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How Australia used wearable technology to negotiate 250,000 kilometer World Cup journey
Updated 1038 GMT (1838 HKT) June 6, 2018
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(CNN)Widely considered rank outsiders for Russia 2018, Australia's national football team has had to get smart in its bid to level the playing field at the World Cup.
Australia isn't a nation blessed with an array of world-class footballing talent and its best players are scattered around the globe, making it difficult to keep track of their fitness. So Dr. Craig Duncan -- one of Australia's leading sports scientists -- has turned to technology in an attempt to level the playing field.
According to Duncan, the introduction of the Apple Watch, which allows him to keep tabs almost instantaneously on all those players, has been "critical" in learning more about the members of the Australian squad.
But, not content with the system they currently have on hand, his team will soon look to take their tech a step further.
"We're about to use a more cutting-edge technology where pretty much 24/7 we can monitor the players seamlessly," Duncan told CNN Sport.
"Just from them wearing a wearable and keeping track of what's going on, so data flying up to the cloud and us seeing it.
"You've got to get quite resourceful when you've got so much distance between your players."
Duncan has also worked in rugby league as well as football.
884 days, 22 countries, 250,000 kilometers
In his current role as the Socceroos' leading sports scientist, Duncan has been credited with revamping the national team's fitness regime, culminating in a first Asian Cup win in 2015.
But while looking to the future, Duncan also has an eye on the past and finds inspiration in the words of some of history's great philosophers, often posting their thoughts on his Instagram feed.
Seneca's musing that "it's a rough road that leads to the heights of greatness" is a sentiment that certainly rings true with the Socceroos.
By the time Australia had secured their place at Russia 2018, becoming the 31st of 32 teams to do so, they had played more matches -- 22 -- than any other side in World Cup qualification history.
Their celebrations -- complete with fireworks over the Sydney Harbour Bridge -- after finally beating Honduras were joyous but weary. The players had come through a grueling, energy-sapping campaign.
Qualification had taken more than two years, 884 days to be precise, and saw them visit 22 different countries, traveling more than 250,000 kilometers in the process.
Duncan oversees an Australia training session in Turkey ahead of the World Cup.
Many players will have traveled further, making return trips from Europe to Australia during most international windows. All of this on the back of intense seasons with their clubs.
And it was Duncan's efforts that kept the players in top condition, both physically and mentally, as they traveled across multiple time zones, often to hot, humid climes.
"Asia is a difficult qualification series because of the distances, the change in climate and change in cultures that you have to go through," he told CNN Sport.
"We didn't go straight through and then had to play Syria twice and travel all the way to Honduras, so from a sports science perspective it's a fun one.
"You have a lot of obstacles and you have to find a lot of solutions so you become very experienced in travel fatigue and managing that, particularly when you have players coming from different climatic zones and time zones."
Photos: Eleven cities, 12 stadiums
St. Petersburg Stadium, Saint Petersburg – Designed by late Japanese architect Kisho Kurosawa to look like a spaceship, the brand new St. Petersburg Stadium was built on Krestovsky Island where the 110,000-capacity Kirov Stadium used to stand.
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Photos: Eleven cities, 12 stadiums
St. Petersburg Stadium, Saint Petersburg – Opened in April 2017, the stadium is equipped with a retractable roof and sliding pitch. Inside, the temperature can be regulated to a mild 59 degrees Fahrenheit (15 C) all year round.
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Photos: Eleven cities, 12 stadiums
St. Petersburg Stadium World Cup schedule: Group stage, last 16, semifinal, third-place playoff
Legacy: The 67,000-seater will regain its former name -- Krestovsky Stadium -- and be home to 2007-08 UEFA Cup winners Zenit St. Petersburg.
Legacy: The 67,000-seater will regain its former name -- Krestovsky Stadium -- and be home to 2007-08 UEFA Cup winners Zenit St. Petersburg.
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Photos: Eleven cities, 12 stadiums
Ekaterinburg Stadium, Yekaterinburg – Located 1,000 miles east of Moscow on the site of the old Central Stadium -- once a prominent speed skating venue -- the Ekaterinburg Stadium has retained its original Soviet neo-Classical pillars while adding modern refurbishments and temporary stands.
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Photos: Eleven cities, 12 stadiums
Ekaterinburg Stadium, Yekaterinburg – The additional seats, constructed outside of the original stadium, loom dramatically at either end of the pitch in order to fulfill FIFA's minimum World Cup capacity of 35,000. Recent inspection reports have shown the temporary stands "fully comply with all safety and security requirements," according to a FIFA spokesperson.
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Photos: Eleven cities, 12 stadiums
Ekaterinburg Stadium World Cup schedule: Group stage
Legacy: FC Ural, one of Russia's oldest clubs newly promoted to the country's top tier, will continue to use the stadium for its home games. After the World Cup, the capacity will be reduced and it will once again be known as Central Stadium.
