Australia

Mat Ryan and Mathew Leckie become only the third and fourth Australians ever selected for four FIFA World Cups, matching Tim Cahill and Mark Milligan.

Cristian Volpato switched international allegiance from Italy to Australia just days before the June 1 squad deadline — one of the most dramatic late-window nationality changes in Socceroos history.

Australia qualified directly for the first time since 2014, securing top-two finish in AFC Group C with a decisive 2-1 win at Saudi Arabia on the final matchday.

Defender Aziz Behich is the ninth most-capped Socceroo in history and one of only a handful of Australians to play in three World Cups.

Lucas Herrington (18) is the youngest player in the squad, while Jason Geria (33) finally gets his first major tournament after debuting for the Socceroos a decade ago.

In 2001 Australia beat American Samoa 31-0 — still the biggest win in international football history — and striker Archie Thompson scored 13 goals in one match, another world record.

Australian fans long blamed their 32-year World Cup drought on a witch doctor's curse from a 1969 qualifier in Mozambique — comedian John Safran flew to Africa to have it lifted in 2004, and a year later the Socceroos finally qualified.