Graham Arnold’s decision to bring goalkeeper Andrew Redmayne on as a last-minute substitution for the penalty shoot-out was months in the planning. To the surprise of just about everyone watching,Redmayne replaced La Liga and former EPL goalkeeper Mat Ryan in the last minute of time and made the crucial save that got Australia to the World Cup,blocking Alex Valera’s penalty.

Redmayne has a superb record in saving penalties in the A-League,helping Sydney FC to a 2019 grand final triumph in the shoot-out against Perth Glory. Speaking after the match,he revealed it was one of the reasons he was brought into the camp as a back-up goalkeeper.

“This idea was floated pre-selection that this might eventuate in these kind of circumstances. In the two or three weeks we have been here,I kind of had this in the back of my mind,” he said.

Bailey Wright gets the bigger picture. The Sunderland defender only played his first minutes of the campaign against UAE last week but started at centre-back against Peru tonight.

While his teammates were jumping up and down in celebration,Wright was more philosophical. Immediately,he pointed towards what qualification does for the country’s national psyche and for the growth of the game as well.

“A lot was riding on this today,for us as individuals and for us a country,” he said.

“You see what it does to the nation....It means a lot for the generations to come through. This is what it’s all about. It’s a really a dream come true.”

There’s a sense of déjà vu for the Socceroos’ 2022 World Cup group in being pitted against two of their group opponents from 2018,and having to beat another one of last World Cup’s opponents to get there.

Australia will be in Group D of the 2022 World Cup,alongside Denmark,France and Tunisia. It’s eerily similar to their 2018 World Cup group of France,Denmark and Peru.

Australia will play France (all times AEDT) at 6am Wednesday,November 23;Tunisia at 9pm on Saturday,November 26 and Denmark at 2am Thursday,December 1.

Graham Arnold has called on Prime Minister Anthony Albanese follow in the footsteps of one of his great predecessors,Bob Hawke,and support people taking the day off work today in celebration of the Socceroos’ World Cup qualification.

“I called out Anthony Albanese the other day to give everyone a day off to celebrate this because I believe this is just one of the greatest achievements ever,” Arnold said. “20 World Cup qualifiers,we played 16 away from home.”

Mitch Duke could hardly contain himself in the post-match interview,saying he was about to have “a f---ing panic attack.”

His coach was struggling for words as well. A clearly emotional Arnold was holding back tears.

“I am just so proud of the players,” Arnold said. “Really no one knows what these boys have been through to get here;it was so hard,the whole campaign. The way they stuck at it,the way they committed themselves – brilliant.”

Redmayne’s mind games worked a trick. He keptAlex Valera waiting at the spot for an extra 30 seconds,danced on the line,turned his back to him and then pulled-off a superb save to shatter Peru’s hearts but send Australia to the World Cup.

What an incredible result for Australia and for Graham Arnold. He’s copped a lot of criticism this campaign but he’s managed this game superbly. Socceroos’ best performance this campaign and Arnold’s tactics were spot on.

THE SOCCEROOS HAVE REACHED THE WORLD CUP!!!! Say that out loud. Scream it from your windows. Andrew Redmayne,the goalkeeper brought on for the shoot-outs showed why he was the man the Socceroos turned to.