Legacy: FC Ural, one of Russia's oldest clubs newly promoted to the country's top tier, will continue to use the stadium for its home games. After the World Cup, the capacity will be reduced and it will once again be known as Central Stadium.
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Photos: Eleven cities, 12 stadiums
Fisht Stadium, Sochi – The Fisht Stadium held the opening and closing ceremonies of the 2014 Winter Olympics and is already well-equipped for the demands of a major international football tournament.
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Photos: Eleven cities, 12 stadiums
Fisht Stadium, Sochi – Named after Mount Fisht, a peak in the nearby Caucasus mountain range, the arena's roof was designed to resemble a snow-capped summit.
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Photos: Eleven cities, 12 stadiums
Fisht Stadium World Cup schedule: Group stage, last 16, quarterfinals
Legacy: The 47,700-capacity venue will stage training camps and competitive matches for the Russian national team.
Legacy: The 47,700-capacity venue will stage training camps and competitive matches for the Russian national team.
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Photos: Eleven cities, 12 stadiums
Luzhniki Stadium, Moscow – It was home to the 1980 Summer Olympics, 2008 Champions League final, 2013 Athletics World Championships and no shortage of musical tours, from Michael Jackson to the Rolling Stones...
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Photos: Eleven cities, 12 stadiums
Luzhniki Stadium, Moscow – Now the Luzhniki Stadium has been refurbished -- with the athletics track removed and two extra tiers added -- while preserving its historical facade.
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Photos: Eleven cities, 12 stadiums
Luzhniki Stadium World Cup schedule: Group stage, last 16, semifinal, final
Legacy: The 81,006-seater will retain its status as the country's leading football stadium, hosting competitive international matches and friendlies.
Legacy: The 81,006-seater will retain its status as the country's leading football stadium, hosting competitive international matches and friendlies.
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Photos: Eleven cities, 12 stadiums
Kaliningrad Stadium, Kaliningrad – Built in the heart of Kaliningrad on Oktyabrsky Island -- a section of land sandwiched between Poland and Lithuania left largely untouched until its selection as a World Cup venue -- the Kaliningrad stadium is loosely based on the design of Bayern Munich's Allianz Arena.
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Photos: Eleven cities, 12 stadiums
Kaliningrad Stadium, Kaliningrad – Kaliningrad Stadium World Cup schedule: Group stage
Legacy: The 35,000-seater stadium will have its capacity reduced by 10,000 and be home to second-tier side FC Baltika Kaliningrad. A new residential development will be built around it featuring parks, quays and embankments alongside the Pregola river.
Legacy: The 35,000-seater stadium will have its capacity reduced by 10,000 and be home to second-tier side FC Baltika Kaliningrad. A new residential development will be built around it featuring parks, quays and embankments alongside the Pregola river.
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Photos: Eleven cities, 12 stadiums
Rostov Arena, Rostov-on-Don – Located about 20 miles from the Sea of Azov in south eastern Russia, the brand new Rostov Arena is 51m tall -- as high as the Niagra Falls.
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Photos: Eleven cities, 12 stadiums
Rostov Arena World Cup schedule: Group stage, last 16
Legacy: As one of the first major projects built on the southern bank of the Don River, architects hope the 45,000-seater stadium will attract a flow of people and investment from the north. It will also host Russian Premier League side FC Rostov's home fixtures.
Legacy: As one of the first major projects built on the southern bank of the Don River, architects hope the 45,000-seater stadium will attract a flow of people and investment from the north. It will also host Russian Premier League side FC Rostov's home fixtures.
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Photos: Eleven cities, 12 stadiums
Volgograd Arena, Volgograd – Built at the foot of the towering Mamayev Kurgan World War II memorial "The Motherland Calls" (pictured), the Volgograd Stadium will replace the demolished Central Stadium and feature an open lattice exterior structure.
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Photos: Eleven cities, 12 stadiums
Volgograd Arena World Cup schedule: Group stage
Legacy: The 45,000-seater will become the home ground of second-tier side FC Rotor Vologograd.
Legacy: The 45,000-seater will become the home ground of second-tier side FC Rotor Vologograd.
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Photos: Eleven cities, 12 stadiums
Spartak Stadium, Moscow – Built to host Spartak Moscow -- the "people's team" which has made do without its own venue for almost a century -- the 43,298-seater Spartak Stadium will go on proving its worth long after the World Cup. The arena's facade features hundreds of red and white diamonds representing Spartak's logo, which change color when the Russian national side plays there.
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Photos: Eleven cities, 12 stadiums
Spartak Stadium World Cup schedule: Last 16
Legacy: As well as hosting Spartak Moscow and the national side, the stadium will provide the center piece for a new residential development.
