On Australia Day, the Socceroos gave their nation one of the greatest football gifts she could hope for: a place in the Asian Cup final.
Australia humiliated Uzbekistan 6-0 at Khalifa Stadium, Qatar, to qualify for their first major tournament decider since the 1997 Confederations Cup.
Harry Kewell opened the scoring before Sasa Ognenovski, David Carney, Brett Emerton, Carl Valeri and Robbie Kruse completed the demolition.
There was a satisfying synchronicity on the scoresheet - Kewell played in the Confederations Cup showpiece of a sporting generation ago, while Kruise was making just his second appearance in national colours.
One went to Europe before he could legally drive a car or drink a beer. The other is still plying his trade in our resurrected domestic league.
They represent the journey the sport has made Down Under over what has felt like both a lifetime and a moment.
Gone are the days when the men in green and gold could wistfully dream of winning silverware on the world stage - they will return to the same venue on Sunday with the nation's inaugural continental title one game away.
While the territory will be new, awaiting them will be an old enemy: Japan, who defeated South Korea on penalties in the other semi-final.
Australia owe Japan one on this stage - the Blue Samurai ended their maiden Asian Cup voyage in the quarter-finals four years ago.
But the three-time Asian champions also have scars that need the soothing balm only glory can provide - they were the first team to lose to Australia at a World Cup.
Asia's two best teams, doing battle for the continent's biggest prize. The stakes couldn't be higher.
Japan will be looking to reclaim the trophy they deemed their own after tournament victories in 2000 and 2004.
Australia have the chance to erase, once and for all, all the heartbreak that has bedevilled the world game on this continent.
Think of the 32 years we spent in the World Cup wilderness. The decline and fall of the old NSL. The embarrassment of being bundled out of the 2007 Asian Cup after starting as arrogant, underprepared favourites. Being thrashed by Germany in South Africa. The last-gasp loss to Italy four years earlier. Obtaining one vote to host the 2022 World Cup.
Even the Confederations Cup final of 14 years ago even ended in tears, thanks to a 6-0 hiding from Brazil.
Before joining and hopefully soon conquering Asia, Australia's moments of triumph were farcical - as part of the Oceania Confederation, they ran up cricket scores against the likes of American Samoa, Tonga and the Cook Islands.
All the bitterness, all the misery, all the sham triumphs can all be washed away, with one victory.
Australia has already forged its reputation on football's most diverse continent - the Matildas are the reigning women's champions and the under 19s only lost their decider in the last, but one, minute of extra time.
Which will it be for Holger Osieck's men?
If yesterday's performance was any indication, it will be glory.
Australia didn't just defeat the Uzbeks, they crushed them. Just as Spain, Germany, Brazil and Argentina would crush an inferior opponent.
Once upon a time, we were the roadkill. Now, we are the juggernaut.
Soon, we could be the champions.
Advance Australia Fair.
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