Australia, insurance, car, home, live, holidays

Awer Mabil (11) celebrates the Socceroos’ shoot-out victory over Peru.Credit:Getty Images

“For Australia to take us in and resettle us,it gave me and my siblings and my whole family a chance at life. That’s what I mean by thanking Australia for that chance of life,that chance of opportunity they allowed my family.”

The 26-year-old has been one of the great recent success stories of Australian football. Having left Adelaide United for Europe in 2015,he flourished into a first-team regularin the Champions League with Danish club Midtjylland and will play in Spain’s La Liga next season after securing a move to Cadiz.

His winning penalty on Tuesday only continued that rise. Having played a role in getting the Socceroos to a fifth successive World Cup,he hopes to inspire other refugees in Australia and frame the narrative around those who come to the country to seek asylum.

“I think now I might have a little impact on Australian football,” he said.

“I scored,a lot of my teammates scored,everybody played a part and maybe that refugee kid played a big part.

Sports news,results and expert commentary.Sign up for our Sport newsletter.

License this article