Harry Kewell

The Kewell in Australia's crown

Australian Socceroo Harry Kewell (R) fends off Uruguay's Marcelo Sosa (L) during the FIFA World Cup qualifier at Stadium Australia in Sydney, 16 November 2005. Australia ended their 31-year nightmare to qualify for the 2006 World Cup finals in Germany by winning the penalty shootout 4-2 after both teams remained tied at one home goal each after extra time. AFP PHOTO/Torsten BLACKWOOD

If Australia are to cause a surprise on their return to the World Cup finals after 32 years, they will need their talisman Harry Kewell to be fit and firing on all cylinders.

The gifted winger has battled injury in recent seasons but was thrown into the fray by Socceroos coach Guus Hiddink in November 2005 and had a blinder in helping his country oust Uruguay to book their tickets to Germany.

The match marked a long and painful route back for the wily winger, nicknamed the 'Wizard of Oz' when he broke down in the Champions League final, coming off before Liverpool bulldozed past AC Milan and lifted their fifth European crown.

Leeds United Australian Harry Kewell vies against Grasshopper Club in a UEFA Cup third round match at Elland Road in Leeds 06 December 2001. Kewell scored the opening goal with the final score 2-2.

The slightly built lad from Sydney became one of the most highly rated players in the English Premiership during eight seasons at Leeds United and there were eyebrows raised when he joined Liverpool for a knockdown price in 2003.

At the time, Leeds were strapped financially but the paltry 5 million pounds (7.4 million euros) that Liverpool paid led to an ongoing FA and FIFA investigation resulting from the massive commission (2 million pounds/3 million euros) pocketed by his representative Bernie Mandic.

The deal also provoked criticism from former England star Gary Lineker in his newspaper column that led Kewell to seek damages in court, telling the trial, he had been "hurt and humiliated" and claiming Lineker had branded him disloyal and stupid.

The case was settled but the terms of the deal were not revealed.

Out to "shock a few people"

Liverpool's Harry Kewell (L) heads the ball above Asen Bukarev (R) from Levski Sofia during their UEFA Cup third round, second leg football match in Sofia, 03 March 2004.

Kewell was expected to revive Liverpool's championship credentials that had faded under Gerard Houllier but the Aussie idol has struggled to make an impact, although new manager Rafael Benitez insists he has not lost confidence in the player.

"Harry is a valuable player for us because he can beat players, he is good in the air, he can shoot and he is very good at crossing from the by-line," the Spanish handler purred in 2005.

Liverpool's Harry Kewell leaves Olimpia's Borut Mavric sitting on the ground as he celebrates making it 3-nil during a UEFA Cup clash at Anfield, Liverpool, 15 October 2003.

He will be 27-years-old going into the World Cup and still has time to win over the Anfield faithful while at national level his status is already established as one of the greatest players to ever wear Australian colours.

He also believes Hiddink, who led Holland and South Korea to the semi-finals in the last two tournaments, can work his magic for the underdog Aussies.

"We're not going to Germany just to be one of the lightweights. We plan to make our mark and shock a few people," he told the Aussie press. "Look at what Greece did in Portugal (European champions in 2004). Who gave them a chance? Every big tournament produces one team that stands up from out of nowhere and upsets the big boys. Why shouldn't that team be us ?," he added.