After years of heroic failure and near-misses, Australia has now qualified for two consecutive world cups for the first time after qualifying at the top of their group in Asia ahead of rivals Japan.

It is all a major contrast to their campaign four years ago, when Australian fans sat through an excruciating two-legged play-off against Uruguay, culminating in the drama of a penalty shoot-out to reach Germany 2006, their first FIFA World Cup since 1974. Indeed, since their maiden attempt to reach the world's greatest football stage in 1965, Australia have been one match away from FIFA World Cup qualification on six occasions only to fall at the last hurdle. One of the most notable heartbreaking experiences in qualifying includes their second leg draw against Iran after leading by two goals only to see their place in the France 98 World Cup given to the Iranians. 

For South Africa 2010, coach Pim Verbeek has guided the team to a considerably more comfortable position. The magnitude of their success after the 2006 World Cup and qualification campaign for South Africa has seen the Socceroos climb up the FIFA rankings to as high as 16th. The Socceroos will compete at the South Africa World Cup with the intention of achieving glory and going further than their second round appearance four years ago where they were controversially eliminated by eventual winners Italy.

SOCCEROOS SQUAD 
Michael Beauchamp (Nurnberg, Germany), Marco Bresciano (Palermo), Tim Cahill (Everton, England), Nick Carle (Genclerbirligi, Turkey), David Carney (Sheffield United, England), Scott Chipperfield (Basel, Switzerland), Nathan Coe (Copenhagen, Denmark), Brett Emerton (Blackburn, England), Adam Federici (Reading, England), Josh Kennedy (Nurnberg, Germany), Harry Kewell (Liverpool, England), Patrick Kisnorbo (Leicester City, England), Scott McDonald (Celtic, Scotland), Lucas Neill (West Ham, England), Mark Schwarzer (Middlesbrough, England), Mile Sterjovski (Genclerbirligi, Turkey), Michael Thwaite (Wisla Krakow, Poland), Carl Valeri (Grosseto, Italy), James Wesolowski (Leicester City, England), Luke Wilkshire (Twente, Netherlands)