Where are they now? The historic Socceroos squad that went to the 2006 FIFA World Cup
The Socceroos starting XI for their 2006 World Cup clash with Croatia
The 2006 Socceroos - seen here with their starting XI for their crunch game against Croatia - are undeniably one of Australia's most-beloved sporting teams ever.
Here's what every member of the 23-man squad for that FIFA World Cup are up to now.
1. Mark Schwarzer
The goalkeeper enjoyed a long and fruitful career in the English Premier League both before and after the tournament, retiring in 2016 after long stints with Middlesbrough and Fulham, and cameos for Chelsea and Leicester.
Now living in London, Schwarzer has remained in the media, working as a pundit since his retirement.
2. Lucas Neill
The defender, who shot to national fame after 2006 thanks to his heroic performances, signed with West Ham United a year after the World Cup and would later join Everton and Galatasaray, before stints in the UAE and Japan either side of a brief period with Sydney FC.
Neill was the player who was infamously called for a stoppage-time foul on Italy's Fabio Grosso which led to a penalty in the round of 16 clash at the World Cup.
Despite his successful football career, a series of poor investments saw Neill file for bankruptcy in 2016, just two years after his retirement.
He has become almost reclusive and this week broke his silence on his struggles after succeeding in a court battle.
"I've won my freedom, but I feel like I've lost in life," he said after the verdict.
3. Craig Moore
Shown here after scoring a penalty against Croatia, the veteran centre half returned home to play for the Brisbane Roar in 2007 after more than a decade across several European leagues.
Since retiring, Moore now works as a player agent and is based in Brisbane.
4. Tim Cahill
Australia's most-prolific men's player ever, Tim Cahill became a household name after his two-goal heroics against Japan in 2006, and is one of just a handful of players from any nation to score at three World Cups.
Cahill is now based in Qatar where he works at the Aspire Academy, which is where the Socceroos are based for the upcoming tournament.
He was appointed as Australia's head of delegation for the 2022 World Cup.
5. Jason Culina
After several fruitful years at PSV Eindhoven following the 2006 World Cup, Culina returned home to become Gold Coast United's first-ever marquee player in 2009, and finished his career with Sydney FC in 2013.
The midfielder has had a variety of coaching roles since, and was most-recently called in by Brisbane Roar coach Warren Moon to assist with pre-season training.
6. Tony Popovic
After retiring in 2008 with Sydney FC, he began his coaching career at the Sky Blues before becoming an assistant at Crystal Palace, and was then appointed manager of Western Sydney Wanderers in 2012.
He oversaw the club's most-successful period, winning the Asian Champions League, and then landed brief club gigs in Turkey and Greece either side of spending two seasons at Perth Glory.
After returning from Greece, he was appointed Melbourne Victory manager in 2021.
7. Brett Emerton
A stalwart at Blackburn Rovers for nearly a decade, Emerton spent two and a half years at Sydney FC before retiring due to back injuries in 2014.
Emerton is currently working with the Macarthur Rams, heading up their young program for 9 to 12-year-olds, where his two boys are also playing.
8. Josip Skoko
The midfielder left Australia as a teenager and spent more than a decade playing across Europe before finishing his career in 2011 with Melbourne Heart.
In 2021, while back in Melbourne, he was one of 11 Australian football legends appointed to an advisory panel known as the 'Starting XI' to help on matters relating to the national set-up.
9. Mark Viduka
The captain and prolific Premier League striker retired in 2009, despite attempts by the national team to keep him going through the South Africa tournament in 2010.
He was another who was appointed to the 'Starting XI' but has remained largely out of football, currently living in Zagreb, Croatia, and running a coffee shop.
