The new Socceroos are essentially the old Socceroos – the same team that captured the world’s imagination by fighting to the brink of a quarter-final spot at Germany in 2006.

They still have a Dutch coach, too, though Guus Hiddink has made way for his understudy Pim Verbeek.

The only key loss in four years has come with the retirement of former captain and attacking spearhead Mark Viduka.

Therein lies a major problem for Lucas Neill’s 2010 team in South Africa.

The Socceroos have not found a satisfactory solution to Viduka’s absence.

But otherwise they will be relying on much the same starting lineup – players like goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer, defenders Craig Moore, Neill, Scott Chipperfield and Luke Wilkshire, midfielders Tim Cahill, Mark Bresciano, Vince Grella and Brett Emerton, with Harry Kewell up front, injuries permitting, or Josh Kennedy.

There’s a different atmosphere this time, though.

Qualification for the first time through Asia was orderly, measured and achieved safely ahead of time.

Gone was the nail-biting penalty shoot-out against Uruguay that sent the Socceroos off to Germany on such a high.

Nine of the 23 squad members from Germany have disappeared – Viduka, John Aloisi, Mile Sterjovski, Archie Thompson, Josip Skoko, Stan Lazaridis, Tony Popovic and back-up goalkeepers Ante Covic and Zeljko Kalac.

But apart from Viduka, only Aloisi and Sterjovski played roles of any significance in Germany, with Kalac and Popovic also getting some game time.

Though coach Pim Verbeek must trim has 31-man squad back to 23 by June 1, those nine are likely to be replaced by the likes of defenders Jade North and David Carney, midfielders Carl Valeri, Dario Vidosic, Nick Carle and Brett Holman, back-up goalie Brad Jones and strikers Scott McDonald and Nikita Rukavytsya.

A lot happens in football in four years.

This is what the Socceroos have been up to since reaching the last 16 in 2006:
MICHAEL BEAUCHAMP: The 2006 squad man signed with Nuremburg before switching in 2008 to Danish champions Aalborg, then Al-Jazira in the United Arab Emirates. Now he has signed up to return to the A-League with newcomers Melbourne Heart. He scored an own goal in a 2006 friendly against Paraguay, but headed the opening goal in Australia’s must-win group match in the 2007 Asian Cup against Thailand.

MARK BRESCIANO: Moved from Parma to Palermo, his third Italian club, after Germany, establishing himself as a first-team regular. Scored one of Australia’s most memorable volleyed goals against Bahrain in a qualifier of the ultimately disappointing Asian Cup campaign. A move to Manchester City fell through in 2008. He’s coming off contract at Palermo and hoping to sign with another European club. Still a first choice in midfield, but plagued by back injury this year.

TIM CAHILL: Has blossomed into a leading light for both his English club Everton and his country. Highly valued as a midfielder who can score goals – 56 in 201 games for the Toffees. Came back after suffering a broken bone in his foot in 2008, and played in the 2009 FA Cup Final against Chelsea. Denied controversial allegations of involvement in a nightclub fracas after a football awards night in Sydney later in 2009. Australia’s go-to man.

* NICK CARLE: Formerly with Newcastle Jets in Australia’s A-League, he switched to Europe, playing in Turkey with Genclerbirligi and then with Bristol City and Crystal Palace in England. Has been linked with a return to A-League football with Sydney FC.

* DAVID CARNEY: Another A-Leaguer who went to Europe, Carney left Sydney FC for Sheffield United, but got very little game time after falling out of favour with a new manager. Has since moved to Twente Enschede, new Dutch title winners under former England boss Steve McLaren.

SCOTT CHIPPERFIELD: Continues a nine-year career at Basel in Switzerland, where in 2008 he helped the club qualify for the UEFA Champions League. Signed off the 2009-10 season in style with a goal as Basel secured the Swiss league and cup double. Was set to sign for Hertha BSC Berlin in 2009 but the move fell through on the advice of medical staff. This World Cup will be his international swansong.

JASON CULINA: Made a controversial move from Europe back to Australia to become Gold Coast’s marquee player in the A-League in 2009. Some said he was jeopardising his international future, but he has satisfied coach Pim Verbeek by returning to Holland to train with his former team PSV Eindhoven since the A-League season finished.

BRETT EMERTON: Still with Blackburn in the English Premier League, where he has been a mainstay for seven years. Signed a new four-year contract which will keep him at the club until 2012. His career came to an eight-month halt when he suffered a serious knee injury in a tackle against Middlesbrough in January 2009 but has since made his comeback for both club and country.

VINCE GRELLA: Made a 4 million euros ($A5.65 million) move from Italian club Parma to join Emerton at Blackburn in 2008 after 10 years in Italy. Selected as captain for an international friendly in London against Ghana in 2006, making him the 51st player to captain the Socceroos. Sent off in Australia’s 2007 Asian Cup quarter-final defeat to Japan in Vietnam. First-choice defensive midfielder.

* BRETT HOLMAN: Still in Holland, but has changed clubs twice in the past four years. He moved from Excelsior to NEC in 2006, then to AZ Alkmaar in 2008. Holman struggled for starting opportunities as his new team won the 2008-09 Dutch title but has enjoyed better luck under new manager Dick Avocaat, making a number of appearances in the UEFA Champions League.

* BRAD JONES: Finally emerged from Mark Schwarzer’s shadow at Middlesbrough, but not without his ups and downs. In August 2006 he was loaned out to Sheffield Wednesday but after conceding penalties in successive games his own fans turned on him and threw coins and other missiles. Became first choice goalie at Middlesbrough after Schwarzer moved to Fulham. He was injured in the second game of the 2008-09 season. Regained his place early in 2009 and remained first choice as Boro were relegated from the Premier League.

