Although without the profile of some of his Socceroo team-mates, Bresciano has been a regular for the national team for some seven years, making regular goalscoring contributions with his dead ball delivery also an important aspect of his game. The Italian-based Bresciano invariably plays in a wide midfield role on the right though can equally slot in on the left and he is very much an offensive minded midfielder. Bresciano featured prominently in Australia’s charge for the 2006 FIFA World Cup™ scoring the winner in a 1-0 defeat of New Zealand in the opening qualifying match, and then famously repeating the feat against Uruguay at the other end of the campaign in the now historic play-off win by the Socceroos on penalties. He also spectacularly scored the clinching goal against Bahrain which ensured Australia’s qualification for the 2007 AFC Asian Cup. Other notable appearances include at the Sydney Olympic Football Tournament in 2000 and the 2001 FIFA Confederations Cup where Bresciano made his national team debut in an epic win over world champions France. Departing Australia for Italian club Empoli as a 19-year-old in 1999, Bresciano was involved in Australia's biggest transfer fee when he made the switch to Parma three years later. For a combined period of five years Bresciano was a club team-mate of his close friend, and Socceroo colleague Vince Grella, at firstly Empoli, and then with Parma. A move to Palermo followed immediately after the 2006 FIFA World Cup where the 30-year-old has largely been a regular. The months leading up to South Africa saw Bresciano struggle to find regular game time with Palermo. However with nine years overall experience in the national team and a strike rate of a goal every five matches, the 30-year-old remains a key component of the Socceroo squad. |
