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FIFA World Cup 2006 - Re-writing Socceroos History - A walk through old FIFA Games

SPOILER ALERT

While we await the 2002 World Cup playoffs - I thought "hey, wouldn't it be fun to try and put together the hypothetical all time Caps and Goals and adjust them based off this alternate universe?"

I was able to find a website that best lists all the matches, players, goals, caps, etc - https://www.national-football-teams.com/country/12/2026/Australia.html - so while it only says that there have been 555 Socceroos (up to the end of 2025), I will be using this as the base for when I put this together. All of this is available at the spreadsheet I've been recording results, goal scorers and bookings on.

Since what I'm doing now at the moment is live-streaming on Twitch (which records the games that I can then upload and schedule to YouTube, I've already played through into the 2006 World Cup Qualifiers at the moment, and some interesting things:


Viduka has scored 97 goals in official matches (106 if we count the 3 "B" matches I've included as part of this playthrough). In this alternate reality, the only matches in real life that exist onwards from the 1997 World Cup Qualifications stage are the group stages and semi finals of the 1998, 2000 and 2002 OFC Nations Cups, and the preliminary round of 2002 WCQ - which means Archie Thompson's World Record still stands. Although, Aurelio Vidmar came close to breaking the then record of 10 in a 1997 Qualifier against Tahiti in this universe.

In this period, Harry Kewell has also scored 67 goals - 2 of them in "B" matches - so 65 official goals, which he also hadn't scored until 1997, so this is all his goals.

Aurelio Vidmar scored 46 goals, and had 8 to his name before the 1997 Qualifiers, so his career total would now be 54.

The stats work out to 176 actual Socceroos having not made their debut yet - will see how far we get with caps, etc as we go through (I would assume not all of these 176 will play - I'm not sure how many/if any new players I'll give a Socceroos Cap too that didn't get one in real life, as I've generally been using the in-game squads where I can.



UPDATE: Up to this point, I'm up to the last 2 friendlies prior to the 2005 FIFA Confederations Cup (which would set the universe at March 2005), and this is the universe adjusted Most Capped Top 10 and Top 10 highest goalscorers (not counting the All-Stars and Manchester United friendlies)

Most Capped:
1. Paul Wade - 97
2. Tony Vidmar - 94
3. Stan Lazaridis - 86
4. Alex Tobin - 83
5. Mark Viduka - 82
6. Craig Moore - 78
7. Tony Popovic - 74
8. Peter Wilson - 65
9. Harry Kewell - 64
10. Attila Abonyi - 61

Top Scorers:
1. Mark Viduka - 97
2. Harry Kewell - 65
3. Aurelio Vidmar - 57
4. Damian Mori - 28
5. Attila Abonyi - 25
6. John Kosmina - 25
7. Paul Okon - 19
8. John Aloisi - 19
9. Archie Thompson - 19
10. Ray Baartz - 18

 
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Australia are off to a flying start, with a 3-0 victory in Melbourne over Uruguay in the first leg of the CONMEBOL-OFC FIFA World Cup Qualifying playoff!

The Socceroos now head to Montevideo with a healthy lead - can they qualify for the FIFA World Cup Finals consecutively for the first time in their history??

 
Australia have secured qualification for the 2002 FIFA World Cup Finals in Korea/Japan, with a 0-0 draw in the second leg in Montevideo, and a 3-0 win on aggregate!

FIFA have conducted the draw for the 2002 FIFA World Cup, and Australia has been drawn in Group A with reigning European champions France, 1992 European Champions Denmark, and the recent runners up of the African Cup of Nations in Senegal.

Soccer Australia has organised the following friendlies for the Socceroos in the lead up to the tournament:
  1. Away to Korea Republic
  2. Away to Saudi Arabia
  3. Away to Italy
  4. Home v United States
  5. Away (neutral) to China
Australia will face Denmark in their opening fixture, with France to follow, and Senegal closing out the group stage.

FRIENDLY MATCHES








 
Far out, because I've played so far ahead and scheduled in matches - some of the twists I've had to write into the world (because the only thing that changes in this universe is what happens on the pitch - so I still have to make the Soccer Australia collapse happen. I've still got to have the switch from Farina to Hiddink happen, and gosh it's fun in a media sense).
---
SOCCER AUSTRALIA – MEDIA RELEASE
Date: May 2002

Farina Announces Socceroos Squad for 2002 FIFA World Cup Finals​

Socceroos head coach Frank Farina today announced his squad for the 2002 FIFA World Cup, with Australia set to compete on football’s biggest stage in Japan and South Korea.

