Fred de Jong: Riveting battle to reach final 16

If you can't beat them, join them.

I have spent my whole career trying to get the better of Australian teams. Transtasman rivalry runs deep in my blood.

However, yesterday in Stuttgart's Gottlieb-Daimler Stadion, I cheered my heart out for Australia. When 20,000 gold-shirted supporters jump up and down to Men at Work's Land Down Under, saluting a team that has just taken Australia into the last 16 of the world's elite, it is easy for once just to go along for the ride.

The deafening noise, the intensity, the passion.

Of the four World Cup matches I have seen so far, this was easily the most riveting. Both sides battling for qualification. No quarter given. And with a referee who let the game flow as much as he was allowed, it was an experience I will long savour.

For the purist, the Holland-Argentina match the previous night was of a higher technical quality but lacked the cutting edge to make it a classic. In terms of sheer drama, this was far superior.

This was a game that ebbed and flowed as the advantage swung back and forth.

Firstly, Croatia, with their second- minute goal, courtesy of a splendid Darijo Srna free kick, took pole position. By sitting back and trying to protect their lead, Croatia relinquished the advantage and the Australians capitalised through a Craig Moore penalty.

The halftime banter by the cocky Australian fans queuing for their beers and bratwurst suggested the team had already done enough and were on their way to a showdown with Italy in the last 16.

Australia had conceded a goal, scored themselves and were looking reasonably comfortable. What could go wrong?

However they had not counted on the fallibility of their keeper.

Zeljko Kalac was a surprise inclusion in the team ahead of regular Mark Schwarzer. Throughout the match Kalac displayed all the composure of a frantic child in the final throws of a lolly scramble.

Catches were dropped and crosses were fumbled, but this was just the precursor to the main event. In the 53rd minute Kalac somehow managed to bundle a regulation save into his own net and put an entire nation on tenterhooks.

For 25 minutes Kalac must have prayed that his teammates would rescue his faux pas. In the 78th minute Harry Kewell delivered. A hopeful cross eluded everyone and fell to Kewell. His control and deft volley ensured the point for Australia and sent Stuttgart into a sea of green and gold as thousands of Australians hit the streets to celebrate.

With the final matches in groups G and H to be played overnight to complete the first round, it is a time for reflection and to look ahead to coming match-ups.

The obvious fairytale of the tournament so far is Australia and their effort to reach the last 16.

Have they the quality to go further against Italy? I think not. I believe Italy have the nous to control the game and exploit the weaknesses in the Australian defence.

Australia have conceded the first goal in each of their matches and unfortunately that trend should continue against Italy. Italy will not allow them a second chance.

Alongside our neighbours, most of the big guns of the tournament, Brazil, Argentina, Italy, Spain and hosts Germany have eased into the knockout round.

Clashes such as Germany v Argentina, England v Holland and Brazil v Spain are the quarter-final matches that would really set the pulse pounding.

Until then we can bask in the reflected glow of Australia conquering another sporting peak.

* Former All White Fred de Jong is in Germany.