Australia
Rank: 59 World Cup appearances: Best result: TOP SCORERS (QUALIFYING) Did you know?
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As the lowest-ranked team heading for Brazil, Australia's fourth trip to the World Cup finals was always going to be a challenge even before Lady Luck abandoned them in December's tournament draw.
Australia's sporting culture insists their teams fight against the odds to the bitter end, but it is difficult to see the Socceroos coming back from Brazil with anything much better than humiliation avoided considering their opponents in Group B.
Ange Postecoglou had just two friendlies -- a 1-0 win over Costa Rica and 4-3 loss to Ecuador -- to assess the talent at his disposal in an international context before selecting his initial squad for Brazil.
He has drawn the net wide, keeping tabs on some 40 to 45 players.
They include the last remnants of Australia's 'golden generation', a raft of youngsters plying their trade on the fringes of big clubs or in lower leagues in Europe, and another group drawn from the improving domestic A-League.
Goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer, a veteran of two World Cups and 109 internationals, made at least one decision for the new coach by retiring on the eve of his first squad announcement.
Forward Tim Cahill and central defender Lucas Neill are determined to play in a third successive finals but the latter's form makes him by no means a certainty to make the trip.
At the very least, though, Australia will expect a restoration of the fighting spirit that once defined the Socceroos and was wholly absent in last year's Brasilia and Paris humiliations.
STRENGTH
Ball reaction
This is a team that has taken successive 6-0 hammerings from France and Brazil and is in a state of flux. As such, strengths are hard to come by, but ball retention is at least on the rise.
WEAKNESS
The defence
It will be interesting to see Australia not concede a humiliating number of goals given that they are in a tough group. Their defence goes missing against the big teams, none of their players at the back are experienced in the top football leagues, even Curtis Good failed to break through in Newcastle United.
Ageing frontline
While Cahill may be the weapon for Australia to come away with a few goals, his form and age is a worry along with Joshua Kennedy's. Socceroos are too reliant on their veterans which is a big worry for their future if more young talent does not break through soon.
ONE TO WATCH
Tim Cahill
Tim Cahill still belies his diminutive stature with his ability to leap above defenders and get his head on the ball and Australia hopes he will similarly help the Socceroos confound their lowly standing in Brazil.
At 34, Cahill is winding down his career at the New York Red Bulls after spending 14 years in England, first with Millwall and then Everton, but he remains a talismanic figure for his country as well as Australia's most prolific goal-scorer.
When Postecoglou was appointed coach in October last year and promised to give a new generation of players their chance, nobody for one second thought that Cahill would be among the old guard dispatched into retirement.
Cahill is the only player in the running to play for Australia in Brazil who could possibly be described as world class, but his fierce competitiveness in what looks like an inexperienced squad might prove his biggest contribution.
Coach: Ange Postecoglou
Despite being handed the reins just eight months before the World Cup finals with the Socceroos apparently in disarray, Australia coach Ange Postecoglou is not heading to Brazil looking for excuses.
After the three-year reign of German technocrat Holger Osieck, the fact that the 48-year-old was home-grown was a key factor when Football Federation Australia gave him a five-year contract last October. A factor in his appointment was the reputation he had earned over 17 years in coaching for rebuilding teams.
Squad
Goalkeepers: Mat Ryan (Club Brugge), Mitchell Langerak (Borussia Dortmund), Eugene Galekovic (Adelaide United)
Defenders: Ivan Franjic (Brisbane Roar), Jason Davidson (Heracles Almelo), Matthew Spiranovic (Western Sydney Wanderers), Bailey Wright (Preston North End), Alex Wilkinson (Jeonbuk Motors), Ryan McGowan (Shandong Luneng)
Midfielders: Mile Jedinak (Crystal Palace), Mark Milligan (Melbourne Victory), James Holland (Austria Vienna), Massimo Luongo (Swindon Town), Oliver Bozanic (Luzern), Matt McKay (Brisbane Roar), Mark Bresciano (Al-Gharafa)
Forwards: Tim Cahill (New York Red Bulls), Dario Vidosic (Sion), Tommy Oar (FC Utrecht), James Troisi (Melbourne Victory), Ben Halloran (Fortuna Dusseldorf), Adam Taggart (Newcastle Jets), Mathew Leckie (FSV Frankfurt)
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