Legacy: As well as hosting Spartak Moscow and the national side, the stadium will provide the center piece for a new residential development.
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Photos: Eleven cities, 12 stadiums
Nizhny Novgorod Stadium, Nizhny Novgorod – Situated at the confluence of the Volga and Oka rivers, the new Nizhny Novgorod Stadium is designed to resemble the shimmering waters that surround it. The 45,331-capacity arena sits close to the Alexander Nevsky cathedral, and with views across to the Nizhny Novgorod Kremlin.
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Photos: Eleven cities, 12 stadiums
Nizhny Novgorod Stadium World Cup schedule: Group stage, last 16, quarterfinals
Legacy: The stadium was intended to become the permanent home of Russian club FC Volga, replacing the Lokomotiv Stadium after the tournament. However, Volga dissolved because of financial troubles in June 2016. Instead, second tier Olympiets Nizhny Novgorod will call the new build home.
Legacy: The stadium was intended to become the permanent home of Russian club FC Volga, replacing the Lokomotiv Stadium after the tournament. However, Volga dissolved because of financial troubles in June 2016. Instead, second tier Olympiets Nizhny Novgorod will call the new build home.
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Photos: Eleven cities, 12 stadiums
Samara Arena, Samara – Constructed in a southeastern region renowned for its aerospace sector, the 44,807-seater Samara Arena is designed to resemble an otherworldly glass dome. By night, the whole structure will light up.
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Photos: Eleven cities, 12 stadiums
Samara Arena World Cup schedule: Group stage, last 16, quarterfinals
Legacy: The 44,918-capacity stadium will be known as Cosmos Arena, hosting Russian second-tier side FC Krylia Sovetov Samara.
Legacy: The 44,918-capacity stadium will be known as Cosmos Arena, hosting Russian second-tier side FC Krylia Sovetov Samara.
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Photos: Eleven cities, 12 stadiums
Featuring a striking orange, red and white exterior, construction on the 44,442-seater Mordovia Arena began in 2010. Initially hoped to be completed two years later for the 1,000th anniversary of the Mordovian people's unification with Russia's other ethnic groups, it was eventually finished in April 2018.
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Photos: Eleven cities, 12 stadiums
Mordovia Arena World Cup schedule: Group stage
Legacy: With a population of just 300,000, Saransk is the smallest of the 2018 World Cup host cities. After the tournament, some of the stadium's temporary structures will be demolished, reducing the capacity to 25,000. It will become the home of third-tier side FC Mordovia.
Legacy: With a population of just 300,000, Saransk is the smallest of the 2018 World Cup host cities. After the tournament, some of the stadium's temporary structures will be demolished, reducing the capacity to 25,000. It will become the home of third-tier side FC Mordovia.
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Photos: Eleven cities, 12 stadiums
Kazan Arena, Kazan – Designed by the same firm of architects as Wembley and Arsenal's Emirates Stadium, Kazan Arena was constructed to blend seamlessly into the surrounding landscape. Viewed from above, it is said to resemble a water-lily on the banks of the adjacent Kazanka river. The front of the stadium is dominated by a high definition screen with a total area of 3,700 meters -- the largest of its kind in the world.
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Photos: Eleven cities, 12 stadiums
Kazan Arena World Cup schedule: Group stage, last 16, quarterfinals
Legacy: Opened in 2013, it will continue to be home to Rubin Kazan, Russian Premier League champions in 2008 and 2009. Visit CNN.com/sport for more news and features
Legacy: Opened in 2013, it will continue to be home to Rubin Kazan, Russian Premier League champions in 2008 and 2009. Visit CNN.com/sport for more news and features
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24/7 monitoring
Duncan's aim now is to ensure the squad arrives in Russia in peak physical condition.
To do this, he and just one other colleague -- Fabian Ehrmann -- are in contact with a core group of 50 Australian players spread around the globe every day.
Using a bespoke mobile app, the players log in and input data as soon as they wake up and following every training session.
Having worked in club football before switching to the international game, Duncan understands how important it is to develop good relationships between club and country.
"I'm very respectful that these players come from clubs and I don't want to step on their toes," he says. "This whole game is about relationships.
Seven reasons to be excited for Russia 2018! 01:40
"You always want to get them back to their clubs in pretty good condition. I'm a believer that during international weeks we borrow those players that are very important to clubs.
"I know what it was like when I was at clubs, players would go to international football and it was like 'oh God' and they hate it, they hate it because they don't want a player to get injured.
"They're trying to avoid relegation or trying to win a championship and their player is off with us. I want them to really know that we're looking after them as well as we possibly can.
"We actually give reports back on a daily basis to clubs whilst the players are with us, rather than just at the end of the time they're with us. So they can implement it into their systems and not lose touch with what's going on with each individual player."
