Australia
Tim Cahill, 38, is still very much on the international scene, and the former Everton and New York Red Bulls forward was Australia’s savior yet again this World Cup cycle. He saved the Socceroos’ place in Russia with a stoppage time, second-leg winner in the AFC playoff against Syria, and he helped them through the ensuing international playoff against Honduras with a 3-1 aggregate victory.
Australia have been at every World Cup since 2006, and Cahill has scored in all three. The pattern up until ‘06 was obliterating Oceania foes but disappointing on the world stage, and now they’ve gotten to a point where they are consistently qualifying from the Asian region. The AFC presents a relatively forgiving qualifying process, but Australia’s travel requirements make it that much tougher.
This year, they have a veteran side with contributors from all around the world. Midfielder Aaron Mooy, of Premier League upstart Huddersfield, joins Brighton goalkeeper Matthew Ryan and Cahill (back to Millwall in the Championship) in Australia’s sizable English league contingent. Four players from their March friendly roster play in the A-League. An impressive group of Eastern European dual nationals includes Aziz Behich, Aleksander Susnjar and Tomi Juric, who play in Turkey, the Czech Republic and Switzerland.
Among the other countries whose leagues host Australian players: Germany, Israel, China, South Korea, Portugal, Japan and Denmark. The Socceroos send players to as many countries as any national team in the world.
However, the bizarre resignation of manager Ange Postecoglou has taken most of the storylines. Postecoglou stepped down a week after they secured qualification in November, declining to lead them into the 2018 World Cup due to the toll it took on him “personally and professionally,” according to the Guardian. They’ll be led by Dutchman Bert van Marwijk instead, and he will be replaced by Graham Arnold after the tournament. It will be interesting to see how they adjust to the odd predicament they’ve been thrown into.