We've looked at the glass half empty - as uncomfortable as that was - so let's look on the lighter side of life, with the glass half full.
As we did before, let's go first all the way back to qualification.
What a fantastic build up we had to the World Cup.
We had 14 matches against the likes of Iraq, China, Japan, Bahrain and Uzbekistan, winning nine and losing only two (one with a third-string side against China).
Surely no one would rather us have go through Oceania qualifying again against New Zealand, Fiji and the Solomon Islands before a two-legged playoff against a Uruguay as was the case four years ago.
When you throw in Asian Cup qualifiers and multiple friendlies against the likes of the Netherlands, Ireland and Argentina we have had nearly 25 world class games in the last three years.
If nothing else, we are a cohesive unit with each member of the team from front to back in-synch with one another, battle hardened and ready to take on the world.
And why can't we take on the world?
In that time we lost narrowly to Argentina, thumped Ireland, both defeated and drew with the Netherlands and both defeated and drew with Japan. That is not a record to be scoffed at people.
We have friendlies against three fellow World Cup teams in the coming weeks. In 2006, only one of the sides we played before the Cup (Holland) were also travelling to the big dance.
Roll your eyes if you must, but New Zealand is a quality match-up, perfect for our first match in the string of three.
The Kiwis are, and always should be, our biggest rival. Not just in football, but in all sports. Only a match-up with England should be able to compare, and this is the way this clash should be pumped up.
New Zealand will no doubt rise to the occasion, and they too will be cheered on by thousands, perhaps tens of thousands, of fans either living here or having travelled from across the ditch.
People who are saying only 30,000 will turn up because the All Whites are not a top-draw opponent are kidding themselves.
I bought tickets two weeks ago and was forced more than halfway up the back of the top level of the Ponsford Stand. Anyone who knows the MCG knows that that means quite a few tickets have been sold.
As for the other friendlies, Aussies love sticking it to the Yanks, so a match up with the USA is one I am keenly looking forward to, and anyone who remembers the 3-1 pasting Denmark gave us soon after the last World Cup would know that they are indeed a quality opponent.
Since the squad announcement, excitement is starting to build. There is generally two pages of World Cup stuff in the papers each day, World Cup preview magazines are on the news stands, and radio and TV stations alike are plugging the game against the Kiwis.
Now for the cup itself.
I don't like making light of injuries and, having had bad ankle injuries myself, I feel for Michael Ballack. But the Germans would surely be starting to feel a little anxious.
Ballack, their captain and midfield general, OUT, number one goalkeeper Rene Adler OUT, first-team midfielder Simon Rofles OUT.
Add to that the fact that Kevin Kuranyi hasn't been chosen in the squad, and strikers Miroslav Klose and Lucas Podolski are well and truely out of form and our chances appear to only be getting better.
Given we have a similar team right back to 2005 I'm willing to compare this game to our last against the Germans. Facing Germany, in Germany, in the first game of the 2005 Confederations Cup, the Socceroos held their own, losing an entertaining game 4-3.
We have only conceded that many goals in a game once since, and that was the following Confeds Cup game against Argentina where we lost 4-2.
We held our own against the Germans (in Germany) then, why can't we do it in South Africa?
Ghana should hold no fears. We've lost once to Ghana in five matches. We won 1-0 in Sydney last time we played them a couple of years ago. Yes a midfield led by Michael Essien and Sulley Muntari should be respected, but the rest of the Ghana side hardly set the world on fire without them during the African Cup of Nations this year.
As for Serbia, well _ while still affiliated with Montenegro _ they went into the World Cup in 2006 with a fearsome defensive reputation and were expected to give Argentina and the Netherlands a run for their money.
They lost 1-0 to the Dutch before they were pasted 6-0 by the Argies and then coughed up a 2-0 lead to lose 3-2 to the Ivory Coast, who were playing without striker Didier Drogba.
Chokers anyone?
It's happened before. It can happen again. And besides, we more than matched it with their Balkan rivals Croatia in a similar cut-throat match four years ago. A Croatian side who were, and still are, ranked nicely above their near neighbours.
On to our side and while, yes, we are four years older, we are also four years more experienced.
A lot will fall on to the shoulders of Tim Cahill no doubt, but the likes of Luke Wilkshire, Mark Bresciano and Brett Emerton have showed in recent times a willingness to get forward, attack and score for the national team.
Harry Kewell is an able front man and should we need it we have the J-League's leading scorer in Josh Kennedy on the bench as well as Middlesborough man Scott McDonald who has scored Champions League goals against Manchester United and AC Milan while playing for Celtic.
In defense, Lucas Neill and Craig Moore have formed a fine partnership over the years and also form a back-four that know each other's games intrinsicly when combined with Scott Chipperfield and either of Emerton and Wilkshire.
The back four will be ably guarded by midfield generals Vince Grella and Jason Culina who excelled in the same role in 2006.
Yes we've had injuries. But everyone appears to be fit now _ Kewell, Bresciano, Grella included. And while a lack of match time may seem like a problem, there is no doubt our boys will have fresh legs coming into what is the end of a long and taxing season.
And as for the commentary on SBS, well, when we're scoring goals in South Africa everyone will be cheering too loud to hear the tele anyway, so don't worry about it.
I much prefer the glass half full approach.
