In 1974, Australia’s national soccer team entered the FIFA World Cup tournament for the first time in history.

Eyewitness News captures the nervous energy of the 1974 Socceroos as they prepare to fly to their first match in Hamburg. Intimate, on-location interviews and footage capture Aussie greats farewelling their children at the airport – including Wiradjuri man Harry Williams, the first recognised First Nations player for the Socceroos. Meanwhile, German-born defender Manfred Schaefer discusses his return to his birthplace after migrating to Australia at age 11.

Since the 1970s, Australia has qualified for seven FIFA World Cups. Looking back at this footage reveals a team that’s scrappy, enthusiastic and still carving an identity on the world stage.

The 1974 tournament also featured a historic meeting between the two German teams, with global attention fixed on the charged Group 1 decider between East and West Germany.