Football In Kuwait

In 1982 Kuwait  took the confederation's sole World Cup spot. Just as Australia had managed to do on their tournament debut eight years earlier, the Kuwaitis came away from Spain with a single point, earned in a draw against Czechoslovakia. Their two other games - against England and France - both ended in defeat. The latter is remembered for one of the World Cup's most infamous moments - when Sheikh Fahad al-Ahmed stormed onto the ground mid pitch to protest a French goal that the Kuwaitis claimed only occurred after they stopped upon hearing a whistle. Remarkably, the goal was overturned.

Two years before they made it to that grand stage, Kuwait had enjoyed their other great day in the sun, the triumph on home soil at the 1980 Asian Cup. The Kuwaitis also won nine of the first 14 Gulf Cup of Nations tournaments between 1970 and 1998, and again raised the trophy in 2010.

The rise of east Asian powers Japan and South Korea, and the emergence of China and Saudi Arabia pushed Kuwait back among the also-rans of the confederation.

Kuwait had held the record for the biggest international win, a 20-0 romp over Bhutan in 2000, before that mark was bettered the following year when the Socceroos put 22 past Tonga, and then 31 in the back of American Samoa's net two days later.

The visitors have tasted success on Australian soil before. They won their very first clash against the Socceroos in a World Cup qualifier in Sydney in 1977, and came away from Canberra with a 1-0 win in an Asian Cup qualifier against A-League opposition six years ago. The Socceroos have played Kuwait three other times since joining the AFC in 2006, with a win, a draw and another defeat to go with that disappointing night in the capital.

Their opponents may be ranked 124 in the world, but Australia need only look back at previous clashes with Kuwait to know that they can pose danger, even with a newly appointed coach.