News about Lucas Neill

Neill, a member of the Socceroos' 2006 World Cup campaign, earned more than $40 million during his long and fruitful career, but was left with 'nothing to show for it.' The 45-year-old earned a fortune during big-money stints with clubs like Premier League champions West Ham (pictured, right), but he was left bankrupt just two years after he resigned, but just two years after he retired.

Following a fifth Ashes match at Old Trafford, former Socceroos captain and English Premier League defender Lucas Neill was spotted with Test captain Pat Cummins. The reclusive ex-skipper was caught with Cummins and coach Andrew McDonald just a week after fired former Suns coach Stuart Dew made a strange move to join the Australian Ashes squad. The reclusive, 45-year-old former Everton, West Ham, and Blackburn defender, who played 96 times for his country, has reportedly severed ties with the Australian football community after being booted from the top job by Ange Postecoglou on the eve of the 2014 FIFA World Cup.

'Australian fighting spirit has boosted.' We hear those words so often that they've become a cliché. Not to be confused with Queensland's spirit, Outback spirit, or Anzac spirit (which, it must be said, honors a loss), the Australian fighting spirit has risen to its highest level since Don Bradman was wearing short pants. Politicians, television presenters, and athletic coaches are all criticized. Wherever there is a flood, bushfire, or victory over the odds, there is always the effect of an advertisement jingle.

Graham Arnold, the socceroos boss, has achieved what many considered impossible - qualifying for the round of 16 in Qatar at the World Cup. Not bad for a coach who is leading Australia's 'worst ever' team. In recent years, Arnold has been a point of contention for criticism, but those who called for his dismissal are now eating their words.

Since he recalled one of the code's darkest days ahead of Thursday's match against Denmark (AEDT) at the World Cup, socceroos boss Graham Arnold (pictured inset) has called out a Iranian reporter for'ruining his day'. Australia was 2-0 up at the MCG on November 29, 1997, but Iran only scored twice in a matter of minutes. They qualified for France 98 on away goals.

Mat Ryan isn't about to dine out on his newfound fame as the third Socceroos captain to win a game at a World Cup. He's hungry for more. After Australia's 1-0 victory over Tunisia in Qatar on Saturday, Ryan joined Mark Viduka and Lucas Neill as Australians to captain the Socceroos to victory at the cup finals.

This year's showpiece in Qatar may only be Australia's fifth appearance at a World Cup, but they have carved out a number of memorable moments from which the entire world has been watching. The Socceroos may not have the football experience of other nations at the tournament, but they have unquestionably brought up a few key moments at the tournament that should be proud of. Sportsmail takes a look at the five best scenes from Australia's previous appearances at the World Cup.

John Aloisi will forever be remembered by his epoch against Uruguay in Sydney. In 2005, the date was November 16 in 2005, and the scene at what was then called Stadium Australia was electric. 32 years of heartbreak came to an end, and it was party time as strangers hugged one another in the stands, barely able to believe that Australia were going to a World Cup for the first time since 1974.

The Socceroos hosted their first match in 1922, and there have been many kit variations in the 100 years since, from the bizarre to the spectacular. Australia has experimented a lot with colour and style, from the sky blue rugby-style jersey to the iconic 'Spew jerseys' from the early 1990s to the coveted gold numbers of recent times. So which ones got it right, and which ones got it way wrong?