the first leg in Sydney 3-0 before Iran won 2-0 in the second leg in Tehran.
South Korea then awaited the Socceroos.
Both matches ended in draws, prompting a hastily-arranged decider in Hong Kong on November 13, 1973.
The famous goal
Jimmy Mackay scored the goal which booked Australia its place in the 1974 tournament. What a goal it was too.
From distance, in the 70th minute against South Korea, Mackay hit a looping drive that deceived the keeper and flew into the net.
It was the most significant goal to date in national team history... and we were off to the World Cup for the first time after a grueling 1-0 win.
The team
The lineup that night was: Jim Fraser (GK, Doug Utjesnovic, Peter Wilson, Manfred Schaefer, Col Curran, Ray Richards, Jim Mackay, Jim Rooney, Atti Abonyi (Adrian Alston 56), Ray Baartz, Branko Buljevic.
1974 World Cup
Australia drew host West Germany, nearby East Germany and South American team Chile in a difficult Group 1.
Its first match was against East Germany in Hamburg and Col Curran claimed an unwanted piece of history, becoming the first Australian to score in the World Cup finals - albeit for the other side.
Australia lost that match 2-0 and backed up four days later against West Germany, losing 3-0. Against Chile in Berlin, Australia claimed its first World Cup point courtesy of a 0-0 draw.
*tomorrow, the barren years from 1977 till the Aloisi goal of 2005
