The World Cup is football Christmas and every Socceroo wants their name on the nice list | Jack Snape

Australia’s friendly against Curacao on Tuesday is the crucial audition for players to show Tony Popovic they deserve a ticket to the US

‘Twas the match before the World Cup,
When all through the squad,
The Socceroos jostled,
To receive Popa’s nod.

The most anticipated time in football’s four-year cycle is upon us, and the greatest present of all will be unwrapped within months. But while fans may be scheming for a long lunch when the Socceroos play Paraguay, or musing whether to buy the home or away kit, Australia’s players have something more pressing to worry about.

More than 50 World Cup aspirants have been in Socceroos camps over the past year, so ahead of Tuesday’s send-off match against Curacao in Melbourne, the final squeeze is on.