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A new eraAUSTRALIAN NATIONAL TEAM HISTORYOut of the blue, a comprehensive 3-1 away win over'mother England' in early 2003 marked an on-fieldturning point for the Australian national team.Success in the 2004 OFC Oceania Nations Cup ensuredqualification for the 2005 FIFA Confederations Cup anda final Oceania FIFA World Cup play-off against theSolomon Islands. Promising performances by theSocceroos at the 2005 FIFA Confederations Cup againstthe likes of Germany and Argentina gave hope, with alooming FIFA World Cup qualifying showdown againstthe fifth-placed South American side.After easily accounting for the Solomons in the finalOceania play-off, Australia was confronted by itsnemesis from 2001, Uruguay, in its final 2006 FIFAWorld Cup qualifying play-off match. Under coachGuus Hiddink, a gritty first-leg away performance bythe Socceroos ended with just a one-goal margin to theUruguayans. The final 15 minutes of the Montevideoleg seemed to sway the tie in Australia's favour, withthe resolute Australian defence repelling wave afterwave of unrelenting Uruguayan attack. At one-nil downafter the first leg, Australia's attacking prowess cameto the fore in Sydney, although the scoreboard wouldultimately record just one goal – a somewhat flukeyone by Mark Bresciano – for the Aussies, with no replyeventually sending the tie to penalties. The final herowas Mark Schwarzer, with two telling saves ensuringan unforgettable victory and qualification for Germany2006. The images of John Aloisi slamming home thefinal shoot-out goal – and the celebrations – will live inthe hearts of Australian football fans for a long time.Germany 2006After 95,000 fans packed into the MCG to farewell theSocceroos in a 1-0 win over European ChampionsGreece, the 2006 FIFA World Cup odyssey began.Australia was given no favours in the finals tournamentdraw, with formidable group opponents Japan, Braziland Croatia in the way of a second round berth.At 1-0 down with just eight minutes to go against Japanin its first 2006 World Cup match, Australia’s progressalready looked unlikely. But when Tim Cahill drilled in aloose ball to score Australia’s first ever World Cupfinals goal, followed shortly after by his second, theagony transformed into ecstasy – which turned intocomplete exhilaration when John Aloisi netted thesealing goal in the dying seconds to make it 3-1.Brazil proved to be a much tougher opponent thanJapan, however the Australians matched it with thepre-tournament favourites and the half-time scorelineof 0-0 was much deserved after Australia’s best half ofthe tournament. A well-worked Brazil goal just afterthe break proved to be the key moment of the match,and despite continued pressure from the Australians, abrief loss in concentration by the Socceroo defence inthe dying moments enabled the Brazilians to scoreagain.With Brazil’s 2-0 win over the Aussies almostguaranteeing the South Americans’ progression, thelast group stage match between Australia and Croatiawas to decide the remaining Group F top two spot. Andit was certainly another pulsating contest withAustralia having to come from behind – twice – to tiethe match 2-2 and emphatically qualify for the nextstage, Craig Moore and Harry Kewell the goalscoringheroes. The result saw World Cup fever sweep throughAustralia as the pulsating Croatia match showed thedrama only provided by the real football.2006 FIFA WORLD CUPGermanyJPNW3-1BRAL0-2CROD2-2ITAL0-1John Aloisi ◦ ◦ ◦Mark Bresciano • ◦ ◦ •Tim Cahill • • •Scott Chipperfield • • • •Jason Culina • • • •Brett Emerton • • •Vince Grella • • • •Zeljko Kalac•Josh Kennedy ◦ ◦Harry Kewell • ◦ Craig Moore • • •Lucas Neill • • • •Tony Popovic•Mark Schwarzer • • •Mile Sterjovski • • •Mark Viduka (c) • • •Luke Wilkshire • •• started ◦ substitute # goalsThe emotional roller-coaster ride of Germany 2006continued as Australia matched it with the Italians rightup until just seconds before the end of their Round of16 match, the match locked at nil-all. However acontroversial penalty was then awarded to Italyfollowing Grosso’s tumble in the box, resulting in asuccessful conversion by Totti. The 1-0 loss sent theAustralians home in a state of shock.While the last-gasp contentious penalty seemed to bethe cruellest way to end the World Cup dream, theAustralian players, coaching staff and fans could departGermany with their heads held high. After such a longabsence, the Australian national side had matched itwith the best of the world, in the world’s most reveredfootball tournament, and were ultimately knocked-outby the slimmest of margins against the team whichwould go on to take out the 2006 FIFA World Cup final.OFFICIAL MEDIA GUIDE OF AUSTRALIA AT THE 2014 FIFA WORLD CUP BRAZIL 80