<\/p>\n
After the euphoria of qualifying against Uruguay and a brutal pre-tournament training camp, Australia\u2019s moment of truth arrived on Monday 12 June 2006.<\/p>\n
As they returned to Germany for their first World Cup game in 32 years, an air of uncertainty surrounded the Socceroos.<\/p>\n
\ufeffGet all the latest football news, highlights and analysis delivered straight to your inbox with Fox Sports Sportmail. Sign up now!!!<\/a><\/i><\/b><\/p>\n The 1974 version had suffered losses to East Germany and West Germany before playing out a scoreless draw to Chile at Berlin\u2019s Olympic Stadium.<\/p>\n It was an impressive feat to qualify for what was then a 16-team tournament.<\/p>\n But this time around, expectations were certainly higher.<\/p>\n Australia\u2019s starters were all playing top level club football in Europe.<\/p>\n They had a legendary manager in Guus Hiddink, who had first guided them through qualifying before overseeing a rigorous training camp to prepare for the demands of the tournament.<\/p>\n But despite all the reasons for optimism, the World Cup was a different beast.<\/p>\n In a series of articles looking back on the 2006 World Cup, foxsports.com.au spoke with some of those Australians who were there when the Socceroos ended the nation\u2019s World Cup drought!<\/i><\/p>\n Every penalty from THAT 2005 shootout | 01:32<\/p>\n \ufeff\u2018NO IDEA WHAT WAS GOING TO HAPPEN\u2019<\/b><\/p>\n The opening game against Japan would be a nervy occasion.<\/p>\n \u201cI remember the night before the game in Kaiserslautern talking with colleagues that we had no idea what was going to happen tomorrow,\u201d Tom Smithies, who was The Daily Telegraph\u2019s football editor at the time and travelled with the Socceroos throughout the 2006 campaign, recalled to foxsports.com.au.<\/p>\n \u201cThere was no sense of history or form there. Playing Japan so playing another Asian team, but at the point the rivalry that there is now between Australia and Japan didn\u2019t really exist because Australia had only just moved into Asia.<\/p>\n \u201cWe knew Japan were a terrific team with some top-quality players, but on the day itself it was a baking hot day.<\/p>\n \u201cGermany was consumed by a heatwave that year.<\/p>\n \u201cWe all looked at each other and said this could go in so many ways.\u201d<\/p>\n With the mercury pushing 30 degrees, the conditions were vastly different to what the Socceroos had endured weeks earlier during their training camp in the Dutch city of Eindhoven.<\/p>\n But the gruelling sessions Hiddink put the players through in the weeks leading up the tournament ensured they were ready for their big moment.<\/p>\n \u201cWe knew our opponents, Japan. We knew it was going to be a tough game,\u201d Harry Kewell told SBS.<\/p>\n \u201cWe knew the heat was going to play a major factor in it.<\/p>\n \u201cBut I think the adrenaline was getting everyone through it.\u201d<\/p>\n FULL 2026 WORLD CUP SCHEDULE WITH AUSTRALIAN TIMES AND DATES<\/a><\/b><\/p>\n It is easy to understand why the players\u2019 hearts would have been pumping when you picture the scenes as they made their way to the stadium in Kaiserslautern.<\/p>\n Most of the 46,000 strong crowd gathered in the streets before kick-off.<\/p>\n With goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer recalling that it felt like a struggle to get the team bus to the stadium.<\/p>\n \u201cAbsolutely,\u201d Schwarzer told foxsports.com.au when asked if the players could feel the wave of excitement.<\/p>\n \u201cEven on the ground, that first game in Kaiserslautern. It was like we were literally crawling up the hill because there were tens of thousands of supporters there \u2013 Australian supporters in massive amounts and Japanese.<\/p>\n \u201cIn those days we didn\u2019t have the social media element to it, but you had the written media side of it. You saw stuff, saw headlines and pictures telling how crazy it was and how people were getting the team and were excited.<\/p>\n \u201cVery, very different then to what it\u2019s like now.