"Australia have got this": Socceroos remember World Cup qualifier against Uruguay, 20 years on

In 2005, the Socceroos defeated Uruguay in Sydney, qualifying for the FIFA World Cup for the first time in 32 years. Twenty years later, two of the men that played a key role in securing the victory have reunited to recount the night few will ever forget.

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TRANSCRIPT:

It was a defining moment in Australian history.

"Here's John Aloisi for a spot in the World Cup... he scores! Australia have got this!"

That was the night of November 16, 2005, when Socceroos member John Aloisi scored a penalty against Uruguay in front of more than 83,000 fans packed into Sydney's Olympic Stadium.

Others watched around the country, including around 8000 fans in Melbourne's Federation Square, hoping to witness the historic moment.

"Yay!!!"

20 years later, this match remains the most watched event in S-B-S history.

And some of the key players of the night, including Aloisi, Mark Schwarzer and Josip Skoko, have reunited in Melbourne to reflect on the night that forever changed Australian football.

John Aloisi says that night is a good memory for him.

"The whole evening just had that belief and confidence that we are going to the qualifier for some reasons, just had that aurora about it, and taking that penalty, as I said, I never took a penalty so for that kind of my first penalty, was extra special and I still take it the same day same way today.”

The Socceroos great has been coaching at the A-League club Western United for the past three years.

He remains in a holding pattern after the club's expulsion.

But while his coaching career remains uncertain, Aloisi says he's watching many young players making their best kicks on the field.

"We've got a number of players who I think in 2023 knocking on the door and not too far away, and we give them that belief that from that encouragement to go, you know, play their game, play their football, and they've been really good in the past year with us. And yeah, that's what they are thriving for, they want to play for the Socceroos and the World Cup around the corner makes it extra bit, em, important for them."

Another hero in the game against Uruguay was Mark Schwarzer , whose penalty saves set the stage for Australia to win the penalty shootout.

He says sometimes when he watches the footage, he still gets goosebumps.

"We all knew... We were talking about that moment so many times, how important that moment was gonna be one day if we have a qualifier for World Cup, then obviously, when you accomplish it, the realisation of satisfaction and the overwhelming sense of like relief that football was on the map and people were taking it seriously."

The watershed moment on November 16, 2005, ignited a golden era.

Next year's tournament in North America will mark the Socceroos' sixth consecutive World Cup finals appearance.

Schwarzer meanwhile is preparing for another career highlight, as one of seven people inducted into the Sport Australia Hall of Fame in Melbourne.

Mark Schwarzer says he's relieved that following the victory in 2005, football has become an important sport in Australia.

"You know look at the momentum since then, we qualified every single World Cup since then; football is, has gained lots of respect, and I believe that people hold in the right kind of place that it deserves to be, and certainly in a country like Australia that's so rich and incredible with sports. I'm a firm believer that football doesn't need to overtake anyone, doesn't need to be better than anyone, it just needs to be alongside some of the other great codes in this country.”

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