Australia's World Cup history – in pictures

1974 After two unsuccessful campaigns, Australia finally qualified for their first World Cup. Australia were dealt a tough group. Games against East and West Germany (pictured above), ended in defeat. They gained a point against Chile but it wasn't enough to save them from group-stage elimination. Photograph: AFP Photograph: AFP

1985 After failing in their two previous attempts, Australia were optimistic about qualification when they eased through a reformed Oceanian subgroup. Eventually the Aussies had a two-legged battle with Scotland to decide who could book their ticket to Mexico. The Scots achieved a comfortable 2-0 victory at Hampden Park and managed to grind out a 0-0 draw in Melbourne resulting in more frustration for Australia. Photograph: Bob Thomas/Getty Images Photograph: Bob Thomas/Getty Images

1993 The heroics of Mark Schwarzer put Australia through to a qualification decider against South American giants Argentina. Australia managed a very respectable 1-1 draw in Sydney, but despite a fighting display in Buenos Aires, they agonisingly suffered a 1-0 defeat. Photograph: Mike Hewitt/Getty Images Photograph: Mike Hewitt/Getty Images

1997 Terry Venables led Australia to yet another decisive qualifier. The Aussies looked certainties to go to France after going 2-0 up in Melbourne against Iran with just 20 minutes remaining. A crazed spectator invaded the pitch and pulled a goal-net down causing a lengthy delay. The Iranians regrouped and went on to snatch two late goals, sending them through on the away goals rule and inflicting more heartbreak on Australia. Photograph: Getty Images Photograph: Getty Images

2001 Australia had an enjoyable year before the 2002 World Cup. They recorded a famous 1-0 victory against Brazil in the Confederations Cup. But the World Cup was a step too far. Their qualification decider against Uruguay looked set to go to penalties until Richard Morales grabbed a late brace to send the South Americans through. Photograph: Gary M Prior/Getty Images Photograph: Gary M Prior/Getty Images

2005 Under Guus Hiddink, Australia finally reached their second World Cup, ironically once again held in Germany. The Australians were again faced with Uruguay in a repeat of their previous qualifying decider. This time the Aussies were triumphant - although it did take two saves from Mark Schwarzer in a penalty shoot-out before John Aloisi's spot-kick secured their place in the tournament. Photograph: Cameron Spencer/Getty Images Sport Photograph: Cameron Spencer/Getty Images Sport

2006 A late Tim Cahill double sparked a winning comeback against Japan in Australia's opener. The Socceroos took a point from their final group match against Croatia (in which Graham Poll booked Josip Simunic three times) and progressed to the knock-out stages. Despite having 10 men, Italy cruelly denied Australia a quarter-final place when Francesco Totti (above) converted a last-minute penalty to send the Italians on their way to eventual glory. Photograph: Guardian/Tom Jenkins Photograph: Guardian/Tom Jenkins

2010 Australia were tasked with qualifying through Asia rather than the play-off system which had troubled them so many times. The Aussies qualified with ease, but their campaign in South Africa began disastrously when they fell victim to Joachim Lowe's rampant Germany. A draw against Ghana meant the Socceroos were relying on other results and inevitably, despite a pulsating victory against Serbia, they dropped out on goal difference. Photograph: Stephane de Sakutin/AFP/Getty Images Photograph: Stephane de Sakutin/AFP/Getty Images

2013 Australia's talismanic winger Robbie Kruse inspired the Socceroos to an emphatic victory over Jordan to put them on the verge of a third consecutive World Cup qualification ... Photograph: Michael Dodge/Getty Images Photograph: Michael Dodge/Getty Images

… and they sealed it with a 1-0 victory over Iraq in Sydney. Josh Kennedy hit the winner for the Socceroos as time ticked down. Photograph: Paul Miller/AAP Photograph: Paul Miller/AAP