The 23-man squad blends experienced international players with emerging talent, with Farina expressing confidence that the group has the quality and character required to represent Australia proudly at the tournament.

“This is an exciting moment for Australian football,” Farina said.

“These players have worked extremely hard to earn their place in the squad and I believe we have a group capable of competing strongly against the best teams in the world.”

Farina said the squad reflects a balance of defensive organisation, creativity in midfield and attacking depth.

“We have players performing at a high level both domestically and overseas. The challenge now is to come together as a unit and perform on the world stage.”

Australia will depart for its pre-tournament camp later this month before beginning its World Cup campaign.

Socceroos Squad – 2002 FIFA World Cup Finals​

Goalkeepers​

  • Mark Schwarzer
  • Željko Kalac

Defenders​

  • Craig Moore
  • Shaun Murphy
  • Tony Vidmar
  • Lucas Neill
  • Hayden Foxe
  • Kevin Muscat
  • Tony Popovic
  • Stephen Laybutt

Midfielders​

  • Josip Skoko
  • Stan Lazaridis
  • Marco Bresciano
  • Brett Emerton
  • Angelo Costanzo
  • Paul Okon

Forwards​

  • Mark Viduka
  • Harry Kewell
  • Archie Thompson
  • Clayton Zane
  • John Aloisi
  • Damian Mori
  • David Zdrilić
Soccer Australia Chief Executive Ian Holmes congratulated the selected players and wished the squad success as they prepare to represent the nation.

“Qualification for the World Cup is a tremendous achievement for Australian football, and we are confident this squad will do the country proud.
---






Anyways, in the meantime - continuing with matches premiering each day, here's links to the 2002 FIFA World Cup Group A matches, with their premiere times:

March 22nd - 7pm AEDT


March 23rd - 9:30pm AEDT


March 24th - 4:30pm AEDT
 
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Is that Italy friendly n 2002 legit?
 
JS96 said:
Is that Italy friendly n 2002 legit?
Click to expand...
No - I wish haha

As we didn’t qualify, we didn’t actually play any matches between the Uruguay playoff, and the England 2003 friendly, other than the OFC Nations Cup that was held just after the World Cup in 2002.

Given that we qualified in this playthrough universe, I gave the Socceroos the friendlies that Uruguay played in the lead up to the 2002 World Cup instead
 
On that note - Australia's dominant display to close out the Group Stage has secured them top spot of Group A with 9 points, and a spot in the Round of 16.

The Socceroos face Sweden in Niigata for a spot in the Quarter Finals - which would be one better than Australia's performance at the 1998 World Cup Finals in France.

9:30pm AEDT tomorrow (March 25th)

 
Australia have advanced to the Quarter Finals of the 2002 FIFA World Cup - their best performance in history, after 1998's Round of 16 exit against the Netherlands.

After defeating Sweden, the Socceroos face off against Belgium, with a spot in the Semi-Finals awaiting the winner.

4:30pm AEDT tomorrow (March 26th)
 
Australia have advanced to the Semi Finals of the 2002 FIFA World Cup - their best performance in history, after 1998's Round of 16 exit against the Netherlands.

After defeating Belgium in a quarter final for the ages, the Socceroos face off against two time World Champions Argentina, with a spot in the World Cup Final in Yokohama on the line.

A 5 goal haul from Harry Kewell wasn't enough to hold Belgium out in regular time, with an injury time equaliser seeing the game head to Golden Goal Extra Time. However, it didn't take long for Viduka to find the back of the net to send Australia through to the semi-finals. Harry Kewell now sits atop the Golden Boot table.

Kick-off Friday March 27 at 9:30pm AEDT
 
ah I just realised I could theoretically go back and do the 1974 World Cup (and also 1986 for some reason)
 
A late comeback wasn't enough, as Australia were eliminated from the 2002 FIFA World Cup at the Semi-Finals by Argentina - their best performance in history, after 1998's Round of 16 exit against the Netherlands.

Australia head back to Korea to face Saudi Arabia in the Third Place Playoff, with high hopes of Harry Kewell taking home the Golden Boot - Australia's second consecutive Golden Boot at the FIFA World Cup - as a pre-tournament friendly saw Australia defeat Saudi Arabia 3-0.

Kick-off Saturday March 28 @ 9pm
 
After an historic Third Place at the FIFA World Cup in Korea/Japan, Australia now face Oceania rivals New Zealand in the final of the 2002 OFC Nations Cup.

A spot in the 2003 FIFA Confederations Cup is on the line, with the winner heading to France for the tournament as Oceania's representatives.

