While Lucas says the Socceroos side under Guus Hiddink was unique and one he already misses, he is also optimistic about what the next manager will bring. “We had a great ‘father’ in Guus Hiddink who adopted a similar attitude to us in that he had something to prove as well. I miss his style and his wisdom. But it just makes me even hungrier to be involved with teams that are lead by top coaches all the time.

“I think [the next manager] is going to be a manager who’s going to come in with the hunger and desire to want to make a difference. The same way Guus came in, with a massive challenge in front, and he wanted to win. He wanted to make the difference. The next manager will have to want to keep all that good work done. Just keep the momentum going. The squad is there. The attitude is there. There’s definitely strength and depth but it’s also about having discipline in the structure. That’s the biggest thing we need to continue.”

With the international futures of a number of Socceroos still in the balance, including captain Mark Viduka, some have suggested Lucas is the next logical player to wear the arm band. The idea has not gone away, at least until Viduka decides to announce his international playing future. For his part, Lucas does not want to be drawn into the issue.

When asked about whether the captaincy is something he is aiming for he responds: “I’m not going to entertain it because… it’s the greatest honour but I’d like to see Mark stay on and I’d like to see Craig Moore stay on and they’d be the first two picks. So until they actually hang up their boots I won’t worry about it. On the flipside I would jump at the chance to lead my country out. Arm band or no arm band – I’ll show leadership qualities on and off the field.”

While Lucas has plenty of blokes singing his praises for his performances and sportsmanship, his raised profile amongst female fans has not gone unnoticed either. When pressed on his thoughts as one of Australia’s newest sex symbols, Lucas laughs shyly. “It’s not why I play the game! I think I’ve had just as many guys as girls come up and congratulate me and tell me how proud they are to watch the Australian team. It’s that which gives me a great feeling of responsibility and achievement. Myself and the team have touched the hearts of so many people."