Thousands Flock To Thank Their Heroes

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Thousands of Sydney football fans gave the Socceroos a magnificent reception at the Domain yesterday, after a night of celebration their qualification for World Cup finals for only the second time.

A huge roar went up when SBS commentator Simon Hill announced the players onto the stage on by one, with Mark Schwarzer and John Aloisi receiving the biggest cheers for their match-winning efforts in the penalty shootout.

The Domain was again a sea of green and gold and again very noisy, as every word was greeted with a cheer from the passionate crowd in attendance.

Hill got the crowd revved up and was followed by a very pumped up and proud NSW Premier Morris Iemma, who dedicated the win to the late Johnny Warren.

-Aussie- Guus Hiddink was the first to appear on stage, much to delight of the crowd, who chanted his name as he made his way forward.

Most believe he is the main reason for Australia getting to the World Cup, installing a new found confidence in the team and fixing a leaky defence that five months ago conceded 10 goals in three games at the Confederations Cup.

Hill asked Hiddink, if it was possible to go all the way, having taken his last two teams at a World Cup to the semi finals.

"All the way is very far. But OK, we are all in a good mood, so let's say today, we-ll go all the way," as the crowd roared its approval.

Next up to speak was Mark Viduka who praised the role Hiddink played in getting the team to where it was today. Naturally, he was reluctant to talk about his missed penalty, preferring to praise Mark Schwarzer (pictured left).

His Middlesbrough teammate Mark Schwarzer saved his bacon by saving the next penalty kick of Marcelo Zalayeta and the crowd was shouting out his name as the next player to talk to. Schwarzer described the response of the fans to the win as fantastic and said that during the shootout he was in the zone and confident that he could make a save or two.

Next up was Bresciano, the goalscorer that earned Australia the win in normal time. It was revealed after the game that he needed several injections just to play a part in the game and praised the medical staff for not only getting him up for the match, but other players as well that had been carrying injuries during and in the lead up to the match.

John Aloisi then revealed that he was nervous knowing that his penalty would win the game, but was confident that he would score. He knew his former teammates at Osasuna in Richard Morales and Pablo Garcia would have tipped Fabian Carini where he would go with his shot, but if hit right he would have no chance and that he hit it exactly where he wanted.

That was where the interviews were going to end, but the crowd wanted more and shouted out Harry, Harry, Harry. A reluctant Kewell joined Hill on stage and spoke of how he is now enjoying his football again after an horrendous 12 months with injury.

The players then spent over half an hour signing autographs and getting photos taken with fans (Lucas Neill pictured with fans) that had waited patiently in the hot sun.

Most of the players were then due to fly out that afternoon, returning to their clubs for the weekend .