(Statistics up to and including the match against Greece on May 25 2006)
GOALKEEPERS
1-Mark Schwarzer (Middlesbrough, England) Born: 6.10.72. Caps: 36 Goals: 0
Now firmly established as Australia's first-choice goalkeeper after several years serving as back-up to Mark Bosnich. Made his international debut 13 years ago but became an 'instant' national hero when he saved two penalties in Australia's shoot-out victory against Uruguay to reach the World Cup finals for the first time in 32 years. Stunned Middlesbrough with a transfer request in January which he later withdrew.
18-Zeljko Kalac (AC Milan, Italy) Born: 16.12.72. Caps: 51 Goals: 0
Nicknamed "Spider" because of his gangly legs and arms, the two-metre tall Kalac advanced through the national age-group squads before making his international debut in 1992. Has played club football in Britain, the Netherlands and now Italy.
12-Ante Covic (Hammarby, Sweden) Born: 30.8.75. Caps: 1 Goals. 1
Australia's third-choice keeper behind Schwarzer and Kalac who earned his one and only cap in Australia's 3-1 win over Bahrain in an Asian Cup qualifier in February. Has enjoyed playing stints in Greece and Germany and is now based in Sweden.
DEFENDERS
16-Michael Beauchamp (Central Coast, Australia) Born: 08.03.81. Caps: 1 Goals: 0
One of only two Australian-based players in the squad. Made his international debut against Bahrain in April. Normally plays as a central defender but can also play on the right side in defence.
22-Mark Milligan (Sydney FC) Born: 04.08.85. Caps: 0 Goals: 0
The youngest player in the squad, aged 20. Was a surprise selection after Tony Vidmar pulled out injured. Represented Australia at 2003 and 2005 World Youth Championships but uncapped at senior level. Was part of the Sydney FC team that won the inaugural Australian A-League.
3-Craig Moore (Newcastle United, England) Born: 12.12.75. Caps: 31 Goals. 2
Australia's regular captain, though he missed the World Cup playoffs with injury. A tough and hard-working defender. Has enjoyed stints with Crystal Palace, Glasgow Rangers and Borussia Moenchengladbach before joining Newcastle from Rangers last year. Injuries delayed his debut for Newcastle until March 2006.
2-Lucas Neill (Blackburn Rovers, England) Born: 9.3.78. Caps: 23 Goals. 0
Tough-tackling defender who can play anywhere across the backline or even in the midfield but is best suited at right back. Served his apprenticeship with Millwall but is now with Blackburn Rovers. Named man of the match in the playoff victory over Uruguay.
6-Tony Popovic (Crystal Palace, England) Born: 4.7.73. Caps: 55 Goals. 7
Experienced centre-back who shares the central defensive role with Craig Moore. Dangerous at set pieces because of his aerial ability. Scored a goal in Australia's 3-1 win over England in 2003. Captains Crystal Palace.
MIDFIELDERS
23-Marco Bresciano (Parma, Italy) Born: 11.2.80. Caps: 23 Goals. 7
Scored Australia's goal in their 1-0 win over Uruguay in the second leg of their World Cup playoff. One of the few Australians to enjoy success in Serie A. Made his debut in Australia's 2001 Confederations Cup win over France.
4-Tim Cahill (Everton, England) Born: 6.12.79. Caps: 14 Goals. 8
Endured a long wait for international clearance before making his debut for Australia in 2004 after having played for Western Samoa's Under-20 team at the age of 14. Now making up for lost time, scoring six goals in his first four appearances, including a hat-trick against Fiji. Helped Millwall to get to the 2004 FA Cup final before moving to Everton.
14-Scott Chipperfield (FC Basel, Switzerland) Born: 30.12.75. Caps: 45 Goals: 11
Another late bloomer now a regular fixture in the national side. A left-sided midfielder with great pace who can also play left wing-back or striker. Won two Australian club championships before moving to Switzerland.
5-Jason Culina (PSV Eindhoven, Netherlands) Born: 5.8.80. Caps: 12 Goals. 1
Attacking midfielder who made his debut in Australian National Soccer League as a 16-year-old before moving to Ajax Amsterdam. Also played for Twente Enschede before Guus Hiddink persuaded him to joined PSV Eindhoven. Culina's father Branko is one of Australia's top coaches.
