Tim Cahill

"This is something I've never said before, but there was the consideration I'd chosen the wrong country to play for."

Inspiration has been easy to find across the sporting spectrum in 2018. This is a selection of the athletes who dared us to dream.

'When I came back in the laces out of my shoes were gone.' Young Socceroo Ben Folami knows all about the cut-throat world of professional football in England.

'We are exposed and it’s an uncomfortable feeling.' Ange Postecoglou's review of the Socceroos' 2018 World Cup campaign – and the uncertain road ahead – is a must-read for every Australian sporting fan.

The standings will show that the Socceroos exited the 2018 World Cup with just one draw from three pool games, but that doesn’t really tell the story of their tournament.

New Zealand knows all about Peru from World Cup qualification. They reckon there's a tactic the Socceroos MUST employ tonight. And it involves Tim Cahill.

Socceroos left back Aziz Behich plays cut-throat games in front of huge crowds each week at Turkish Super Lig club Bursaspor.

Our Socceroos have put up an almighty effort against France in their Russia 2018 World Cup opener. Matildas star KYAH SIMON runs the rule over the performance of the Australian team.

Some believe Bert van Marwijk faces an impossible task getting the Socceroos to the knock-out stages of the World Cup. Brett Emerton disagrees.

‘It’s the same story every World Cup. This is NOT going to be England’s year.’ These were the words uttered emphatically and with great consternation …