Mark Schwarzer's World Cup Destiny

Mark Schwarzer will be forever etched in Australian sporting folklore, when his second penalty save at Sydney’s Telstra Stadium on a balmy Wednesday night in November 2005, virtually guaranteed Australia’s passage through to its first World Cup finals appearance in 32 years.

Mark Schwarzer will be forever etched in Australian sporting folklore, when his second penalty save at Sydney-s Telstra Stadium on a balmy Wednesday night in November 2005, virtually guaranteed Australia-s passage through to its first World Cup finals appearance in 32 years.

A minute after that save, Schwarzer-s Socceroos team mate John Aloisi stepped up and converted the final spot kick and both he and Aloisi set off on that amazing run around Telstra Stadium in front of a delirious crowd of over 80,000 fans.

Seven months later and the journey continued, this time taking in three countries - Australia, The Netherlands and Germany, as the team captured the hearts of a nation in the build up to and eventually its performances at the World Cup finals.

It was a time where Australian players came to the fore and showed the rest of the world that it can mix it with the big boys of football.

And now for the first time since the World Cup finals, Australian sports fans can get a superb insight into the biggest sporting event of the year, from the players perspective, with the release of Schwarzer-s book titled World Cup Destiny - From Sydney to Stuttgart.

The book is not just a reflection on Schwarzer-s career to date, but gives fans a day-by-day insight while the players were in camp. This is Mark-s personal and candid daily commentary of his sport, his peers and his experiences over the course of Australia-s journey to and through the World Cup in Germany.

He talks about his coach, Guus Hiddink, presents his innermost thoughts about the competition with the other goalie, “Spider” Zeljko Kalac, the aggression of the Uruguayan team, and their supporters, and his elation and national pride in his and his team-s success.

“Why do a diary?” Schwarzer said at the books launch at Aussie Stadium in Sydney today. “Well Mark Schwarzer-s World Cup Destiny was the ideal way for me to record my life over 38 days, of the most demanding, physically and mentally, important, exciting and above all, proudest moments of my career, representing my country at the biggest tournament on the planet.

“This book will be my reminder of those very special days and hopefully give the readers a good insight into our campaign," he explained.

Written by respected football journalist and administrator Ross Musso, with forwards from both former national team coach Frank Farina and his current Middlesbrough manager Gareth Southgate, this is a must read for all sports fans.

Mark Schwarzer's World Cup Destiny - From Sydney to Stuttgart written by Ross Musso. ABC Books, RRP $29.95