Socceroos search for a hero as date with destiny looms
The Socceroos hope to uncover a new national hero and show Japan who the true boss of Asian football is when the arch rivals lock horns in Thursday night's World Cup qualifier in Perth.
Group C leaders Japan (20 points) have already locked in qualification for the 2026 World Cup, leaving Australia (13 points) and Saudi Arabia (10 points) to fight for the second automatic qualifying spot.
The Socceroos will host Japan in front of more than 50,000 fans at Optus Stadium on Thursday before rounding out this group stage against Saudi Arabia in Jeddah next week.
A win over Japan would almost certainly be enough for the Socceroos to book their World Cup berth - barring a disastrous loss in the vicinity of five goals or more to Saudi Arabia in their final game.
For the Socceroos players who have experienced it before, sealing qualification for a World Cup is considered an ultimate career highlight.
John Aloisi's famous penalty in the 2005 World Cup qualifier against Uruguay is etched into Australian sporting folklore.
Substitute goalkeeper Andrew Redmayne was the man in 2022 when his penalty shootout heroics sealed a shock win over Peru and passage through to the Qatar World Cup.
Socceroos attacker Martin Boyle was there when Australia secured their spot for the 2022 World Cup, and he wants history to repeat itself.
"I've played in a lot of big games before, but these are the games that you can be a hero in," Boyle said.
"To this day, it's probably the greatest situation that I've had in my career, qualifying for that World Cup.
"There's no better feeling. And just the adrenaline, the buzz - it's the pinnacle of people's careers."
Japan are ranked 15th in the world - the best team in Asia.
Australia (26th) are only the fourth highest in Asia, with Japan, Iran (18th) and South Korea (23rd) all ranked above them.
Veteran goalkeeper Maty Ryan doesn't agree with the rankings.
"In my eyes, we're the best in Asia." Ryan said.
"If you don't believe you're the best then I think you're sort of failing at the first hurdle.
"You've got to go out there and believe that you can overcome whatever challenges are in front of you.
"And obviously there's a fine line without being arrogant and being complacent or anything like that.
"They (Japan) have got great players playing in some of the best competitions in the world.
"But at the end of the day, when we step over that white line, we're all human, and we're all equal in that regard."
Ryan, who was the starting goalkeeper in that famous win over Peru, has been telling stories of that night to help inspire his teammates to clinch qualification again.
"It's a difficult one to find words to describe the ecstasy of it," he said.
"As a footballer, there's no more meaningful moment than a World Cup qualification like that."
The Socceroos hope to uncover a new national hero and show Japan who the true boss of Asian football is when the arch rivals lock horns in Thursday night's World Cup qualifier in Perth.
Group C leaders Japan (20 points) have already locked in qualification for the 2026 World Cup, leaving Australia (13 points) and Saudi Arabia (10 points) to fight for the second automatic qualifying spot.
The Socceroos will host Japan in front of more than 50,000 fans at Optus Stadium on Thursday before rounding out this group stage against Saudi Arabia in Jeddah next week.
A win over Japan would almost certainly be enough for the Socceroos to book their World Cup berth - barring a disastrous loss in the vicinity of five goals or more to Saudi Arabia in their final game.
For the Socceroos players who have experienced it before, sealing qualification for a World Cup is considered an ultimate career highlight.
John Aloisi's famous penalty in the 2005 World Cup qualifier against Uruguay is etched into Australian sporting folklore.
Substitute goalkeeper Andrew Redmayne was the man in 2022 when his penalty shootout heroics sealed a shock win over Peru and passage through to the Qatar World Cup.
Socceroos attacker Martin Boyle was there when Australia secured their spot for the 2022 World Cup, and he wants history to repeat itself.
"I've played in a lot of big games before, but these are the games that you can be a hero in," Boyle said.
"To this day, it's probably the greatest situation that I've had in my career, qualifying for that World Cup.
"There's no better feeling. And just the adrenaline, the buzz - it's the pinnacle of people's careers."
Japan are ranked 15th in the world - the best team in Asia.
Australia (26th) are only the fourth highest in Asia, with Japan, Iran (18th) and South Korea (23rd) all ranked above them.
Veteran goalkeeper Maty Ryan doesn't agree with the rankings.
"In my eyes, we're the best in Asia." Ryan said.
"If you don't believe you're the best then I think you're sort of failing at the first hurdle.
"You've got to go out there and believe that you can overcome whatever challenges are in front of you.
"And obviously there's a fine line without being arrogant and being complacent or anything like that.
"They (Japan) have got great players playing in some of the best competitions in the world.
"But at the end of the day, when we step over that white line, we're all human, and we're all equal in that regard."
Ryan, who was the starting goalkeeper in that famous win over Peru, has been telling stories of that night to help inspire his teammates to clinch qualification again.
"It's a difficult one to find words to describe the ecstasy of it," he said.
"As a footballer, there's no more meaningful moment than a World Cup qualification like that."
The Socceroos hope to uncover a new national hero and show Japan who the true boss of Asian football is when the arch rivals lock horns in Thursday night's World Cup qualifier in Perth.
Group C leaders Japan (20 points) have already locked in qualification for the 2026 World Cup, leaving Australia (13 points) and Saudi Arabia (10 points) to fight for the second automatic qualifying spot.
The Socceroos will host Japan in front of more than 50,000 fans at Optus Stadium on Thursday before rounding out this group stage against Saudi Arabia in Jeddah next week.
A win over Japan would almost certainly be enough for the Socceroos to book their World Cup berth - barring a disastrous loss in the vicinity of five goals or more to Saudi Arabia in their final game.
For the Socceroos players who have experienced it before, sealing qualification for a World Cup is considered an ultimate career highlight.
John Aloisi's famous penalty in the 2005 World Cup qualifier against Uruguay is etched into Australian sporting folklore.
Substitute goalkeeper Andrew Redmayne was the man in 2022 when his penalty shootout heroics sealed a shock win over Peru and passage through to the Qatar World Cup.
Socceroos attacker Martin Boyle was there when Australia secured their spot for the 2022 World Cup, and he wants history to repeat itself.
"I've played in a lot of big games before, but these are the games that you can be a hero in," Boyle said.
"To this day, it's probably the greatest situation that I've had in my career, qualifying for that World Cup.
"There's no better feeling. And just the adrenaline, the buzz - it's the pinnacle of people's careers."
Japan are ranked 15th in the world - the best team in Asia.
Australia (26th) are only the fourth highest in Asia, with Japan, Iran (18th) and South Korea (23rd) all ranked above them.
Veteran goalkeeper Maty Ryan doesn't agree with the rankings.
"In my eyes, we're the best in Asia." Ryan said.
"If you don't believe you're the best then I think you're sort of failing at the first hurdle.
"You've got to go out there and believe that you can overcome whatever challenges are in front of you.
"And obviously there's a fine line without being arrogant and being complacent or anything like that.
"They (Japan) have got great players playing in some of the best competitions in the world.
"But at the end of the day, when we step over that white line, we're all human, and we're all equal in that regard."
Ryan, who was the starting goalkeeper in that famous win over Peru, has been telling stories of that night to help inspire his teammates to clinch qualification again.
"It's a difficult one to find words to describe the ecstasy of it," he said.
"As a footballer, there's no more meaningful moment than a World Cup qualification like that."
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