To see the Socceroos train...
 

Schwarzer, who has more caps (73) than any other member of coach Pim Verbeek's preliminary squad, says Australia's performances at the last World Cup in Germany four years ago will ensure far more attention is paid to the Socceroos by rival nations this time around.

Four years ago in Germany, the Socceroos reached the knockout stages of the world's biggest sporting event for the first time in their first appearance at the World Cup in 32 years.

But Schwarzer has no doubt it will be much harder to repeat that feat second time around given that the team no longer has the luxury of taking their opponents by surprise as they did in 2006.

"We are more well known now and teams won't underestimate us as much as they did last time," Schwarzer said, as the Socceroos continued their preparations for Monday night's farewell friendly against New Zealand at the MCG.

Australia still have 14 players in their 2010 squad that made the trip to Germany last time and most of those are Australia's first choice players.

Schwarzer said it will be a different feeling for the Socceroos' first choice line-up this time around with most of them having the experience of four years ago under their belts.

"Obviously you are four years older and four years more experienced so there is that sense of knowing what to expect to a degree," he said.

"But again it's a different country altogether and a different tournament altogether and it's going to be a new challenge and a slightly more difficult challenge because we are no longer the team that was unknown a little bit."

While many of Australia's most important players have endured injury interrupted or limited game time preparations heading into the World Cup such as Harry Kewell, Brett Emerton and Craig Moore, Schwarzer has had endured the opposite lead-in with his domestic season having only just concluded last week when Fulham went down in the Europa League final to Atletico Madrid.

But Schwarzer cast off any suggestions of mental tiredness on his part after such a long season and said returning to the Socceroos camp was just the thing he needed to mentally recharge his batteries after the disappointment of losing his second European club final, after also playing in one for his former club Middlesbrough.

"The last two years for me have almost been like a dream come true," he said of his successful move to Fulham.

"It's been a lot of hard work and a lot of dedication but it's all come together for club and country and I couldn't be happier.

"I have really enjoyed the move to Fulham and I just want to continue playing as long as I can and I feel I am working harder probably more so than at any other time in my career but I am really enjoying it too.

"And we are as excited about the World Cup as anyone else.

"We love coming home after a long season and seeing all the fans back home makes you realise we are not far away from the World Cup and we can't wait for it to start."

To see the Socceroos train...