The Australian soccer team (Socceroos) has earned a place in the 2022 FIFA World Cup to be held in Qatar later this year after narrowly defeating Peru 5-4 in a penalty shootout at the Ahmad Bin Ali Stadium in Doha, Qatar, on Tuesday.
The victory marks the end of a long and arduous road to qualify after the Socceroos finished third behind Japan and Saudi Arabia in their qualifying pool.
This meant the Aussies needed to play two additional sudden death matches to secure a berth in Qatar, one against the United Arab Emirates, which they won 2-1, and the second against Peru.
“I am so proud of the players, staff, and everyone who has been involved in our campaign over the past four years,” he said.
“Throughout COVID, players and staff had to live away from their families for weeks and sometimes months on end to help our nation achieve today’s result and our goal of qualification for a fifth straight FIFA World Cup.
“The dedication and sacrifice that has gone into this campaign from so many people has been immense, and as coach of Australia, I am so thrilled that millions of people across our country will today be talking about the Socceroos—a team that represents modern-day Australia through its diversity and multiculturalism and unites the nation,” Arnold said.
In Tuesday’s match, chances came late in proceedings for both sides to snatch victory; for Australia, in the 84th minute, when Aziz Behich skillfully beat two defenders to line up a shot that was on target but deflected just shy of the right post, and then in the 87th when a pinpoint cross from Awer Mabil saw Aydfin Hrustic strike for the right corner, only to find the keeper dive to his left to save it.
Meanwhile, in the 16th minute of extra time, a perfect cross found the head of Peru’s Edison Flores, who, fortunately for the Socceroos and Australia’s World Cup dream, struck the right post, leaving the score 0-0 at the end of extra time.
In the penalty shootout that followed, Arnold chose to bring on back-up Socceroos keeper Andrew Redmayne, who made the difference, making two incredible saves, the second sealing Australia’s place in Qatar.
“Andrew Redmayne is a very good penalty saver,” Arnold said after the match, adding that the decision to bring him on was also to create uncertainty in the opposition’s minds.
The Socceroos will now prepare to take on their group D opponents, France, Tunisia, and Denmark when the FIFA World Cup kicks off in late November.
They'll need to take things up a notch, as their first clash is against current world champions, France, on Nov.23.
