Congratulations australia.
What kind of magic does Hiddinks have?

AUSTRALIA'S FATE IN THE 2006 WORLD CUP DEPENDS ON THE OUTCOME OF A PENALTY SHOOT-OUT

So it comes down to this. The lottery that is the shootout The Aussies have been great. here's hoping they get the luck this time.

PENALTY SHOOT-OUT

FIRST KICK: Australia: Harry Kewell GOAL

AUSTRALIA 1-0

Schwarzer picked left, and didn't have to go far

FIRST KICK: Uruguay: Rodriguez SAVED!!!!!!

AUSTRALIA 1-0

SECOND PENALTY: Australia Lucas Neill GOAL

AUSTRALIA 2-0

SECOND PENALTY: Uruguay GOAL

AUSTRALIA 2-1

THIRD PENALTY: Australia: Tony Vidmar GOAL (Coolly)

AUSTRALIA 3-1

THIRD PENALTY: Uruguay GOAL

AUSTRALIA 3-2

FOURTH PENALTY: Australia Mark Viduka MISSES
No momentum, curled it low to the right.

AUSTRALIA 3-2

FOURTH PENALTY: Uruguay SAVED!!!!
BRILLIANT HIGH TO HIS LEFT PARRY FROM SCHWARZER

AUSTRALIA 3-2

FIFTH PENALTY: Australia John Aloisi GOOOOAAAAALLLL!!!!!!

AUSTRALIA WINS THE WORLD CUP QUALIFIER ON PENALTIES 4-2

Scenes of jubilation that will go into Australian sporting history. The players thank the fans, all 82,698 of them, and the crowd reciprocates. Everything seems gold. This is the biggest moemknt in Australian sport since Cathyr Freeman's win at the 2000 Olympics.

On balance, the Socceroos were clearly the better team and deserved their victory, even if it came via penalties. Now is the time for celebration.

There are many months of preparation ahead, but for now, Australian soccer should rejoice, making the world stage for the first time since 1972.

And given the quality of this team, they will be highly competitive. Uruguay are a world class team, and now, without any fear of contradiction, Australians can now say of their Socceroos, that they, finally, are also world class.

Well done the Aussies!!!!!!!!!

It's going to be great to finnally after all these years have Australia at the world cup

The score on the night was 1-0 to Australia meaning Penalty Shootout and the Aussies came out on top thanks to the Greatest Australian Hero since Ned Kelly - MARK SCHWARZER who saved two penalties!

Can't wait to cheer on the Boro Aussies next year

Great to see you shouting about the cart horse that is Viduka - missing his though!

He'll make up for it....when he wins the world cup golden boot

Ill give you 33-1 - minimum 50 GBP bet!

great for him!

Who are ya Who are ya!?!?!?

He is that popular ,his wife has gone to the Jungle - She classes herself as a celeb! - HAHAHAHAHAHA! - She could join Beardsly and Dowie on the ugly wall of shame!

Get HER OFF THE TELEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!

More teeth than Luke Chadwick and Freddy Mercury!

Sounds like Lorraine Chase that has just bee run over

No disrespect though - and without Predjudice!!

Well done to the Aussies, Two great saves be Schwarzer in the shoot out!

Its great for Australian football, they sold 83,000 tickets for that game in 2 hours!

I was very excited last night.
Free beer for my aussies friends this friday night !!!!!

mmm...Beer!

What a great first post by you General, then you go and spoil it all by saying something stupid like I love you... sorry broke into a song then...

I mean you go and spoil it by posting the following



I love the last line - fantastic.
And I think what you have said is very true. I HATE it when footballers wives and Girlfriends thinking the world loves them - just because they have married a footy player.

Hi, everyone--

If you allow me to go slightly off-topic here, does anyone know the names of the two national anthem singers on Australia-Uruguay second leg? I've searched but I'm not able to find this information anywhere.

Thank you a lot.

Best regards

Sorry mate ive had a look and cant find anything.

It might pay to contact Football Australia through this website http://www.footballaustralia.com.au/public/article/list.asp?home=yes

They will be able to help you i think.

Thanks a lot for the suggestion!

Regards,

Luiz Mello

No worries.

It is great for football down under that this has happened, with Aussie losing the Ashes, and their rugby team being pants, the nation will jump on the soccer bandwagon as they always will back a winner.

Yep!! it sure is going to be interesting what the AFL are going to be like? There was always the rumour that every time that Australia lost out on the WCQ, the AFL would crack open the bubbly and celebrate! Now they have been starting to get worried that people will stop going to the AFL games and that "soccer" will take off! Hope it does it'll be terrific for the A-League!

Good on ya Australia, I'll support you's all the way to Germany and beyond

Well in Sydney and such soccer might get a few more fans. Most of the soccer fans there are the immigrant population anyway arent they? Who on the whole arent interested in AFL

I think the AFLs Melbourne powerbase will be safe tho.