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World Cup - Australia

It is a shame that Uruguay could get through as well, but life is not fair and the Aussies deserve to go.

Hiddink’s magic works again for Australia.

For Australia the long wait is over. After 32 years the Socceroos will return to Germany, scene of their one previous FIFA World Cup™ finals appearance in 1974, for the 2006 edition of the tournament after beating Uruguay 4-2 on penalties in the second leg of the intercontinental play-off at Sydney's Telstra Stadium.

Substitute John Aloisi converted the decisive spot-kick to send them through after goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer had produced superb saves to deny Dario Rodriguez and Marcelo Zalayeta, as Australia finally savoured success in a play-off after four previous failures. Trailing 1-0 from the first leg, Marco Bresciano had drawn Australia level on aggregate with a 34th-minute goal before Guus Hiddink's side held their nerve in the climactic shoot-out to book their ticket to Germany.

The initial preliminary rounds were a relatively straightforward task for the Socceroos. In Oceania’s group stage they finished top with four wins and one draw from their five matches. The play-off to decide who would meet South America’s fourth-placed side for a place at Germany 2006 was also a formality as they defeated the Solomon Islands 9-1 over two legs to set up the decisive match with Uruguay.

Australia's qualification triumph is another landmark for their Dutch coach Hiddink. Brought on board in the summer of 2005, following the departure of Frank Farina, the man who led Korea Republic to the semi-finals of the last FIFA World Cup™ has produced another act of alchemy, helping Australian football erase the pain of previous play-off defeats in 1985, 1993, 1997 and 2001.

Read more at: FIFA World Cup - Yahoo!