Press report follows :
Frank Farina is hailing the "dawn of a new era" after a week when his Socceroos shook the world.
To defeat reigning world champion France was one thing.
To upset Brazil, the four-time World Cup winner synonymous with all that is beautiful in the global game, was an encore the 68th-ranked Australians could only have dreamt of.
And to think that two of Australia's three greatest victories occurred within eight days. The coup will have the New Zealanders, Australia's probable World Cup qualifying opponents in 10 days time, quaking in their boots.
It will also send shock waves to South America, where the Socceroos must compete in November if they are to reach next year's World Cup finals in Japan and South Korea.
To make the fairytale complete, the goal that sunk Brazil 1-0 in last night's third place play-off here was created and finished by two players who aren't even getting a kick in England's Premier League.
Birmingham City's Stan Lazaridis sent over the centimetre-perfect free kick that Sheffield United's Shaun Murphy buried in the back of the net six minutes from time.
Before this tournament Murphy had scored only one goal in his life at international level.
Having netted with a carbon-copy header in the opening win over Mexico, the 30-year-old central defender - whose secret is to "just shut my eyes as usual" - now goes home as Australia's top scorer at this mini World Cup.
Australia's victory over Brazil, witnessed by FIFA president Sepp Blatter, could not have presented a more compelling case for direct entry to the World Cup finals for Oceania's top team.
Just days ago Farina described as a "farce" the fact that Oceania's champion had only "half a place" in the finals - it also had to beat a constantly changing mix of nations from Europe, South America or Asia.
Some critics may try to devalue Australia's achievements here by pointing out that both the French and Brazilians were vastly under-strength.
That is true. France, playing Japan in tonight's final, decided to field a C team against Australia while Brazil, dubbed the "team of the eliminated", came here with a B team deprived of players still competing for the domestic championship.
But Australia had to make do without a swag of stars, too.
Harry Kewell, Mark Viduka and Danny Tiatto didn't make the trip. Captain Paul Okon, Kevin Muscat, Brett Emerton and John Aloisi all were allowed to go home to attend family weddings. And Craig Moore was suspended.
, must send this note to my mate from Eugenio from Brazil
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