As always, it’s hard to pick a top ten with honourable mentions going to Bobby Despotovski’s infamous salute in the NSL, dodgy defending by the Matildas at the recent World Cup and an incorrect opposition national anthem played at one international match in Melbourne.

But here are our top ten heartbreakers from recent history...

10: Charlie’s clanger in 1989

A year earlier, Charlie Yankos’s stunning long-range goal against Argentina was one of the great sporting moments in Australia. But in the Socceroos’ desperate final World Cup qualifier against an equally desperate Israel, Yankos’s blunder - a slightly weak back pass to keeper Jeff Olver - was intercepted by Eli Ohana who nipped in to score a precious opener.

Sure, we pulled one back late on through Trimboli but that one moment killed us. Israel were never going to give up the lead and with the appalling refereeing of Carlo Longhi and the equally appalling theatrics and downright dirty tactics behind play going unchecked, we were doomed to another failed World Cup campaign.

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9: Hard men of Montevideo 2001

The Socceroos arrived in Uruguay 1-0 to the good after the first leg of their continental play-off for a spot at World Cup 2002. But back then Soccer Australia didn’t have the planning ability or money of the current FFA to organise such an important trip and on arrival at the airport in Uruguay, local thugs were there to monster our players and spit on them. The sight of Stan Lazaridis shielding his face from the local idiots and the subsequent caged feeling around the side was reflected in an awful performance. We lost and our dream was dead. Again.

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8: Humiliation in Zagreb 1998

The game against Croatia was a warm-up for the home side ahead of a World Cup at France ’98 where they were so good, they’d  end up in the semis. The Socceroos, well it wasn’t really anything except a meaningless friendly. And it showed with the Croatians thrashing us 7-0. It was El Tel’s last game in charge before moving to Crystal Palace.

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7: Kiwis win and take the cash, part one

In 2002 – that’s just nine years ago – the game in this country was on its knees. NSL was bankrupt, Soccer Australia were likewise stuffed and the Socceroos were still to qualify for a World Cup since 1974.

So the chance to play in the Confederations Cup – by winning the Oceania Nations Cup – was absolutely vital, if just for the cash. With Scott Chipperfield paying his own way from Europe – the only Euro-based player in the squad – the Socceroos went to New Zealand for the OFC tournament poorly prepared under Frank Farina and Graham Arnold and with an NSL squad.

Easy wins over the minnows was followed by a sucker punch from Ryan Nelson in the final to dump the Aussies out. The Kiwis had the cash, the big international games and we were left looking completely stupid. Again.Shades of 1998 all over.

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6: Kiwis win and take the cash, part two

The Kiwis came to Brisbane for the 1998 Oceania Nations Cup and predictably ended up in the final with Australia – who’d earlier racked up cricket scores against some farcical opposition. But the New Zealanders won 1-0 when it mattered to collect the $1.3mil along with entry to the 1999 Confederation Cup finals the next year in Mexico. We so needed that cash boost.

In contrast to current incarnations, the final was a damning indictment on both nations and the state of Oceania football generally. Two very ordinary sides in front of an empty Suncorp stadium with Australia ending the day empty-handed. Just an awful, awful day for the game in this country underlining how far we'd sunk. In fact. it was so bad, there doesn't appear to be any pictures of it so we've had to use this one of Patrick Kisnorbo struggling to take in history repeating when the Kiwis claimed victory again four years later.

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5: The Diving Italian 2006…

With virtually the last kick of a match Australia could’ve, should’ve, might’ve won, Totti scored from the spot after a theatrical dive by Italian defender Fabio Grosso that suckered in weak-willed referee Luis Medina Cantalejo – about the only person to fall for Grosso’s play-acting. Australia were 1-0 down and no time to hit back. The final whistle went seconds later and the dream, the adventure, was over for 2006. Did you cry?

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4: Spider’s blunder against Croatia 2006

Super-coach Guus Hiddink made a huge call by replacing Schwarzer with big Spider for the crucial final group game of the 2006 World Cup against Croatia. But it all went pear-shaped for Kalac on 56 minutes when Niko Kovac’s free-kick slipped under the Socceroo keeper, his clanger handing the Croats a 2-1 lead.

The proud Aussie with the Croatian heritage must have wanted the ground to swallow him. Fortunately a slightly bizarre game ended 2-2 and the Aussies went through, but that moment still makes us wince.

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3: Germany game 2010...

That opening 30 minutes made us cringe. The talented Germans made short work of our tactical confusion and were two up within 26 minutes. With the game pretty much over the Roos never recovered and conceded two more late on for a 4-0 loss.

Timmy Cahill’s 56th minute iffy red card was the icing on a very sour cake. Pim, what were you thinking? The loss effectively killed any chance we had of qualifying for the knockout stage.

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2: Blatter’s envelope charade in 2010

“The winner to organise the two-22 FIFA Vorld Cup is,” announced Sepp Blatter somewhat theatrically. “Qatar!” Many Australians stayed up late into the night to watch the announcement from Zurich but news was already filtering through that it was a done deal when it was declared by the FIFA head without a hint of irony.

Cue strained smiles from the rest of the world as the Qataris punched the air. Frankly we could’ve punched most of the ExCo members when it was confirmed some time later the voting process was mostly dodgy.

Welcome to the dirty world of football politics, Australia.

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1: Iran ‘97

Need we say anymore? Feel free to offer your own thoughts of that extraordinarily gut-wrenching night that ended with Johnny Warren in tears.