That Craven Cottage game, a more than decent performance by a very ordinary looking AWs team on paper. Old, Wilson, Webster, Fisher, Christie. No greats there. But Che Bunce so nearly with a goal.
Whilst the Socceroos I think all of that side, maybe bar the thug Muscat were in their excellent 2006 WC squad. Loads of guys playing in top Euro leagues. A team who should have beaten 10 man Italy (WC winners in that edition) in their last 16 game, and go on to play a very beatable at the time Ukraine in the quarters. They were just missing Kewell & Viduka as big names from that time. Bresciano, Aloisi, Lazaridis, Cullina & Grella were also regulars in their 2006 side.
https://us.soccerway.com/matches/2005/06/09/world/friendlies/australia/new-zealand/361808/
https://us.soccerway.com/matches/2006/06/26/world/world-cup/italy/australia/330396/
Whilst the Socceroos I think all of that side, maybe bar the thug Muscat were in their excellent 2006 WC squad. Loads of guys playing in top Euro leagues. A team who should have beaten 10 man Italy (WC winners in that edition) in their last 16 game, and go on to play a very beatable at the time Ukraine in the quarters. They were just missing Kewell & Viduka as big names from that time. Bresciano, Aloisi, Lazaridis, Cullina & Grella were also regulars in their 2006 side.
https://us.soccerway.com/matches/2005/06/09/world/friendlies/australia/new-zealand/361808/
https://us.soccerway.com/matches/2006/06/26/world/world-cup/italy/australia/330396/