Confederations Cup: Socceroos get ready to tackle Germany, Cameroon, Chile in Russia

IT’S a meeting every four years of the world’s best — and the Socceroos are invited. It’s not the World Cup but playing in the Confederations Cup is still quite an honour.

The Socceroos will play defending world champions Germany in their first game.

IT’S a meeting every four years of the world’s best — and the Socceroos are invited.

The Confederations Cup kicks off in Russia later this week. Australia face Germany, Cameroon and Chile, with more games in the offing if they perform well..

It’s a tournament where they have done well in the past, although it’s been 12 years since they last graced it.

Their place among the elite eight is a reward for winning the Asian Cup back in 2015.

And it’s sure to prove invaluable preparation for next year’s World Cup, if, of course, they qualify.

Australia qualifies as champions of Asia.

WHEN IS IT ON?

The group stage games start on Sunday morning (EST), with Russia playing New Zealand in St Petersburg and continue to Monday, June 26 (EST) when Germany play Cameroon in Sochi and Chile face the Socceroos in Moscow.

The two semi-finals are played on Thursday, June 29 (EST) in Kazan and Friday, June 30 in Sochi.

The two losers then play in the third-place playoff in Moscow on Monday, July 3 (EST) while the winners clash in the decider in St Petersburg on the same day.

WHERE CAN WE WATCH IT?

SBS will cover every Socceroos match, as well as the semi-finals and final.

Tuesday, June 20: Australia v Germany (12.30am to 3.30am)

Friday, June 23: Cameroon v Australia (12.30am to 3.30am)

Monday, June 26: Chile v Australia (12.30am to 3.30am)

WHAT’S THE FORMAT?

There are eight teams who have qualified as either champions of the world, champions of their particular regions or as host of the next World Cup.

They are split into two groups of four, with the top two progressing to the semi-finals.

WHO’S THERE THIS YEAR?

For this instalment of the tournament there is Russia (World Cup 2018 hosts), Germany (World champions), Cameroon (African champions), Chile (South American champions), Portugal (European champions), New Zealand (Oceania champions) and Mexico (CONCACAF Gold Cup winners).

The Socceroos will play defending world champions Germany in their first game.

WHAT ARE THE GROUPS?

Group A features Russia, New Zealand, Portugal and Mexico while Group B has Australia, Cameroon, Chile and Germany.

HOW HAVE THE SOCCEROOS GONE?

They have qualified for three of the nine tournaments, with their best result undoubtedly coming in the first instalment in 1997. Twenty years ago Australia — champions of Oceania and managed by the inimitable Terry Venables, stunned the world by not only making it out of their group but also reaching the final. The Socceroos beat Mexico 3-1 thanks to goals from Mark Viduka, John Aloisi and Damien Mori before they secured a highly-commendable 0-0 draw with Brazil. A 1-0 defeat to Saudi Arabia followed but as Brazil beat Mexico, Australia still qualified for the semi-finals. There they edged out 1995 Copa America champions Uruguay 1-0, courtesy of an extra time goal from Harry Kewell. But they were brought back down to earth in the final as Brazilian superstars Romario and Ronaldo hit hat-tricks as Brazil won 6-0.

Four years later in Japan and South Korea, the Socceroos pulled off two of their greatest triumphs — a 1-0 win over France in the group stage and then a 1-0 success over Brazil in the third place playoff. The hero of the win over the French was Clayton Zane who was in the midst of a profitable stint with Norwegian club Lillestrom that earned him player of the year honours. After scoring in the earlier 2-0 win over Mexico, Shaun Murphy grabbed the winner against Brazil. He rose to meet a Stan Lazaridis cross with a stooping header to seal the victory with five minutes remaining.

There was no such luck four years later though as the Socceroos bowed out in the group stages without a win. In their defence they did draw the tougher of the two groups, with Germany and Argentina proving formidable opposition. They actually gave Germany quite a scare in their opening match before falling 4-3. John Aloisi scored a brace while Josip Skoko got the other. Aloisi then once again grabbed a double in the 4-2 loss to Argentina before ending their involvement with a 2-0 loss to Tunisia.

PAST FINAL RESULTS

1992 — Argentina 3 d Saudi Arabia 1

1995 — Denmark 2 d Argentina 0

1997 — Brazil 6 Australia 0

1999 — Mexico 4 Brazil 3

2001 — France 1 Japan 0

2003 — France 1 Cameron 0 (AET)

2005 — Brazil 4 Argentina 1

2009 — Brazil 3 USA 2

2013 — Brazil 3 Spain 0

Portugal, the champions of Europe, will also be in Russia/

ODDITIES

New Zealand have qualified for three previous Confederations Cups in 1999, 2003 and 2009. But they have only picked up one point from nine games, breaking their points duck in 2009 with a 0-0 draw with Iraq. Back in 2003 they conceded 11 goals in three games, including five to France.

Asian teams have failed miserably in the last four tournaments. Japan were knocked out in the first round in 2003 and again failed to make the semi-finals two years later (although they only went out on goal difference). Shock 2007 Asian Cup winners Iraq failed to score a goal in the 2009 tournament while Japan lost all three goals — and conceded nine goals — in 2013.

Brazil have won four titles, including the last three. They finished runners up in 1999 behind Mexico and were fourth in 2001 when beaten by the Socceroos. The 2003 tournament is the only time — until 2017 — that they had not qualified.

It‘s not a great guide for providing the next World Cup winner. Spain — who were the 2010 world champions — finished third in 2009 in South Africa. The 2002 world champions Brazil actually finished fourth in the 2001 Confederations Cup and were beaten by the Socceroos.