Dear Brett...

As the World Cup gets set to draw to a close with a bang it seems apt to end a prolonged witchhunt with an apology.

So here it is.

Brett Holman, we are sorry.

I must admit that I was one of the neysayers. One of those who cringed every time you came on to the field.

You ran around like a headless chook and there was always the feeling that if we placed you in an opposition coloured shirt you probably would have had a better chance of successfully passing it to one of your fellow Australians.

Then came the farewell game at the MCG.

It wasn't the goal, I promise, for without it I still would have started to view you in a different light.

You provided a spark, an energy, a creative flurry not displayed by some of your more heralded teammates.

Sure you still would have struggled to hit the side of a barn with some of your passes, but at least you were making an effort to actually do something going forward.

Against Denmark you, again, made an impact.

So you, I thought, were ready for the World Cup.

And so on to Germany and our capitulation in Durban.

But although you only came on as a substitute at half time I thought you were one of three players that could hold your head high when walking off the field.

You weren't overrawed by the might of the Germans as many of your teammates, and Englishmen and Argentinans in the weeks ahead, were.

You impressed me so much that even though Tim Cahill was suspended, I still had faith that we could perform against Ghana because I knew we could play you as a centre forward in behind the fit again Harry Kewell.

Three weeks prior it would have been unfathomable for anybody in the world to have that kind of faith.

And boy did you justify it.

Your goal, albeit a scrappy one, was just reward for you, a person who, let's admit, has always done nothing less than work your butt off every time you pulled on the gold and green.

The shouting, the screaming, the back slapping, the hugging and the kissing that was taking place in my living room at that moment late on that Saturday night suggested that you had snuck your way into the hearts of the Australian public.

You then kicked down the door into the hearts of the few remaining people who were unconverted when you decided to come on as a substitute against Serbia and unleash one of the best goals that has been scored at this World Cup.

A month or so ago you were more picked on than the fat kid at school.

Now you are one of only two people in Australian history to score more than two goals at a FIFA World Cup.

How times change.

Rather than fear what the near-future of Australian football has in store for us in regards to World Cup qualification, we can now instantly look towards the likes of yourself, Carl Valeri and Luke Wilkshire to lead us into the next frontier.

So Brett, again, we are sorry.

I hope you forgive us.

I know you will still be the subject of a few colourful sprays from the outer, but I know that everyone will now be cheering your name, rather than jeering it, more often than not and looking forward to going on the ride with you as we begin our long march to Brazil 2014.

P.S. Feel free to read below for testimonies/apologies/retractions from other Australians.