A team which ended a 32-year wait to qualify for a World Cup Finals and wrote a new chapter into the country’s rich sporting history.

In 2006, Australia recorded their first ever victory at a World Cup, coming from behind to beat Japan 3-1 at The Fritz-Walter-Stadion in Germany.

Shunsuke Nakamura’s first half cross gave Japan the lead, when goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer was blocked by a melee of bodies inside the penalty area.

However, after a couple of inspired substitutions from manager Guus Hiddink, the Socceroos scored three times in the final six minutes to claim a historic triumph.

Tim Cahill came off the bench to register Australia’s first ever goal at a World Cup with six minutes remaining and then scored again moment later, with a stunning strike from the edge of Japan’s box.

Another substitute, John Aloisi, completed the scoring in stoppage time with a calm finish, giving Hiddink’s men all three points.

It's almost 11 years to the day since those heroics in Kaiserslautern. Here is the team that took to the pitch and what has happened to them since.

Mark Schwarzer

The accomplished shot stopper finally hung up his boots at the end of the 2015/16 season, after becoming the first player in Premier League history to be a part of two different back-to-back title-winning sides.

Schwarzer didn’t play a single league game for Leicester City, when The Foxes spectacularly won the title in 2016, or for Chelsea the previous season.

He did, however, play a total of 514 Premier League games, as well as reaching two UEFA Cup finals with Middlesbrough and Fulham.

At 44-years-old, Schwarzer has gone in to punditry, working with the BBC, and has regularly appeared on Match of the Day.

Craig Moore

Moore scored from the penalty spot in the Socceroos’ final Group game at the 2006 World Cup in a 2-2 draw against Croatia.

The tough-tackling defender retired from football in 2010 following a brief spell at Greek side Kavala.

He previously represented Glasgow Rangers, Borussia Mönchengladbach and Newcastle.

In 2012, Moore, now 41, took up a new role at the FFA, mentoring and giving advice to young Australian players.

Three years later, Moore, who earned 52 caps for Australia, was appointed Football Operations Manager at former club Brisbane Roar – a position he still holds today.

Lucas Neill

The former Socceroos captain declared himself bankrupt in May last year, following his retirement in 2014.

Neill represented Blackburn Rovers, West Ham and Everton in the Premier League before playing in Turkey and Japan.

The defender was cut from the Socceroos squad ahead of the 2014 World Cup after making 97 appearances for his country.

Now 39, Neil hasn’t returned to football after finishing his career at English club Doncaster Rovers.

Scott Chipperfield

 

After spending a remarkable 11 years at Swiss side FC Basel, where he won seven league titles, Chipperfield retired from the game in 2014.

The versatile midfielder, who won 68 caps for the Socceroos, still lives in Switzerland and plays for local side FC Mohlin.

Now 41, Chipperfield has set-up his own sports business, Sportsadvisors, to help young players and coaches from Australia develop in Europe.

Chipperfield coaches young players twice a week and has also taken on a player advisor role.

Luke Wilkshire

The 35-year-old defender was released by Dynamo Moscow last month after playing just seven games for the Russian club.

Wilkshere, who earned 80 caps for the Socceroos, could now be a transfer target for A-League clubs, however he hasn’t played Down Under since leaving the Australian Institute of Sport 19 years ago.

After joining Middlesbrough in 2000, Wilkshere went on to play for Bristol City, FC Twente and Feyenoord.

Following appearances at the 2006 and 2010 World Cups, the defender was cut from the Australian national side ahead of the 2014 tournament in Brazil.

 

Brett Emerton

Following an eight-year stint at English side Blackburn Rovers in the Premier League, Emerton finished his career in the A-League at Sydney FC.

Emerton, now 39, spent three years with The Sky Blues, making 54 appearances before retiring in 2014.

The pacey winger, who missed eight months with a knee injury in 2009, has remained in football after retirement, working as an ambassador for the FFA.

Vince Grella

Now 37, Grella has settled in Florence, Italy, working as a player agent for a company called Base Soccer.

Grella, who played over 150 top flight games in Italy for Parma and Empoli, has been able to pass on his experience to young Australian players after recruiting them to the company.

The combative midfielder played in the Premier League for four years at Blackburn Rovers and appeared in every Socceroos game at the 2006 World Cup.

Mark Bresciano

Attacking midfielder Mark Bresciano is best known for his unforgettable strike in the World Cup qualifier against Uruguay at the Olympic Stadium.

