Four years ago, Scott Chipperfield was sure his international career was over.
Today, he is preparing to help Australia qualify for the World Cup for the second time.
During the week, Chipperfield was named in Australia's 22-man squad for the crunch qualifier against Uzbekistan next month. Victory at ANZ Stadium would all but ensure the Socceroos' progress to next year's World Cup finals in South Africa.
The squad, which includes fellow Illawarra products Luke Wilkshire and Mile Sterjovski, will assemble in Sydney on Wednesday.
Chipperfield was a vital member of Guus Hiddink's team as Australia reached the final 16 in 2006. Three years on, he has a mortgage on the left-back position under another Dutchman, Pim Verbeek.
The Bellambi junior doubted he would be part of the national set-up for Australia's 2010 World Cup tilt after the Socceroos were eliminated in Germany.
"Four years ago I was going to retire from the national team," Chipperfield said from his Swiss base just before the squad for the upcoming qualifier was named.
Verbeek, who was appointed Socceroos coach in December 2007, has been a staunch supporter of the 33-year-old, who missed the 2007 Asian Cup due to personal commitments and all but one game of the first stage of Australia's 2010 World Cup campaign with injury.
"Since Pim has taken over he has been very supportive of me," Chipperfield said.
"I was out injured for a long time when he first got the job, but he was in regular contact with me, seeing how I was doing and saying he wanted me to keep playing with the national team."
The former Wollongong Wolves spearhead repaid Verbeek's faith by scoring the winner in Australia's 1-0 away triumph over the Uzbeks in September last year, Chipperfield's first full international since October 2006.
He played in Australia's subsequent 4-0 romp against Qatar, but missed a November qualifier against Bahrain through injury.
The foot ailment which sidelined Chipperfield for Australia's Manama victory kept him off the Park until last month's scoreless draw against Japan.
"The Japan game was very satisfying for me as I had been out injured and hadn't played a game for eight weeks," he said.
"Even at 33 I still think I have a lot to offer the team. I scored the winner against Uzbekistan away. Another goal in Sydney would be great."
With two teams from each Asian qualifying pool to go straight to South Africa and the Socceroos leading Group A, Chipperfield believes Australia are poised to claim just their third World Cup finals berth.
"Anything can happen in football, but from the position we are in we should qualify," he said.
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