I was called-up to the Australia senior squad to travel to Germany for the 2006 World Cup and this occasion was a massive highlight in my career. We were grouped with Japan, Croatia and Brazil. I became the first Australian to score a World Cup goal when I came off the bench to grab a late brace in our 3-1 win over Japan; I felt like I had died and gone to heaven. The feeling which came over me after I saw the first of those goals ripple into the back of the net is something that will stay with me forever. We made it past the group stages which was a massive credit to us, having been in such a tough group, and if it hadn’t been for a last minute trip in the penalty box by Fabio Gross over the legs of Lucas Neil, we’d have had 30 minutes of extra-time against a 10-man Italian side and we would have been favourites to progress into the last eight. As it happened, we lost, but it was a fantastic experience to be involved in the biggest stage of them all: the FIFA World Cup.
At the start of 2007 we made our debut at the Asian Cup, however, we struggled in the hot and humid conditions of Thailand and Vietnam and, disappointingly, crashed out of the tournament to Japan in the quarter-finals. I also scored our fist ever goal at the tournament – in a 1-1 draw with Oman – which was again a massive honour for me, but my overall memories of that tournament are unfortunately tinged with what might have been.
I have also competed in two massive tournaments for the Socceroos since then, the 2010 FIFA World Cup TM and the 2011 AFC Asian Cup. Please click on the links to read match reports and my personal feelings at both of these tournaments. Although we did not come home with any silverware, it was a great experience and we put in some excellent performances during these tournaments.
The demands are massive in terms of travel with Australia being at the other end of the world from where I play my club football. The long-haul flights certainly take a lot out of you and I have to start looking after myself, having suffered some bad injuries in the past. That said, when my country calls, it is very difficult for me to say no because the desire is always there. I just love playing football and I want to play as much as I can, even when it is possibly to my own detriment at times in terms of picking up injuries and pushing myself a little too hard! That is just my nature though and I will continue with this attitude until the day I decide to hang up the boots.