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ON Saturday, the latest chapter in Australia's World Cup finals history will be written.
Minnows, we might be, but for all the doom and gloom about Australia's prospects against Chile, Netherlands and Spain, Socceroos fans should know a place on the greatest show on earth is not something to take for granted.
And as these iconic memories remind us - anything can happen at a World Cup. Maybe, maybe, another special chapter will be written over the next fortnight.
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This group has a proud history to uphold. Source: Getty Images
THE MAIDEN WIN
SPECIAL FEATURE: THAT PERFECT DAY
The Socceroos returned to the world stage for the first time in 32 years but after so much build-up, it felt like it was going to end before it began at Kaiserslautern against Japan. It looked like Mark Schwarzer was nudged when Shunske Nakamura floated a 26th minute free-kick in; but it sailed over the custodian's head and Japan took the lead.
Guus Hiddink celebrates an historic victory. Source: Getty Images
Tension was palpable on the Australian bench but 'Aussie' Guus Hiddink was renowned for working magic and on 53 minutes turned to his substitutes, bringing on Tim Cahill in a move that would have Japan coach Zico slumped by game's end.
Tim Cahill comes on for Marco Bresciano. Source: News Corp Australia
But by 75 minutes, there was still no equaliser in the crucial group opener. On came John Aloisi, the national hero whose spot-kick qualified the side against Uruguay in November 2005, and Josh Kennedy.
Tim Cahill and Lucas Neill celebrate. Source: News Limited
After a wave of pressure, Lucas Neill lined up a throw from the left touchline. There was a mad scramble in the box after 'keeper Yoshikatsu Kawaguchi flapped at the long-throw; Harry Kewell had a stab, before it fell to Cahill, who calmly prodded it home through a clustered box for an 84th minute equaliser and Australia's first ever World Cup finals goal.
There was more drama, thanks to Cahill again. Source: Getty Images
But there was more drama to come.
Five minutes later, Japan backed off the Everton star and he caressed the winner from outside the box in a rare long-range strike, sparking frenzied celebrations from those in green and gold across the globe. A moment replayed time and time again to the same amount of shiver up the spine, no matter how many times you've seen it.
What a moment. Source: Getty Images
With Japan on its haunches, Aloisi sealed the three points and the extraordinary comeback with a stoppage time solo goal, picking the ball just inside Japan's half before driving towards goal.
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TOE TO TOE WITH GREATNESS
No one expected Australia to beat Brazil, but few would have expected the accomplished performance submitted by Mark Viduka and his men in Munich.
Ronaldinho taking on the Socceroos. Source: AP
It took the World Champions 49 minutes to open the scoring via Adriano; Mark Bresciano and Kewell had tough chances to equalise; while the second Brazilian goal only came in the 90th minute.
Mark Bresciano tries his luck. Source: AP
Kewell found himself in trouble for a heated post-match exchange with referee Markus Merk, but the performance earned the Socceroos respect on the world stage for a performance that thrashed stereotypes of Australian football.
Harry Kewell (l) arguing with referee Markus Merk. Source: News Limited
CROATIA CRACKER
A match with all the twists and turns of a Hollywood thriller as Australia stunned the World Cup by progressing from group F via a pulsating 2-2 draw with Croatia in Stuttgart.
Darijo Srna put the green and gold immediately on the back-foot with a second minute free-kick, before Craig Moore slotted home from the penalty spot after an inexplicable handball from Stjepan Tomas.
Pure delight. Source: News Corp Australia
But the second-half exploded: Zjelko Kalac's howler gave Croatia the lead, Kewell calmly buried a clutch chance at the back-post to equalise with 11 minutes to go; two players see red in a crazy final 10 before Josip Simunic – an Australia-born defender playing for Croatia – infamously stayed on the pitch despite referee Graham Poll dishing out two yellow cards.
Player Lucas Neill and Harry Kewell and team doing lap of honour after match Source: News Limited
An extraordinary game. A golden defining moment for our golden generation.
The moment Harry Kewell put Australia through to the second phase. Source: AP
PENALTY MADNESS
The moment that broke the hearts of Australia's sporting public: Neill, sliding in the box in stoppage time in the round of 16 tie against Italy, before Fabio Grosso tumbled over him.
