The Socceroos ended three decades of misery when they overcame two-time champions Uruguay on penalties to win their World Cup play-off here last week, a result that enraptured a sport-infatuated nation.

And now the talk is about what they might do in Germany.

The prevailing mood is typified by skipper and striker Mark Viduka.

"I think we can do something over there. We're not going to be there just to make up the numbers. We can go there and play some good football," he said.

"It's just that hurdle of finally making the World Cup finals that we had to get over and we've done that now."

Hiddink, the revered Dutch coach, has given something priceless to the Australian team and fans, a sense of belief that they can achieve on the world stage.

Hiddink, 59, is the most successful Dutch coach in history. At international level, he has taken the Netherlands and South Korea to the semifinals of the past two World Cups.

And now he has achieved what many thought was impossible. In three months since he was headhunted he has overhauled the jinxed Socceroos -- developing their awareness, strategically and mentally.

Australia will get no favours when FIFA announce the World Cup groups in Leipzig next month. Their 54th ranking means they will be pitted against two, even all three higher-ranked teams, in their pool.

When Australia went to their first and only World Cup in 1974 as largely part-time professionals they were grouped with hosts West Germany, East Germany and Chile, and came away with just a point from a scoreless draw with the South Americans.

The optimism is that the well-resourced Socceroos will do better three decades on as they have another six months under the influence of Hiddink.

The players have spoken of Hiddink's superb World Cup record and through their relatively short experience with him know that he can get the best out of them -- as individuals and as a team.

"Guus calmed everyone's nerves down after we looked nervous in the first 30 minutes against Uruguay," said Spanish-based striker John Aloisi, who converted the winning penalty in the shoot-out to become an instant national hero.

"He has that sense about him when he's on the sidelines that says to the players that if they keep following the plan, it will be okay."

On the eve of the play-off, Hiddink proclaimed: "Football is the number one sport in the world and I hope it will be shortly in Australia."

Australia is in a unique sporting situation. Football jostles for its place under the Australian sun against the two rugby codes and Australian Rules football.

They hold a dominant place in the Australian sporting landscape, while football has struggled for credibility after decades of ethnic rivalries and bureaucratic vendettas that left it languishing and a laughing stock.