Andrew Redmayne's telling admission after shameless act for Socceroos

Socceroos goalkeeper and World Cup playoff hero Andrew Redmayne has made a stunning admission about a controversial act in the shootout victory against Peru that sealed Australia's place at this year's tournament in Qatar.

Redmayne - dubbed by many in Australia as the 'Grey Wiggle' because of his unorthodox 'dancing' routine during the shootout triumph - emerged as a cult figure in Australian sporting folklore after being summoned off the bench to help the Socceroos punch their tickets to the World Cup.

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The keeper's save off Alex Valera's spot-kick for Peru ultimately sent the Aussies through 5-4 on penalties, but it was a now infamous moment during the shootout that saw the shot-stopper go viral.

Footage surfaced after the match of Redmayne spotting a note that the Peruvian keeper had with his water bottle, before promptly tossing it over the advertising board in a shameless act of gamesmanship that has divided the football world.

Redmayne described the questionable tactic a "kill or be killed" moment and revealed on SEN Breakfast that it went against "every moral fibre" in his body to do what he did.

“It was discussed weeks prior,” Redmayne revealed about the contentious water bottle moment.

“We were talking about ways of getting messages across... we did say if it were coming down to a penalty shootout, I would have a water bottle because that was our plan A.

“But if they (the opposition) had a water bottle that was beside the goal or in my little area, that it would be picked up and tossed into the crowd because it’s a do-or-die moment, it’s us against them.

“I’ve said to a few people it goes against every moral fibre in my body to be that kind of person and that kind of antagonist.

“But I know how much it means to our squad and the game as a whole in Australia.

“I know we were prepared if our bottle got thrown but we chose to run purely with plan B.”

Socceroos show ruthless side in win against Peru

Redmayne said South American footballers are renowned for having a ruthless streak that the Socceroos felt they had to match, or else come up short.

“The South Americans are very football savvy, they’re very street smart, they’ll be the first ones to undercut you if they can,” Redmayne said.

“In my little pile of things, I had a little tub of vaseline, a towel and a drink bottle.

“It wasn’t right next to the goal like the Peruvian goalkeeper had, it was away on the sidelines.

“My little pile and collection was long thrown away before that.”

While Redmayne's dancing antics and match-winning save in the shootout saw him grab most of the headlines, the keeper insists that being labelled Australia's 'hero' is not something he's comfortable with.

“Being a team-oriented person, it was a four-year campaign to get to a World Cup,” Redmayne said.

“I played one very small role at the end of a four-year campaign, to be touted as the hero doesn’t sit well with me.

“I know everything the team has gone through and the squad’s gone through to get to this moment.

“I’m just rapt for the boys and for football in Australia that we can go to another World Cup and experience it as a nation.”

The Socceroos' group for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar is almost a carbon copy of four years ago in Russia, with holders France and Denmark returning alongside Tunisia, in what looms as a tough test for Graham Arnold's men.

Australia's first match is against reigning World Cup champions France on November 23.

with AAP

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