Bresciano’s goal drew the Socceroos level on aggregate, as they went on to qualify for the 2006 finals following a dramatic penalty shootout.

The former Socceroo, now 37, never played professionally in Australia but was a key member of the 2006, 2010 and 2014 World Cup squads - appearing in 10 of Australia’s 11 games at the three competitions.

Bresciano, who spent most of his career playing in Italy, now lives in Melbourne and is yet to return to football.

Jason Culina

Culina has turned his attentions to coaching after retiring from football in 2013.

The midfielder played every minute of every game for Australia at the 2006 and 2010 World Cups, before announcing his retirement from international football after the 2011 Asian Cup.

In 2016, Culina took up a coaching position at St Joseph’s High School in Sydney – where he lives with his family.

The 36-year-old now helps his farther coach National Premier League NSW side Fraser Park FC.

 

Harry Kewell

Often viewed as the poster boy of Australian football, Harry Kewell was best known for his time in England- where he made a total of 274 Premier League appearances for Leeds and Liverpool.

Kewell’s late equaliser against Croatia at the 2006 World Cup sent the Socceroos through to the knockout stages in Germany.

The talented midfielder finished his career in Australia at Melbourne Heart in 2014, following spells in Turkey and Qatar.

In 2015, Kewell was appointed the Under 21s coach at Premier League side Watford, before being promoted to Under 23s coach last year.

Earlier this year, the 38-year-old expressed his interest in the Melbourne City job, while he was also linked with the vacant manager’s position at Newcastle Jets.

However, last month, Kewell landed his first managerial role at Crawley Town in the fourth tier of English football, signing a two-year deal with the club.

Mark Viduka

The potent striker captained the Socceroos at the 2006 World Cup in Germany.

Viduka’s last game for Australia came in 2007, when they were knocked out of the Asian Cup by Japan on penalties, as he finished his international career with 43 caps.

At club level, Viduka scored 20 Premier League goals for Leeds United in the 2002/03 season and helped Middlesbrough reach the UEFA Cup final in 2006 – when they came back from three goals down on two separate occasions.

The former striker, now 41, finished his career at Newcastle in 2009 and now lives in Melbourne with his family.

 

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Tim Cahill

Following eight years at Everton, where he scored 56 Premier League goals, Cahill spent time in the MLS and Chinese Super League before joining Melbourne City at the start of this season.

Cahill played 20 times for City in the regular league campaign, scoring 11 goals, including a stunning strike in a 4-1 derby win over Melbourne Victory.

The 37-year-old also helped City win their first piece of silverware back in November, heading home the only goal of the game in the FFA Cup final against Sydney FC.

Cahill remains a key member of Ange Postecoglou’s Socceroos side, after being called up for the latest World Cup qualifiers.

Josh Kennedy

Kennedy scored 17 times in his 36 appearances for the Socceroos, before retiring from the game in 2015.

The 6 ft 4 forward featured at the 2006 and 2010 World Cups but missed the 2014 tournament and 2011 Asian Cup due to persistent injuries.

Kennedy, now 35, spent most of his playing career in Germany before moving to Japanese side Nagoya Grampus in 2009.

He finished his career in Australia at Melbourne City, where he played 12 times.

John Aloisi

The current Brisbane Roar manager retired from the game in 2011, following spells with Central Coast Mariners, Sydney FC and Melbourne Heart in the A-League.

Earlier in his career, Aloisi played in La Liga and the Premier League, while also earning 55 caps for the Socceroos.

Aloisi famously scored the winning spot kick in a nail-bitting penalty shootout against Uruguay - meaning Australia qualified for a World Cup for the first time in 32 years.

The 41-year-old has used his experience to forge a career in management and, after being sacked by Melbourne Heart in 2013, he has guided The Roar to back-to-back A-League Finals Series.

 

Guus Hiddink (Manager)

Since leaving the Socceroos in 2006, the well-travelled coach has managed Russia, Turkey and the Netherlands, as well as Premier League giants Chelsea on two separate occasions.

In 2009, Hiddink steadied the ship at Chelsea after Luiz Felipe Scolari was sacked, helping The Blues win the FA Cup and qualify for the Champions League.

The Dutchman played a similar role last campaign, following the dismissal of José Mourinho at Stamford Bridge.

Hiddink, now 70, didn’t win any trophies in London the second time around but did lay the foundations for Chelsea’s latest title-winning campaign.