There was a time when qualifying for the World Cup in Football was a pipe-dream for Australia. Following the remarkable success of getting to Munich in 1974 (a campaign that I followed closely as a kid) the Socceroos struggled against the odds against often superior opposition and fell short of the mark. For decades.

Now we have qualified three times on the trot and find ourselves in the last 32 in Brazil. Our group is very difficult(Spain, The Netherlands and Chile) and we are expected to falter at the group stage. The team is young, inexperienced and lacking the talented big guns of past campaigns. We don't appear to have produced another golden crop.

The World Cup could surprise. The team might step up and that new generation may take shape in the same inspiring way as the team of Viduka, Kewell, Schwartzer and the like.

I'll be getting up early to follow the boys. What greater stage to be on than that which saw the likes of Zico, Ronaldo and Pele develop as youngsters into household names. It is the place to be. Goodluck to the Socceroos.