\u201d<\/p>\n Schwarzer would quickly turn into one of the main characters that day, but he would not be the star of the show.<\/p>\n It was a relatively calm opening to the match with Hiddink clearly urging his side to settle into the game and the tournament.<\/p>\n Vince Grella was \u201cimmense\u201d in the middle of the park, according to Smithies.<\/p>\n But the plan to stay calm quickly had to change.<\/p>\n READ MORE<\/b><\/p>\n Part One \u2014 \ufeff\u2018Absolute torture\u2019: Inside brutal camp that made 06\u2019 Socceroos as Guus enraged icon<\/a><\/i><\/b><\/p>\n \ufeffCahill\u2019s tears of fury before iconic act… and THAT goal: Socceroos\u2019 greatest WC moments<\/a><\/i><\/b><\/p>\n \ufeffIcon turned cafe owner, media stars and the next Ange: Where the 2006 Socceroos are now<\/a><\/i><\/b><\/p>\n 3 red cards as Mexico beat South Africa! | 02:40<\/p>\n FROM AGONY TO ECSTASY<\/b><\/p>\n The Australians were up in arms as Japan opened the scoring in the 26th minute.<\/p>\n Celtic midfielder and current Japanese assistant Shunsuke Nakamara put the ball in the back of the net after Schwarzer came off his line to catch a free kick and was impeded.<\/p>\n Egyptian referee Essam Abd El Fatah ignored the Australians protests, however, and allowed the goal to stand.<\/p>\n Hiddink\u2019s men had their backs against the wall inside half an hour.<\/p>\n For most of the afternoon, it looked like the Socceroos\u2019 first World Cup appearance of the modern era would be tarnished by an astonishing refereeing blunder.<\/p>\n But no one could have predicted what would happen next.<\/p>\n The surprise when the starting XIs were announced before kick-off was that Tim Cahill was on the bench.<\/p>\n Cahill had reportedly been under an injury cloud coming in, but he been on fire for Everton in the English Premier League in the two seasons prior.<\/p>\n The then midfielder, who would eventually lead the Socceroos\u2019 line in future World Cups, had been crowned the Toffees\u2019 best player.<\/p>\n He was even nominated for the Ballon d\u2019Or later that year.<\/p>\n \u201cI don\u2019t think anyone in Australia expected me to play!\u201d Cahill\u2019s roommate that World Cup and fellow midfielder Luke Wilkshire told SBS\u2019 History FC podcast in 2020.<\/p>\n Cahill was understandably highly emotional about being left on the sidelines.<\/p>\n \u201cIt was probably one of the most shattering moments\u2026 [being told] I wasn\u2019t starting. I was in tears. It was only natural,\u201d Cahill told commentator Simon Hill in a 2018 interview.<\/p>\n \u201cIt was the first time ever I\u2019ve sat in the back of a team meeting, because I didn\u2019t want to sit at the front or middle and let the boys see me crying.\u201d<\/p>\n Then Socceroos assistant Graham Arnold recalled Cahill\u2019s demotion to foxsports.com.au in an interview before the 2022 World Cup.<\/p>\n \u201cThe biggest thing for me was his reaction,\u201d Arnold said.<\/p>\n \u201cHe went from pissed off to … \u2018when I get on the pitch, I\u2019m gonna show him, he\u2019ll never f***ing do this again to me.\u201d<\/p>\n Hiddink got on the front foot and ensured that the tough call would not become a problem that could de-rail the Socceroos\u2019 campaign before it had even begun.<\/p>\n \u201cThe day before the Japan game, Cahill realised he was on the bench and apparently he was pretty upset,\u201d Smithies recalled.<\/p>\n \u201cSo, Hiddink took him out on the pitch, and they did the crossbar challenge.<\/p>\n \u201cHiddink said whoever loses has to buy the other a bottle of red wine.<\/p>\n \u201cTo no one\u2019s surprise, Hiddink lost. Hiddink gave Cahill a bottle of wine and Cahill was suddenly walking in the clouds again when two hours earlier, he\u2019d been upset and pissed off.<\/p>\n \u201cAnd we all saw what happened when he came off the bench.<\/p>\n \u201cHiddink\u2019s man management was absolutely superb.