Australia - Team Fact Sheet

10 Awesome Facts about Australia's World Cup Soccer Team

When you think of Australia, you think of the Outback, Ayers Rock, the Great Barrier Reef, Bondi Beach, Sydney Harbour, and the amazing Opera House. You think of Aborigines, convict settlers, blond surfers, hunky lifesavers, Crocodile Dundee and Steve Irwin. And you think of boomerangs, the didgeridoo, shrimp on the barbie, the 2000 Olympics, koala bears, and kangaroos.

But you also think of sport! The Australian island-continent holds a population of just 22 million, but produces some of the greatest cricket stars, rugby heroes, and swimming sensations in the world.

And they're now bringing their sporting passion to the soccer pitch.

So here's the top 10 facts you need to know about the Australian football team:

10. The Australian national side is nicknamed the Socceroos. (Soccer + Kangaroos. Get it?!) They're called the Aussies and the Green & Gold Army too.

9. Australia made its first World Cup appearance in 1974. In the First Round, the Aussies were blanked by the East Germans, then by the home side West Germans, but then managed a goal-less draw against Chile. Then they packed their bags and boarded a plane for Down Under.

8. This will be the Socceroos third World Cup appearance. Their only win came in 2006 against Japan, which took them to the Second Round. Then Italy sent them home 1-0. Time for some sweet revenge, Aussie style!

7. Australia has won the Oceania Nations Cup 4 times. In their own backyard, the Socceroos are a powerhouse, often pummelling the smaller Pacific Island teams into submission. But New Zealand remains a tough rival.

6. Australia's coach Pim Verbeek hails from the Netherlands. Former coach of South Korea, his real name is Peter Tim. But you can call him Pim.

5. Alex Tobin has Australia's most caps with 87. Playing on the national side from 1988-1998, he also played many years of club football, all in Australia.

4. Damian Mori leads Australia's all-time scoring list with 29 goals. A striker with the national side from 1992-2002, he's now the manager of the Adelaide City club team.

3. FIFA ranked Australia 21st before the World Cup, though this represents a rather rapid drop from their highest ranked 14th place in September of 2009. The Socceroos will surely hope to bounce back. Boing!

2. In 1955, South Africa handed Australia their biggest defeat: 8-0. But those were different times. At the 2010 World Cup, Australia outranks South Africa by 65 places. Revenge may be on the cards.

1. In 2001 Australia trounced American Samoa 31-0, a record for goal difference in international football matches. Just think about that: every 3 minutes the Socceroos scored a goal! It's almost inconceivable!