Underdog status embraced as Socceroos prepare for Türkiye

But then, in three consecutive tournaments, Australia failed to advance.In 2010, goal difference ended the Socceroos' chance of progression, while in 2014 they lost all three games and four years later managed just one draw.But in Qatar in 2018, Matthew Leckie stunned Denmark as Australia moved out of the group stage for just the second time.A day out from the Socceroos' clash with Türkiye, it was Turkish captain Hakan Çalhanoğlu who fired an early shot, declaring he expects his team to dominate their World Cup match because they are more talented."They expect to win but so do most people That's what we aim to do."While Australia prepares for a talented Turkish side that contains stars from Real Madrid and Inter Milan, it is also coming up against a nation that has been starved of global success for more than two decades.Türkiye last qualified for a World Cup in 2002, where it made it to the semifinals and then defeated South Korea for third place.Arda Güler, who is just 21, and Juventus's Kenan Yildiz were not born the last time their nation qualified for a World Cup.So Australia has to know it is coming up against a team full of generational talent, which is also out to end a generation of World Cup exile.