Neill, who had enjoyed a marvellous tournament, looks up crestfallen, pleading his innocence. But referee Luis Medina Cantelajo had already pointed to the spot, where Francesco Totti slotted home with the final kick of the game.
The iconic reaction. Source: News Limited
Italy would go on to win the tournament, but Australia would wonder whether it could have done more, having played for 40 minutes with 10 men after Marco Matterazzi's red card.
Italian midfielder Gennaro Gattuso against a rare talent, Mark Viduka. Source: Supplied
PONDEROUS PIM
So much expectation. Such a letdown. The 2010 World Cup opener all but killed off Australia's dreams of progressing past Germany, Ghana and Serbia with a 4-0 shellacking at the hands of Joachim Loew's side.
An awful moment in an awful game. Source: News Limited
Pim Verbeek put out a side focused on containment, without a recognised striker, and it was a disaster. Lukas Podolski and Miroslav Klose blew the Australians out of the water, before Thomas Muller and Cacau added insult to injury.
To make matters worse, Tim Cahill would miss the next match after a harsh red card for a lunge on Bastian Schweinsteiger.
GHANA DRAMA
It was the moment Brett Holman announced himself on the world stage, but sadly, also Harry Kewell's exit from it.
The Socceroos started magnificently against the African outfit, with Holman capitalising on a mishandled free-kick. But it all changed so suddenly – when the ball thundered into Kewell on the goalline and referee Roberto Rosetti marched him for a handball. Asamoah Gyan levelled at 1-1 from the spot.
More drama. Source: News Limited
Australia was gallant for the rest of the match and even had a guilt-edged chance via Luke Wilkshire late on.
The Kewell moment joined Cahill and Neill's incidents as dramatic, polarising moments in Australian football history.
SUPER AGAINST SERBIA
The Socceroos left South Africa with a four-point haul but the 2-1 win over Serbia just wasn't enough to sneak into the next round.
Australia's Lucas Neill, right, Australia's Tim Cahill, left. Source: AAP
A gripping night in Nelspruit saw Cahill rise above the pack yet again with a 70th minute opener, before Holman left jaws dropped with a stunning solo run and strike four minutes later.
Another World Cup goal and another corner flag to punish! Source: News Limited
While Socceroos fans momentarily dared to dream, the Germany-Ghana match was doing us no favours, and then Australia's exit was confirmed with Marko Pantelic's late goal.
What a goal! Source: News Limited
Still, a second World Cup victory against an esteemed European nation.
A proud exit after a poor start.
These two won't be appearing in Brazil. Source: AFP
BRAVE NEW WORLD
40 years ago – 14 June 1974 – Rale Rasic's pioneers, captained by Peter Wilson, ventured to pastures unknown when an amateur Australia side took part in the 16-team World Cup in West Germany. A battling, brave display against East Germany in the tournament opener dispelled notions of the Australians being cannon fodder. Indeed, it was 0-0 at the break and a scrappy goal – adjudged an own goal to Col Curran – broke the deadlock in the 2-0 loss.
Adrian Alston vs East Germany. Source: News Limited
TAKING ON THE ELITE
"It certainly wasn't a result to write home about but the West Germans had been expecting to beat us by six or seven goals, so our team was still proud of its efforts," wrote Johnny Warren, who was injured in the opening match, in his books Sheilas, Wogs and poofters of the 3-0 loss to eventual champions West Germany. Facing a team including Franz Beckenbauer and Gerd Muller, and who had been roundly criticised for their opening game performance, the Australian were always up against it in Hamburg. The amateurs from down under, on debut, against the eventual world champions. A seminal moment for football in this country.
The Socceroos lined up with Chile before the two sides drew 0-0. Source: News Corp Australia
THE FIRST POINT
And the country emerged from the first World CUP foray with a gallant point against, ironically, Chile, with a 0-0 draw to round out the tournament. Gallant, particularly given Ray Richards's controversial 38th minute red card, in a game played against the backdrop of Chilean political unrest and student demonstrations. READ MORE HERE.
Write your own history, fellas. Source: Getty Images
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