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The road to Asian Cup 2007 just got a little bumpier. The “Socceroos” are here!

Australia kicked off their campaign in the Asian Football Confederation with a 3-1 win over Bahrain in their opening AFC Asian Cup 2007 qualifier in Manama.

The new and improved Ausie sides that will play in World Cup after a 32 year absence are under the leadership of Guus Hiddink (Dutch manager who lead South Korea to 4th place finish in 2002 world Cup), and are eying to win their first Asian Cup trophy in 2007.

With score of talented players playing both inside and outside Australia, the Socceroos are an unambiguous new force in Asian football and if Iran is to win the title for the forth record time in 2007, they might as well be familiar with the obstacle, impediments and the rough roads ahead. One thing is for certain, the Ausies are not here to leave empty handed and most certainly they are entering the qualifications as the favorite to take it all!

A come from behind win over Bahraini side on their own turf is a significant sign of how serious the newcomers are.

The Asian powerhouses might as well get ready for a fierce competition next year if they ought to have a chance of winning the most prestigious trophy in the old continent.

Below is a quick review of Australian soccer and their famous legionnaires.

Australia's presence on the international football stage has grown enormously over the last decade, due largely to the success of its National Teams.

In total there is nine National Teams under the Football Federation Australia's control. They are made up of four Men’s teams – the Senior National Team (Qantas Socceroos), Qantas Under 23’s (Men’s Olympic Team), Under 20’s (Qantas Young Socceroos) and the Under 17’s (Qantas Joeys), two Women’s teams – the Qantas Matildas (double as the Women’s Olympic team) and the Under 19’s (Qantas Young Matildas), Men's Futsal, Men's Beach Soccer and just recently the Paralympic Football Team.

The Qantas Socceroos remain the most recognizable of National teams and its qualification victory over Uruguay to make the 2006 World Cup finals in Germany, galvanized the nation and is widely regarded the biggest sporting event of 2005. The finals will only further highlight, how popular the sport is in Australia and come June 2006, there will be a lot fans preparing for many a late night as they follow the teams progress through the tournament.

Australia’s reputation as a footballing nation continues to rise with many impressive results in the last few years, but it is at the World Cup where countries can only truly gauge their place in world football and further enhance its presence among the world’s football elite.

The Australians currently have 119 players who play aboard (22 countries), and in all the major leagues around the footballing world (Bundesliga, La Liga, Serie A, EPL). However, majority of their legionnaires play in English Premier League. Harry Kewell (Liverpool), Mark Viduka (Middles borough), Shane Lowry (Aston Villa), Ahmad Elrich (Fulham), Joel Griffiths (Leeds United), Craig Moore (Newcastle united) and Tim Cahill of Everton are just a few names to mention!

The Iranians as the winners of three Asian Cup trophies in the past have to perform most excellent if they are setting up to smash the records and become the forth time title holders.

The question is; are we up to par?

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