\u201d<\/p>\n READ MORE<\/b><\/p>\n \ufeffUS pundits \u2018laughed\u2019 after drawing \u2018average\u2019 Aussies in WC group. They\u2019re in for a \u2018rude shock\u2019<\/a><\/i><\/b><\/p>\n EXPLAINED: <\/i>FIFA World Cup 2026 knockout scenarios and who Socceroos can face if they escape group stage<\/i><\/a><\/b><\/p>\n SOCCEROOS DAILY: <\/i>Sick Aussie weapon isolated from teammates in World Cup scare<\/i><\/a><\/b><\/p>\n Cahill appeared like a man possessed when he replaced Mark Bresciano shortly before the hour mark.<\/p>\n Still, it would take a little more than half an hour until he could make his mark with a moment of history.<\/p>\n With time desperately running out, Australia\u2019s attacks had been fruitless, but they were pressing.<\/p>\n A thunderous free kick from John Aloisi was well saved and cleared by the Japanese defence.<\/p>\n That resulted in Lucas Neill taking a long throw and chaos ensued in the box.<\/p>\n Josh Kennedy flicked on a header before Japanese goalkeeper Yoshikatsu Kawaguchi could lay a glove on the ball after charging off his line.<\/p>\n The ball first spilt to Harry Kewell, but his swinging left boot was blocked. <\/p>\n The desperation of the Japanese defence only succeeded in putting the ball on a platter for Cahill, who caressed it into the back of the net.<\/p>\n Australia had an 84th minute equaliser.<\/p>\n The Socceroos finally had scored a World Cup goal.<\/p>\n Of course, the scenes were euphoric.<\/p>\n Cahill charged to the corner flag, delivered his iconic boxing celebration, kissed the badge on his shirt and was swarmed by his teammates.<\/p>\n There was an overwhelming sense of relief as boxing Kangaroos bounced and flags waved excitedly among a sea of Australian gold in the stands.<\/p>\n On the sidelines, Hiddink gave a little fist pump, but he certainly did not get carried away.<\/p>\n His players were immediately reminded that the job was not done.<\/p>\n \u201cHaving Guus Hiddink as the coach, so experienced, he was a calming influence,\u201d back-up goalkeeper Ante Covic told foxsports.com.au.<\/p>\n \u201cHe made things simple for us. There was a process. He understood the opposition were coming and there were no real changes other than what he sees in game and how we can exploit it.\u201d<\/p>\n Socceroos insist Toure in no doubt | 03:43<\/p>\n \ufeff\u2018NEVER HAD ANYTHING LIKE IT\u2019<\/b><\/p>\n Cahill easily could have turned the villain immediately after as his tackle in the Japanese box might have resulted in a penalty on another day.<\/p>\n There was no denying that it was his day, however.<\/p>\n Five minutes after his equaliser, Cahill put Australia in front with a wonderful right footed strike that swung into the inside of the left post and ricocheted into the net.<\/p>\n It sparked even wilder scenes on the pitch and in the stands.<\/p>\n Somehow the chaos continued as Aloisi went from playing the role of provider to goalscorer.<\/p>\n In a stoppage time counter-attack, the hero of the Uruguay shootout made an excellent run past a defender into the box and launched a left-footed strike into the bottom right corner.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m used to rewriting stories in football matches, but I\u2019ve never had anything like four rewrites in five minutes,\u201d Smithies recalled.<\/p>\n \u201cMy initial intro on my back page story was \u2018Australia\u2019s World Cup dreams were dashed by a controversial Japan goal\u2019.<\/p>\n \u201cI immediately changed that to \u2018Australia\u2019s World Cup hopes are hanging in the balance after a late draw\u2019.<\/p>\n \u201cTwo minutes later Cahill gets the ball, shoots from the edge of the box and scores again.<\/p>\n \u201cI rewrote again: \u2018Australia was in World Cup dream land after Tim Cahill\u2019s two goals\u2026\u2019<\/p>\n \u201cOh my god, now John Aloisi\u2019s scored too, and I had to write it again.\u201d<\/p>\n READ MORE<\/b><\/p>\n \ufeff\u2018The party has started!\u2019: TRIPLE red card chaos rocks wild World Cup opener<\/a><\/i><\/b><\/p>\n \ufeff\u2018Anything less…\u2019: USA fans reveal high hopes; \u2018unstoppable\u2019 Aussie\u2019s admission<\/a><\/i><\/b><\/p>\n