The Apple Watch has revolutionized the way Duncan keeps track of his players, allowing him to monitor them -- almost to the minute -- while they are sleeping and training.
This allows Duncan and Ehrmann to know exactly what condition the players are in when they arrive in camp for international duty, how they need to recover and whether they're match ready.
Photos: Unforgettable football shirt designs
Germany – During the 1980s, the colors of Germany's flag started creeping into its usual black and white designs. It became one of the most famous kits of all time when Germany won its third World Cup in the final against Argentina in 1990.
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Photos: Unforgettable football shirt designs
England – England famously wore its red away kit when it won the 1966 World Cup against West Germany. The shirt has continued to influence the designs ever since.
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Photos: Unforgettable football shirt designs
The Netherlands' loud and geometric 1988 European Championship kit was immortalized by victory and Marco van Basten scoring one of the greatest goals in history during the final against the Soviet Union.
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Photos: Unforgettable football shirt designs
Belgium – Belgium sported a distinctive red, black and yellow argyle design across a white panel at the European Championship in 1984. It's proof that a great looking kit doesn't always inspire a great performance, says football kit design expert John Devlin.
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Photos: Unforgettable football shirt designs
Brazil – Brazil's yellow kit has become one of the most famous symbols of not only Brazil, but football. As Devlin writes in his book, "When it comes to colors that encapsulate excellence and glamor in football, the palette of yellow, green, blue and white -- the colors of Brazil -- is often the first to spring to mind."
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Photos: Unforgettable football shirt designs
Spain – While Spain's 1994 US World Cup wasn't the most successful in its history, the shirt -- featuring three stripes made up of yellow and navy diamonds -- was unique and was worn by the likes of Pep Guardiola, Miquel Nadal and Luis Enrique.
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Photos: Unforgettable football shirt designs
Croatia – Croatia's red and white checkered kit from its first World Cup in 1998 will forever be remembered as the design in which Davor Suker earned the Golden Boot.
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Photos: Unforgettable football shirt designs
Cameroon – Cameroon's full body suit for the 2004 African Cup of Nations became infamous after it was banned by FIFA for not following regulations.
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Shock resignation
Though Duncan is humble and regularly plays down his work as "not rocket science," his job was made considerably more complicated by the unexpected resignation of head coach Ange Postecoglou following Australia's qualification.
"It was an interesting situation," Duncan laughed.
He said the new coach, experienced Dutch manager Bert van Marwijk, and his team have been receptive to his pre-World Cup preparation plans, which have remained largely unchanged.
The squad traveled to Turkey for a pre-World Cup camp, while the Australian federation has retained the chef it contracted while in Brazil for the 2014 World Cup, a man whose services Duncan values highly.
"We fly him everywhere we are and he's just the best," he says. "He's just fantastic, I'd take him anywhere because he's just great.
"He puts what we want into practice and he's also got a great understanding of the hygiene aspects. We try and avoid any issues that can be associated with food."
Such is Duncan's meticulous approach to ensuring the fitness of his players, he will even make sure the right mattresses are ordered and delivered to Russia to allow them the best possible night's sleep, one of the most crucial aspects for recovery.
Tim Cahill heads the ball during a training session in Antalya, Turkey in May.
'Age is overrated'
But while Australia suffered an unexpected last-minute change of manager, there is one thing that always seems to remain constant in the national team: Tim Cahill's presence.
Despite now being 38 years old and playing just 63 minutes from 10 substitute appearances in the past six months, the veteran forward is set to appear in his fourth World Cup.
Returning to Millwall, the second-tier club where Cahill first made his name in England, was supposed to provide fitness and game time ahead of Russia.
But the fairytale comeback soon turned into a nightmare, with Cahill's time in Southeast London ending with a three-match ban for violent conduct.
Cahill celebrates victory at the end of the 2018 World Cup Asian playoff match between Australia and Syria.
However, such is Cahill's incredible natural fitness and dedication to his health, Duncan -- who believes Cahill is the fittest veteran he's ever coached -- is still confident he will arrive at the World Cup in perfect condition.
"I actually think age is overrated," Duncan explained. "There is a negative factor, but if you do manage yourself well, do everything correctly and have good advice, then you can play for longer.
"There are some physiological attributes that do decline with age but I always stress to players 'your career is short' so even from when they first become a professional, do everything right.
"I've done a lot of work with Tim, he obviously has good genetics that get him through but he does work very hard, he has probably the best psychological state in respect to football, the way he is, the belief he has in himself, the belief in what he can do.
"Just before he went to Millwall, I was working with him here and he looked better than when I first came into contact with him back in 2014."
Nikita Rukavytsya of Australia is pictured in their World Cup kit.
Despite Cahill's impeccable health regime, Duncan believes there is still an untapped level of physical fitness soccer players can reach.
"I don't think we've reached the (full) potential of a football player."
