November 16

2005. Australia has not qualified for the FIFA World Cup since 1974, which was held in the old West Germany. Since then, the Socceroos have suffered heartache after heartache in their attempts to make the worlds most prestigious tournament, losing playoffs to a Maradona led Argentina in 1993, in remarkable fashion to Iran in 1997 and Uruguay four years earlier. Having finished bottom of their FIFA Confederations Cup group just months before, and drawn against fierce South American opponents Uruguay once again, Australian hopes are low.