He said the 30-year gap bet-ween appearances at soccer’s showcase and a side brimming with international household names had the country and the rest of the world buzzing.

But Thompson expected some of the younger players to make a name for themselves in the vastly inexperienced Socceroos.

“The experience in Germany, even the lead-up, was amazing,” he said.

“We hadn’t qualified for a World Cup for more than 30 years so the hype of that and the way the country got behind the team made it so much better.

“Now it’s like ‘I hope the Socceroos make it’ and as a result it has almost lost a bit of the mystique — it doesn’t seem so special.

“That World Cup team, having been so long since we had been a part of it all seemed to bring the players, the squad and the country so much closer.

“Pubs and public spaces were packed during the games, it was amazing, I don’t think it will ever feel that way again.”

ARCHIE THOMPSON: Socceroos have nothing to lose at the World Cup

But Thompson is keen to see generation next when the World Cup rolls around this week.

“There are a heap of young guys in the squad that I haven’t seen much of, players who have made their careers overseas,” he said.

“(Oliver) Bozanic was a great player before he went overseas and he has clearly improved with Ange seeing enough in him to warrant selection.

“(Adam) Taggart has had a very good year in the A-League but I hope we are not putting too much pressure on him, we have a habit of seeing someone have a breakout year and suddenly he should be playing at Real Madrid.”

Thompson, who scored a world record 13 goals in an international against Samoa, said the young Socceroos still had the strikepower to put the ball in the back of the net.

“Any group you go into at a World Cup is going to be tough — countries wouldn’t be there unless they are world class,” he said.

“I think we can score in all three pool games, whether we can go to the next round is another question.”

Thompson said the quality of the A-League had helped domestic players make the squad but said it still doesn’t rank with the 2006 group.

“The A-League is a very different competition to pre-Germany,” he said.

“It attracts international attention, teams can now match it with the powerhouse clubs in the Asian Champions league.

“But when you look at the World Cup squad that went to Germany we had a lot of players who were at top-level clubs in top leagues.

“We don’t have that depth and quality in this campaign.

“To be a force we still need players in those top-flight leagues — not first or second division but the Premier League playing week-in, week-out.”

Thompson is tipping a home country win in Brazil.

“In the past it has been Brazil, Argentina or Italy but it is such a world game now that this time around there are any number of countries with a legitimate chance,” he said.

“But Brazil, home country, will be thereabouts while you can’t forget the Italians — people write them off every time and yet they just seem to produce their best on the biggest stage.”