Yesterday we concluded Group C with Saudi Arabia. Today we'll be reviewing my home country Australia. Let's go Socceroos! 32 teams in 32 days! This is the Ultimate FIFA World Cup review guide. Check what we've done so far below.

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Group A - [Qatar](https://peakd.com/hive-101690/@wolfgangsport/qatar-the-ultimate-2022-fifa-world-cup-review-9) | 	[Ecuador](https://peakd.com/hive-101690/@wolfgangsport/ecuador-the-ultimate-2022-fifa-world-cup-review-10) | [Senegal](https://peakd.com/hive-101690/@wolfgangsport/senegal-the-ultimate-2022-fifa-world-cup-review-11) | [Netherlands](https://peakd.com/hive-101690/@wolfgangsport/netherlands-the-ultimate-2022-fifa-world-cup-review-12)
Group B - [United States](https://peakd.com/hive-101690/@wolfgangsport/united-states-the-ultimate-2022-fifa-world-cup-review-13) | [England](https://peakd.com/hive-101690/@wolfgangsport/england-the-ultimate-2022-fifa-world-cup-review-14) | [Iran](https://peakd.com/hive-101690/@wolfgangsport/iran-the-ultimate-2022-fifa-world-cup-review-15) | [Wales](https://peakd.com/hive-101690/@wolfgangsport/wales-the-ultimate-2022-fifa-world-cup-review-16)
Group C - [Mexico](https://peakd.com/hive-101690/@wolfgangsport/mexico-the-ultimate-2022-fifa-world-cup-review-17) | [Poland](https://peakd.com/hive-101690/@wolfgangsport/poland-the-ultimate-2022-fifa-world-cup-review-18) | [Argentina](https://peakd.com/hive-101690/@wolfgangsport/argentina-the-ultimate-2022-fifa-world-cup-review-19) | [Saudi Arabia](https://peakd.com/hive-101690/@wolfgangsport/saudi-arabia-the-ultimate-2022-fifa-world-cup-review-20)
Group F - [Canada](https://peakd.com/hive-101690/@wolfgangsport/canada-the-ultimate-2022-fifa-world-cup-review-1) | [Croatia](https://peakd.com/hive-101690/@wolfgangsport/croatia-the-ultimate-2022-fifa-world-cup-review-2) | [Morocco](https://peakd.com/hive-101690/@wolfgangsport/morocco-the-ultimate-2022-fifa-world-cup-review-3) | [Belgium](https://peakd.com/hive-101690/@wolfgangsport/belgium-the-ultimate-2022-fifa-world-cup-review-4)
Group H - [Ghana](https://peakd.com/hive-101690/@wolfgangsport/ghana-the-ultimate-2022-fifa-world-cup-review-5) | [Portugal](https://peakd.com/hive-101690/@wolfgangsport/portugal-the-ultimate-2022-fifa-world-cup-review-6) | [Uruguay](https://peakd.com/hive-101690/@wolfgangsport/uruguay-the-ultimate-2022-fifa-world-cup-review-7) | [South Korea](https://peakd.com/hive-101690/@wolfgangsport/south-korea-the-ultimate-2022-fifa-world-cup-review-8)



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![australia.jpg](https://files.peakd.com/file/peakd-hive/wolfgangsport/23wMmCZnCabv1LCLzVuufX7iXkyGu3QdMiwgyXLSnpde3eYvRVB6oSHS8ZjGCndmvrsFz.jpg)

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**Country:** Australia
**Nickname:** Socceroos

**Last World Cup Appearance:** 2018 (Group Stage)
**Previous World Cup Appearances:** 1974, 2006, 2010, 2014, 2018
**World Rank**: #42
**Star Players:** Aaron Mooy, Mathew Ryan, Harry Souttar

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Australia has had a very long and arduous road to qualifying for the World Cup. After finishing third in the final stage of AFC World Cup qualification, Australia had a playoff win against the UAE to earn the right to play the fifth-placed South American qualifier Peru. 

After a heroic save by substitute keeper Andrew Redmayne, he earned hero status in Australia by earning us a spot in our fifth straight World Cup and sixth in history. 

Qualification looked like it would be a breeze. In fact, back in October last year we won a world record 11th straight FIFA World Cup qualifier. We then buckled and are somewhat fortunate to be playing in Qatar. Pessimism aside, 16 of our 20 qualification matches were played away because of COVID which should be taken into consideration. 

Unfortunately, it's one of our weakest teams we'll ever be sending to the World Cup. Long gone is our Golden Generation which included Tim Cahill, Mark Viduka, Harry Kewell and Mark Schwarzer to name a few. 

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**World Cup Group:** Group D - France, **Australia**, Denmark, Tunisia 

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**Prediction:** As close as ever to a "home" World Cup, Saudi Arabia will be comfortable in the conditions which will totally suit them. Unfortunately for the Saudis it may not be as big of an advantage with the teams that they'll be coming up against. Although they lack superstar names in the squad, the entire squad plays in the Saudi Professional League.

During the World Cup qualifiers against China and Australia, the squad was made up of players from only six Saudi clubs. The use of all homegrown players may actually benefit the team in terms of chemistry and leaves hope that they could cause an upset.

Salem Al-Dawsari is the key for Saudi Arabia if they're to have any success. He can provide chances and score goals at the World Cup. The Green Falcons chances took a huge blow however with Fahad Al-Muwallad recently being suspended for 18 months for testing positive for a banned substance. 

Al-Hilal striker Saleh Al-Shehri can fill the void, with 8 goals in his first 16 games for Saudi Arabia. Midfield maestro and captain Salman Al-Faraj, as well as left-back Yasser Al-Shahrani will provide much needed experience and will be the key for the Saudis if they're to progress.

Argentina, Poland and Mexico will very likely be too powerful for the home based Saudi team to overcome. They will however be important in dictating whether it's Poland or Mexico that progresses to the knockout stage.

Up front we're relying on Bundesliga attacking midfielder Ajdin Hrustic and Hibernian winger Martin Boyle for goals. Watch out for the impact of La Liga winger Awer Mabil who will likely come off the bench and provide an injection of energy that can win any game.

This is a "going with my heart, not my head" prediction. 


In an almost identical group in 2018, we lost 2-1 to France, earned a solid draw against Denmark and blew it against Peru. Well we've beaten Peru. We can match it with Denmark and we can likely afford a narrow loss to France.

Australia will surprise all and limp into the knockout stages like we did in 2006, only to lose to Italy in the most dodgiest of circumstances! 

Round of 16.

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