Australia qualified for the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar after defeating Peru 5-4 on penalties in the Intercontinental playoff at Al Rayyan Stadium, Qatar, yesterday.
Both teams played a barren draw resulting in penalties where goalkeeper Andrew Redmayne stopped Peru’s last spot-kick taken by Alex Valera to earn a qualifying ticket to Qatar.
Redmayne was the hero for Socceroos that have always featured in the World Cup since their second appearance in 2006. The Trumpet Gathered
After the game, Australia coach Graham Arnold defended his decision to risk Redmayne by substituting Matthew Ryan before the penalty kicks, saying he brought the 33-year-old goalie to upset the mentality of the Peruvians.
Arnold said, “He’s a very good penalty saver and I did something that could affect them mentally.
“They were probably asking themselves the question, ‘Why is this guy being brought on, he has to be good.’
“Maybe that was the reason they hit the post. It’s a 1% mental effort to trouble the Peru penalty takers. It was a risk but it worked out,” he added.
Following the victory against Peru to qualify for the World Cup in Qatar, it makes it the sixth time in history for Australia to feature in FIFA World Cup and the 5th time in succession after 2006’s.
Reportedly, Australia becomes the thirty-first team to qualify for the 2022 FIFA World Cup scheduled from November 21 to December 18, 2022.
Meanwhile, the three-caps goalie has played down the attribution that he only played according to the game plan.
He revealed that this kind of circumstance has been preempted to happen during their preparation for the tourney in Qatar, reported BBC Sports.
He said, “This idea was floated pre-selection that this might eventuate in these kinds of circumstances and for the two or three weeks we’ve been here [in Qatar], I’ve kind of had that in my mind.
“I’ve been working on a few things in training but at the end of the day it’s a flip of the coin, it’s either right or left.
“I’m no hero, I just played my role like everyone did tonight,” he added.
Australia play their next match which is a friendly against New Zealand at Eden Park on 25 September, 2022.
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