Nigel's Webspace - Galleries of English Football Cards 1965/66 - 1979/80  Home pageMaster indexFacebookVisitor memoriesNewslettersSwaps & WantsFAQLinksSend me emailGift ideas

FKS Wonderful World of Soccer Stars - World Cup, West Germany, 1974

Australia

In their first ever World Cup finals tournament Australia were drawn against hosts West Germany, East Germany and Chile in Group 1.

On June 14, 1974 they lost 2-0 to East Germany, followed four days later by a 3-0 loss to the eventual tournament winners West Germany. In their last game they managed a 0-0 draw against Chile.

So, the Aussies went home bottom of their group with no goals scored. It would take 32 years before they qualified again, this time with the tournament in Germany again. Go the Socceroos!

17. Attila Abonyi 18. Adrian Alston 19. Ray Baartz 20. Branko Buljevic 21. Ernie Campbell 22. Col Curran
Slightly built, two-footed striker aged 27. Top scorer on the 1967 Asian tour with 13 goals and played in the 1970 and current World Cup qualifying series. Left Hungary as a boy. Also played in 1968 tests v. Japan. With St. George Budapest. Played one match in the 1970 qualifying series and has since become a more regular member of the squad. Usually in attack on the right or centre-forward. Aged 25. Learned the game with Fleetwood in England. Now Safeway United. Has 30 caps. Went from Australia to England to play as a professional for Manchester United in his teens. The most capped of Australian internationals with 44 caps. Nicknamed 'Bulldozer'. Forward who plays for Hakoah, Sydney. Strong left footed shot. Is 26. Is of Yugoslavian origin and has been utilised in attack on the extreme right flank during the current World Cup qualifying competition. Plays for the Melbourne club Just and has shown considerable consistency in the side. Aged 26, 16 caps. Plays for the New South Wales club Marconi Fairfield and is either a forward or midfield forager. Used frequently as a reserve to the squad but has often figured as a goalscorer. Coach Rale Rasic rates him highly. Is 24 and has 8 caps. Left-back who forced his way into the side during the latter stages of the 1974 World Cup qualifying competition in the vital matches with South Korea. Shows a distinct ability to overlap on the wing. With Western Suburbs. Aged 26, 9 caps.
23. Jim Fraser 24. Jimmy McKay 25. Jim Milisavljevic 26. Ray Richards 27. Jimmy Rooney 28. Manfred Schaefer
Twenty-eight year old goalkeeper of St. George Budapest the Sydney club who has taken over as senior choice for the national team from Ron Corry. Did well in the first match against South Korea despite an injured back. Has been capped on 8 occasions. Scored the goal in the play-off with South Korea which took Australia to the World Cup for the first time. Twenty-seven year old who originally joined Airdrie in 1964 from Bonnyrigg Rose. Scot now with Hakoah, Sydney. 24 caps. Reserve goalkeeper who plays with the Melbourne club, Just. Has been added to the national squad only comparatively recently but has shown himself to be a most promising prospect. Still only 22 years of age. English-born midfield player who has established a reputation as being a close-marking defensive performer. First came to prominence when playing in Australia against the Brazilian ace of Santos, Pele. Now with Marconi Fairfield. Aged 28, 25 caps. Another Scot who had a spell with the Second Division club Montrose before he emigrated to Australia. Played in the World Cup qualifying competition and is attached to the Apia club of Sydney. At the age of 28 has won 15 full caps. Defensive half-back with St. George Budapest who was born in Germany and left there at the age of 10. Thirty-year old milkman. Played in the 1967 Asian tour, the tests v Japan in 1968, the 1970 World Cup and present tournament. 43 caps.
   
  29. Doug Utjesenovic 30. Johnny Warren 31. John Watkiss 32. Peter Wilson  
  Is of Yugoslavian descent and is a 24-year old left-back with St. George Budapest. Established himself in the team before the World Cup qualifying competition and did well in the early matches especially. Has won 16 full caps. Former captain of Australia and the best known native product. Was a striker, now in midfield. Runs the social club at St. George Budapest. Has 41 caps. Aged 30. Played in the 1966, 1970 and current World Cup competitions as well. An Englishman who usually plays as sweeper in defence these days. Returned to his native country in the 1960s for a while. Played on the 1967 Asian tour and in the 1970 World Cup qualifying competition. Has 23 caps. With Hakoah, Sydney. Is the captain of Australia and learned the game when he was on the books of Middlesbrough. Centre-back who plays for the Sydney club Safeway United. Has been the key defender and inspiration of the defence in the competition. Aged 26, 27 caps.  

The copyright of all images used on this site remains with the copyright holders. No commercial gain is made from the use of the images on this site.
The copyright of the overall layout, design and textual content of the site is asserted to reside with its creator.