Australia confirmed its status as footballing nation with a one-one(1-1) draw against World Champions France at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on a drenching Sunday evening, and have justified claims that a late penalty-award claim turned down would have provided the win.
Craig Moore opened the scoring just before the half-time break in a move honed as much on the training ground of Ibrox as in the Socceroos' camp. Stan Lazaridis swung in one of his few effective corners of the night and Tony Vidmar nodded on at the near-post.
Moore gratefully headed in from three metres under minimal challenge.
Harry Kewell could have extended the margin within a minute after he volleyed over from near the edge of the penalty-area.
Lazaridis was once again the provider, this time following a break down the left.
But France had deservedly drawn level within five minutes of the restart, in a series of precise exchanges which defied the conditions.
Robert Pires, Christophe Dugarry, and then Pires again worked the ball with bewildering speed through Australia's overwhelmed defence, for David Trezeguet to sweep home from close-in.
Australia's draw against the reigning World, European, and Confederation Champions was eloquent testimony to Australia's standing in the game.
While most of the soaked 53,173 crowd would have settled for an honourable draw at kick-off, all bemoaned referee Simon Micallef's turning down of strong claims for a last minute penalty when John Aloisi was bundled over in the area after a clumsy challenge by Mikael Silvestre.
Socceroo coach Frank Farina's post-match comments about the penalty claim were considerably more circumspect that those able to be understood by even the most basic lip-reader watching his reaction on television at the time.
"The referee was in the best position, he said it wasn't a penalty, so we can't argue with that," he said.
The only unsavoury aspect of the evening was an unfortunate challenge by Kevin Muscat - renowned as a tough tackler in the hot-house atmosphere of English First-Division football - who clattered into Dugarry directly in front of the Australian bench just before the hour.
Players of both sides, as well as the benches, were drawn into a debate about the merits of the tackle, which took Micallef and his fellow officials several minutes to settle.
That is was Muscat was not a surprise to the seasoned Socceroo follower - indeed, Muscat had seemed to fell several French players as the game proceeded attempting to ensure he held firm in defence.
Lemerre was pointed in his comments.
"Football isn't a game of skittles," he said through an interpreter.
"Dugarry will likely be out (through injury) for a minimum of three months. I bitterly regret that. It was an act of brutality."
Despite this, Lemerre wished Australia the best in its World Cup Qualification campaign.
"I wish Australia all the best for next week. The most important thing is to get through (to the World Cup Finals) and I hope that happens, particularly for my friend Frank Farina."
Muscat was withdrawn by Farina immediately after his clash with Dugarry, seemingly in a conciliatory gesture and to remove a potential for retaliation.
But Farina later explained to the after-match media-conference that there was another reason.
"Muscat has had a foot injury for the last five days, and at half-time it was starting to flare-up again, so it was an opportune moment to make the substitution."
Muscat was one of only two replacements made by Farina, despite the technical rules of the friendly allowing up to six outfielders as well as a goalkeeping exchange.
Whereas Lemerre took almost full advantage of this, exchanging five, Farina explained his decision was more with an eye on next week's World Cup Qualifier.
"We were playing against the best team in the world, and I was happy with the way things were going. I wanted to use (the game) as much as a guide to what we'd be doing in the next two games. In those, we'll be able to make only three changes, and I decided we'd go along in the same manner."
Captain Paul Okon was one who benefitted from this decision - remaining on the park for the whole game whilst his career at Middlesborough has stuttered.
"I feel OK, and I'm relieved to get through the ninety minutes. I started to cramp up near the end but I didn't say anything because I wanted to get through the (full game). I feel that after not (having done so recently) at that level, I needed to stay out there as long as possible."
Muscat's substitution allowed Farina to re-organise his formation, as striker Aloisi was brought on and Kewell switched to the left wing - his more usual position at Leeds United. Lazaridis dropped back into defence, and Vidmar was switched to Muscat's right-back position.
This formation seemed to be more effective although Farina was giving nothing away when asked his analysis of Kewell as a striker or as a winger.
"Very good," he said by way of full explanation, to much hilarity.