JOSH KENNEDY: The football nomad moved from Dynamo Dresden to Nuremberg and then Karlsruhe, his sixth German club in eight years, before finally leaving Europe to join Nagoya Grampus in Japan last year. Has scored eight goals in 10 games in the J-League this season. His stay at Karlsruhe started brightly with four goals in his first five appearances, but then followed a goal drought in 21 consecutive Bundesliga matches. He lost his starting place, but when he was substituted in a cup tie in January 2009 he refused to shake hands with his coach and was thrown out of the squad. Injury kept him out of Australia’s 2007 Asian Cup campaign, but he has taken his international goal tally to six with strikes in friendlies and World Cup qualifiers.

HARRY KEWELL: A move to Turkey in 2008 after disappointing years at Liverpoool kick-started his career. Kewell has become a big hit with fans at Galatasaray, scoring 14 goals in 27 games in the 2009-10 season. His most talked-about strike came in a UEFA Cup game against Bordeaux when he netted from 35 metres. Kewell is a perennial injury story, and this year has been no different, with a groin injury putting his World Cup under a cloud. Unlike previous World Cups, Kewell has played most of Australia’s qualifiers this time. He also appeared in the Asian Cup finals in 2007, scoring two goals but missing from the spot as Australia went out to Japan in a penalty shootout. Captained Australia against Iraq in Brisbane in June 2008, scoring the only goal of the World Cup qualifier with a header.

* SCOTT McDONALD: Has flourished at club level in Scotland but not for the Socceroos. In four years with Motherwell, McDonald managed 45 goals but after moving to Celtic in 2007 he scored 65 times in less than three years. Signed for Middlesbrough in February for a reported STG3.5 million ($A5.77 million). McDonald was a starter in the Australia squad that began qualification for the 2010 World Cup with a 3-0 win over Qatar, but is yet to score a goal at international level.

MARK MILLIGAN: The 2006 World Cup bolter moved from Sydney FC to Newcastle in 2008 after trials with a number of European clubs which came to nothing. Milligan joined Chinese Super League outfit Shanghai Shenhua in January 2009 on a three-year contract, but has since moved to Japanese second division side JEF United Chiba. Led the Olyroos to Olympic qualification in 2007 and got a start in the Asian Cup finals that year. Scored his first international goal for the Socceroos this year against Indonesia in a 2011 Asian Cup qualifier in Brisbane, but remains a second-string candidate.

CRAIG MOORE: Ended his EPL days with Newcastle United in 2007 to return to Australia as marquee player with Queensland Roar. But had an acrimonious split with coach Ange Postecoglou in January this year, and moved to Greek side AO Kavala. The club released him, reportedly after an off-field incident, but Moore said he was simply let go after the club had nothing to play for. Now clubless, he has been training with State League team Brisbane Strikers.

LUCAS NEILL: The Socceroo captain has moved clubs three times since the 2006 campaign ended tragically with the controversial penalty he conceded in the round of 16 against eventual champions Italy. He moved from Blackburn to West Ham but was unable to agree terms to a new contract there. He went on to join Tim Cahill at Everton, where he played at right-back, before linking up with Harry Kewell at Turkey’s Galatasaray.

* JADE NORTH: Fringe defender moved from A-League team Newcastle Jets to South Korea’s Incheon United last year, and in February joined Norwegian side Troms IL.

* NIKITA RUKAVYTSYA: Ukraine-born striker locked in his commitment to Australia by playing for the Olyroos at the 2008 Bejing Olympics. The AIS graduate joined Perth Glory in 2007. Scored six goals in the last eight games of the 2007-08 A-League season. Transferred to Holland’s FC Twente in 2009 for a reported $1.2 million. On loan to KSV Roeselare since January.

MARK SCHWARZER: Has found further glory at Fulham after 11 distinguished years at Middlesbrough, where he became the Premier League’s longest-serving foreigner at one club, beating Dennis Bergkamp’s record of 315 games. Named Fulham’s Player of the Year in 2008-09 in his first year at the club. His performances helped Fulham go all the way to the 2010 Europa Cup Final, despite the heartbreak of an extra-time loss to Atletico Madrid. Schwarzer saved an 89th minute penalty against China in Australia’s 0-0 draw in the 2010 World Cup qualifier in March 2008, continuing his record of stopping penalty kicks. He played every minute for the Socceroos in round two of qualification, conceding only one goal in the final game against Japan. Awarded an Order of Australia medal in 2009.

* CARL VALERI: Stayed in Italy but moved from Grosseto to Sassuolo in January 2010. Made his international debut in March 2007 in a friendly against China.

* DARIO VIDOSIC: Attacking midfielder who moved from A-League team Brisbane Roar to German side Nuremberg in 2007 and has lately been on loan to Duisburg. Spoke of playing for Croatia at senior level after being left out of the 2008 Olyroos team, but FIFA rules keep him with Australia since he turned 21. Made his Socceroos debut at end of last World Cup qualifier against Japan in 2009.

LUKE WILKSHIRE: One of the finds of the 2006 tournament, he soon signed a three-year deal which took him from English second division Bristol City to top Dutch club FC Twente, where he helped qualify for the UEFA Cup. Then came an even bigger achievement: the club’s first entry into the preliminary round of the Champions League. Moved to Russian side Dinamo Moscow in 2008 for a reported 6 million ($A8.47 million) transfer fee.

* Denotes new addition since the last World Cup