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The Australian Socceroos' Mark Viduka kicks the ball in the Australia v Japan opening Group F match at the Soccer World Cup in Kaiserslautern, Germany, Monday, June 12, 2006. This is Australia's first World Cup finals appearance in 32 years. AAP Image/Dave Hunt
Despite their reality check overnight, the Socceroos, for so long the underachievers and forgotten Australian national team, are making a strong case for being the countries premier sporting entity, the most marketable and the biggest drawcard.
Since their long awaited World Cup qualification in 2005, they have threatened the domination of the Wallabies and Australian cricketers as the team that can best unite the country and as a powerful marketing force.
When you remember back to the days of limited matches against weak opponents in suburban stadiums, the Socceroos rise has been a remarkable one – a rise we often forget to reflect on post-Germany 2006.
What’s remarkable about this rise to prominence is the limitations on the Socceroos. With their principal stars plying their trade on the other side of the world, they have also been hamstrung by their deal with Fox Sports that limits their mainstream reach.
Yet Harry Kewell, Tim Cahill, Lucas Neill and co are now marketable entities the equal of Ricky Ponting and Michael Clark, fronting cereal and soft drink advertising campaigns, areas once out of reach for the round ball folk.
If they have not past the Wallabies and Australian cricketers in terms of appeal and value, they are certainly mounting a fierce challenge.
Before 2005, the Australian cricket team held this mantle and were relatively unchallenged.
But the unsporting attitudes that were fostered in the years of ruthless domination under the captaincy of Ricky Ponting have left a bitter taste for many.
In the wake of the Ashes defeat, for every fan that bemoaned poor selections, there was someone who, whether publicly or privately, took some pleasure in the loss.
Like an unchallenged Goliath, Australia had its years of domination and developed an arrogant, graceless manner in which they played the game.
With the lack of a challenger from other codes in the summer months, Australian crickets popularity and that of the national team has been inflated.
It has taken the last two epic Ashes tours in England to reawaken interest in Test cricket and that of an Australian team in transition post one of its greatest periods.
At present, does the Australian cricket team have the ability to unite the nation in such a frenzy of enthusiasm and unwavering support in the way the Socceroos did in 2006?
Not of late.
As for the Wallabies, their recent struggles have typified that of the game itself.
When an AFL finals match can threaten to pull an equal crowd than a Tri-Nations clash against the world’s best Rugby side in Brisbane, of all places, then questions must be asked about the fortunes of the code in this country.
Overburdened with rule complications and debate about its future direction, they too are in a transitional phase heading into their own World Cup.
But the Wallabies have never been Australia’s premier national team.
Limiting them is their restricted national appeal. In the southern states, they just don’t rate.
Ask a South Australian to name three of the current Wallabies and you’ll hear three wild guesses.
The Socceroos appeal is not limited to a specific state.
The years of struggle and heartbreak have helped create a national team that is genuinely loved by A-League sympathisers, Euro snobs and non-football diehards alike.
It’s what made the ride to and during Germany 2006 so emotionally charged.
Playing a game we know we can’t dominate in, the Socceroos symbolise the ultimate underdog, a welcome change from the national teams whom we expect to dominate.
Now up to a new all-time high of 14th in the FIFA rankings, the Socceroos are making a case for being top of the pile when it comes to the hearts and minds of the Australian sporting public.
With the crescendo of publicity, excitement and marketing building up to South Africa, there’ll be no doubt of their rise to the top of the mountain when pubs across the nation are full of green and gold in June 2010.