Kickoff Sunday March 29 @ 1:30pm
 
With the Socceroos qualifying for the 2003 FIFA Confederations Cup in France, with a 3-1 victory over New Zealand's All Whites in the OFC Nations Cup Final, Australia prepare themselves with a tough friendly away to England.

Kick off Tuesday 31 March @7am AEDT


With the Copa America champions Colombia, and the AFC Asian Cup champions Japan declining invitations to the tournament in France (replaced by fourth placed Uruguay, and runners up Saudi Arabia respectively), Australia have been drawn with the hosts and reigning European Champions in France, Uruguay, and Saudi Arabia.

Group B features 2002 FIFA World Cup champions Portugal, and runners up Argentina, as well as CAF African Cup of Nations champions Cameroon, and CONCACAF Gold Cup champions United States.

Match 1 v Uruguay
Kickoff Wednesday April 1 @ 2am AEDT


Match 2 v France
Kickoff Thursday April 2 @ 5am AEDT


Match 3 v Saudi Arabia
Kickoff Friday April 3 @ 5am AEDT
 
The Socceroos progressed through to the semi finals of the 2003 FIFA Confederations Cup with their victory over Saudi Arabia, and now face African champions Cameroon, with France facing Argentina in the other semi final.

 
The Socceroos face Argentina in the third place playoff of the 2003 FIFA Confederations Cup - a rematch of their 2002 FIFA World Cup semi-final, that saw Argentina emerge victorious.

 
Australia have been hammered by Argentina in the Third Place Playoff for the 2003 FIFA Confederations Cup

With Oceanian qualifiers beginning shortly for Australia, Soccer Australia has arranged friendlies with Ireland, South Africa, and Turkey in the lead-up.

However, there are rumblings within the organisation, as despite recent successes - allegations of fraud and mismanagement were levelled at Soccer Australia by elements within the Australian Press.

Soccer Australia has commissioned an independent inquiry known as the Crawford Report, as the Australian Government has threatened to withdraw funding to the sport via the Australian Sports Commission.

 
Following Australia's defeat to Ireland in a London friendlly, and the release of the Crawford Report, Soccer Australia has been wound up, with the newly formed Australian Soccer Association (ASA) now the governing body for soccer in Australia.

Along with this, the ASA have been able to sign a lucrative sponsorship and supplier deal with Nike, taking over Adidas - announced shortly before the friendly with South Africa - and the Socceroos wearing a makeshift temporary uniform until the two-friendly series with Turkey that will prepare the Socceroos for the 2004 OFC Nations Cup Group Stage (which doubles as Oceania's preliminary World Cup Qualifiers).

These friendlies are to assist Frank Farina in preparing for the 2004 OFC Nations Cup group stage (which doubles as the preliminary round for OFC's World Cup Qualification), hosted by Australia, and will see them face Fiji, New Zealand, Solomon Islands, Tahiti and Vanuatu in a single round robin tournament, with a home-and-away Final to be held later in the year by the teams that finish in 1st and 2nd.

The Australian Soccer Association have also begun to explore a move out of the Oceanian Football Confederation, into the Asian Football Confederation - citing disagreements with FIFA over OFC's qualification slots as the primary issue. Despite strong performances in both 1998 and 2002, OFC still have not been rewarded with an automatic slot for the 2006 FIFA World Cup, with the winner of the OFC Qualification Stage drawn to play-off once again with the 5th placed nation from CONMEBOL.

April 7 2026 - 6am


April 8 2026 - 8pm


April 9 2026 - 8pm
 
The Socceroos' quest to Germany begins in Adelaide with the OFC Nations Cup - with the opening round doubling as the main qualification stage for Oceania towards the 2006 FIFA World Cup.

Australia face New Zealand first, with Tahiti, Fiji, Vanuatu and Solomon Islands to follow - in a single round-robin group stage held in Adelaide. The nations in 1st and 2nd will progress to both the OFC Nations Cup Final - to be held over 2 legs later in 2004 - and the final OFC World Cup Qualification round, which will also be held over two legs, in 2005.

The nation that finishes first will host the second leg of the OFC Nations Cup Final, and the following OFC World Cup Qualifying Playoff.

The winner of the OFC Nations Cup Final will also go on to represent the OFC at the 2005 FIFA Confederations Cup in Germany, prior to the OFC World Cup Qualifying Playoff.

10 April 2026 - 8:30pm


11 April 2026 - 6pm


12 April 2026 - 2:30pm


13 April 2026 - 8:30pm


14 April 2026 - 8:30pm
 
Last group game yet to come, but the final of the OFC. Actions Cup is set, with the first leg away to Tahiti

15 April @ 11am AEST
 
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