Fred de Jong: Cometh the hour, cometh Tim Cahill

The 3-1 scoreline tells nothing of the drama that came with Australia's first win at a World Cup, including their first goals at a finals tournament.

For much of the match it looked as if the dreadful decision by the Egyptian referee would be the telling moment in what was an even contest against Japan. How he failed to see Australian keeper Mark Schwarzer being bundled away from the cross is a mystery. However, as Australia coach Guus Hiddink has said, one of the key ingredients to his team's success is their never-say-die attitude.

With seven minutes remaining and with the hopes of the Australian nation fading as quickly as Harry Kewell's legs, the Socceroos were looking for a hero. And, as so often happens in Australian sport, they found one.

This time it was Tim Cahill. The Everton player got himself into the opponents' penalty area and somehow found a way through a wall of Japanese defenders to level the score.

Many believed that would be the final score as the Kaiserslautern sun had sapped much of the energy from the players.

But Cahill had other ideas as his rifled shot from just outside the box put the Aussies ahead and himself into Australian football folklore. When John Aloisi waltzed through the non-existent Japanese defence for the third goal he killed any hopes Japan had of coming back and indeed any hopes they had of progressing further.

This is an Australian side built on physical attributes, organisation and mental toughness rather than on flair and attacking prowess.

Names like Schwarzer, Emerton, Cahill, Viduka, Moore, Neill are all regulars at their English Premier clubs without being in the top echelon of players in that league.

However add two names - Harry Kewell and Guus Hiddink - and suddenly the mix changes.

The enigmatic Kewell. For so long perceived as a man more concerned about playing for himself than playing for his country, Kewell has that rare mix of speed and guile that allows him to beat his man. He is the one truly class player Australia has. He has been struggling with injury and fitness and if Australia are to go further then they need Kewell to get in shape quickly.

But without doubt the trump card is Hiddink, or just plain Gus as the Australian public call him. "In Gus we trust" was the cry as Australia departed for Germany. That trust is not misplaced.

This is Hiddink's third appearance at the World Cup finals. He took Holland to fourth in 1998 and then took a mediocre Korean side to the same placing four years later, albeit with the assistance of some decidedly dodgy refereeing decisions.

What will the canny Dutchman achieve with this Australian side?

After yesterday's dramatic victory a spot in the last 16 is a distinct possibility. Their next match is against world champions Brazil on Monday. The Aussies will try to keep the score down and hope that when they line up against Croatia in their final pool game a draw will be enough to carry them through.

Australia are one of the best chances of a minnow getting through to the knock-out phase.

* Fred de Jong is a former All White