7-Brett Emerton (Blackburn Rovers, England) Born: 22.2.79. Caps: 46 Goals: 12
A strong and powerful winger, Emerton has been a regular in the Australian team for more than a decade. Captained Australia at the Sydney Olympics. Played for Feyenoord in the Netherlands before linking up with Lucas Neill at Blackburn Rovers.
13-Vince Grella (Parma, Italy) Born: 5.10.79. Caps: 20 Goals. 0
Hard-working midfielder and close friend of Marco Bresciano. Struggled for many seasons to get into the team but made his debut in Australia's 2003 win over England and started against Uruguay.
11-Stan Lazaridis (Birmingham City, England) Born: 16.8.72. Caps: 58 Goals. 0
Uncompromising left-winger whose tormenting runs and pin-point crosses have made him a crowd favourite. No longer an automatic choice and did not play in either of the two playoffs with Uruguay.
8-Josip Skoko (Stoke City, England) Born: 10.12.75. Caps: 45 Goals. 9
A quiet achiever but a player who can turn a match in a single moment. A key member of the national side since 1997. Has played in Croatia, Belgium, Turkey and now England where he is on loan to Stoke City from Wigan Athletic. Became the first Australian to captain a European club when appointed skipper of Racing Genk.
21-Mile Sterjovski (FC Basel, Switzerland) Born: 27.5.79. Caps: 20 Goals. 3
Left Australia as one of the country's most promising midfield strikers to play with Lille in the French first division and has not looked back. Recently completed a move to Swiss champions FC Basel. Did not play in the playoff with Uruguay but did play against New Zealand in London last June.
20-Luke Wilkshire (Bristol City, England) Born: 2.10.81. Caps: 8 Goals. 0.
Made his debut last year against the Solomon Islands after an impressive showing at the Athens Olympics and played against Bahrain in February but unlikely to force his way into the starting side for the World Cup. Left Middlesbrough to play first-team football with Bristol City.
FORWARDS
19-Josh Kennedy (Dynamo Dresden, Germany) Born: 20.08.82. Caps: 0 Goals: 0
One of the biggest surprises in the squad. A towering striker who stands 1.94 metres tall, Kennedy was included to give the Socceroos more variety up front with his aerial skills. Has been playing in Germany since he was a teenager.
15-John Aloisi (Alaves, Spain) Born: 5.2.79. Caps: 39 Goals. 22
Converted the winning penalty in the shoot-out against Uruguay to put Australia in the World Cup finals. Has been largely overshadowed by Mark Viduka and Harry Kewell but now a more regular fixture in the team. Has played in England, Spain and Italy.
10-Harry Kewell (Liverpool, England) Born: 22.9.78. Caps: 19 Goals. 6
Australia's best-known and dangerous player. Made his debut as a teenager. Scored in both legs of Australia's 1997 World Cup playoff with Iran. Last season was blighted by injury although he did end up with a Champions League medal after playing for the first 23 minutes against AC Milan. Was inspirational against Uruguay when it mattered most and has regained much of his old impressive form in the second half of this season.
17-Archie Thompson (PSV Eindhoven, Netherlands) Born: 23.10.78. Caps: 18 Goals: 21
Holds the world record for the most goals in an international when he scored 13 times in Australia's 31-0 rout of American Samoa in a World Cup qualifier in 2001. Spent four years in Belgium before returning home to play in Australia's new A League for Melbourne and returned to Europe on a six-month loan deal with PSV Eindhoven in January 2006 under Australian national coach Guus Hiddink. Used mainly as an impact player off the bench.
9-Mark Viduka (Middlesbrough, England) Born: 9.10.75. Caps: 32 Goals. 6
Appointed captain for the World Cup qualifiers in the absence of regular skipper Craig Moore. A big, powerful striker with sharp instincts and the ability to score goals from nothing. Has never done as well for Australia as he has for his clubs but still looms as the biggest threat in Germany.
