Australia team profile: Squad, record, manager, path to final, team news, latest odds and star man

AUSTRALIA needed a play-off win over Honduras to reach Russia and make their fourth consecutive finals.

The Socceroos got to the last-16 in 2006 but have failed to progress past the group stages in the last two tournaments.

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Here's all you need to know about the Group C hopefuls, who will be up against France, Peru and Denmark in the first round.

In a nutshell: Fiercely patriotic sporting nation that has yet to really make its mark on the world stage. Will this be their year?* (*No, it won’t)

Flag: A deep blue ensign with six stars in the shape of the Southern Cross constellation. Oh, and a big Union Jack in the corner just to remind them who’s really in charge.

Population: 24.13 million

Nickname: The Socceroos. Yes, it’s rubbish.

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Manager: It’s ex-Netherlands boss Bert van Marwijk.

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Captain: Step forward (or lunge in from behind) Aston Villa tiger, Mile Jedinak.

Star Man: While he’s impressed in his debut Premier League season with Huddersfield, midfielder Aaron Mooy might just use this opportunity to bag himself a really big move.

Rising Star: Twenty-year-old Alex Gersbach is now plying his trade with Lens in France (on loan from Rosenborg) having made his name as a left-back with Sydney FC.

Most caps: It’s former Middlesbrough and Fulham keeper Mark Schwarzer (109).

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All-time top scorer: Tim Cahill (50).

Nice kit? Standard green and gold that all Aussie sides tend to wear (with varying degrees of success).

Most offensive haircut? Mile Jedinak’s hair looks like a clown’s wig. Fact.

Any names we can laugh at like kids? Never, ever, forget that Aussie coach Bert van Marwijk’s actual first name is "Lambertus".

Rivals? Their near neighbours down under, New Zealand. Well, that’s if you consider over 900 miles "near". They’ve also got a bit of a thing going with Japan too.

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National anthem: Advance Australia Fair, an anthem that, unusually for a former colony, isn’t simply about fighting endlessly with the British.

Sample lyric:
Our land abounds in nature's gifts
Of beauty rich and rare;
In history's page, let every stage
Advance Australia Fair

National dish: Anything, so long as it’s on a barbecue.

National drink: It’s a toss up between Fosters, XXXX and VB, depending where in Australia you’re drinking.

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World Cup Finals Record: P13 W2 D3 L8 F11 A26

World Cup Win Ratio: 15.3%

Best World Cup Performance: The Socceroos made the last 16 in Germany in 2006 where they were beaten by an injury-time penalty by Italy’s Francesco Totti. It was the last kick of the game too.

FIFA World Ranking: 36

Path to final: Australia go into their group as underdogs, but if they can pip Peru and Denmark to second they would be likely to face Argentina, followed by Spain and Germany in the quarter-finals and semis respectively.