Australian coach Guus Hiddink from the Netherlands celebrates with Tony Vidmar (5) after their second leg World Cup qualifier against Uruguay at Sydney's Olympic Stadium, Wednesday, Nov. 16, 2005. Australia defeated Uruguay on penalties to book a World Cup soccer finals berth for the first time since 1974. (AP Photo/Mark Baker)

Podcasts

Podcast: Tony Vidmar’s heartbreaking World Cup story

Tony Vidmar was a defensive lock for the Socceroos for 15 years, playing a major role in getting the team to its first World Cup in 32 years. In today’s podcast, Vidmar recalls the drama and elation of the crucial match that secured the team’s passage – and the crushing personal blow that followed.

Soccer

The rare, exacting, high stakes of the World Cup

The make-or-break nature of the World Cup can’t be underestimated, writes Paul Marcuccitti.

Soccer

Can the World Cup deliver the epic joys of the past?

With contemporary World Cup teams favouring more conservative play, InDaily’s Paul Marcuccitti, in Russia for the tournament, hopes for at least a few epic matches of the kind that once hooked a generation of young football fans.

Manton St Tales

Dedicated Adelaide statistician's extraordinary gift to Australian soccer

A definitive new book detailing every player who has represented the Socceroos reveals a great deal about the often hidden history of the men’s national team and the sport in this country.

Soccer

Shock omissions in trimmed Socceroos World Cup squad

Defender Bailey Wright and in-form Hibernian hitman Jamie Maclaren are the biggest names to be culled from Bert van Marwijk’s Socceroos squad for the World Cup.