Socceroo Jamie Maclaren proud of teammates as they qualify for World Cup despite trials and tribulations

Socceroo Jamie Maclaren couldn’t be prouder of his teammates after coming through to qualify for this year’s World Cup despite doubters and the trials of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Written off as no hope of reaching Qatar 2022 after missing out on automatic qualification, Australia rewrote the script with a dramatic penalty shootout triumph over Peru in Tuesday night’s (Wednesday AEST) play-off at the Ahmad bin Ali Stadium.

Given just days before, Maclaren was calling out on Instagram a newspaper article which suggested he was such an unknown quantity to Australian fans most would confuse him with Bathurst winner Scott McLaughlin. It’s an achievement he’s revelling in.

“It’s pure elation,” Maclaren said.

‘The last two years what, not only our team, but what the world has gone through it’s just amazing to be going to another World Cup.”

Maclaren scored one of five successful penalties for Australia in the shootout after Martin Boyle’s first kick was saved, but it was substitute goalkeeper Andrew Redmayne who was the hero of the moment.

Redmayne came on in late in extra-time for captain Maty Ryan before saving the decisive spot-kick to send Australia to a fifth-straight World Cup.

“Clutch ... he’s done it before for Sydney FC,” Melbourne City striker Maclaren said.

“It was a little bit of a surprise. We didn’t know he’s going to come on but obviously the coaching staff and John Crawley (goalkeeping coach), they trusted him and Maty has probably spoken to him about it.

“And look, it worked.”

Having been apparent no-names before their play-off win, Maclaren was hopeful their achievements would be recognised now back home.

“The golden generation did it (in 2005) and we did it today,” he said.

“We might not be as big names as they are but we’re proud Australians and we work hard for our country and there’s no better feeling than putting on the green and gold for our fans back home.”