It has just ticked over a year since our previous two-match series against our trans-Tasman rivals.
Yes, September 2022. It is fair to say a lot has happened since then.
The Subway Socceroos made history, enjoying its most successful FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022™ campaign, collecting six points. A homecoming against Ecuador in March. The rediscovery of Soccer Ashes trophy in April after it went missing for almost 70 years. Another match against Argentina... only this time they were World Champions. More debutants. And most recently a game in Dallas against CONCACAF powerhouse and 12th ranked Mexico.
But the two nations meet again in just a few weeks' time at Brentford's Gtech Community Stadium with something other than bragging rights on the line.
Indeed, the pair will battle it out for the newly found Soccer Ashes - in the 100th year anniversary of its creation.
So lets revisit those two clashes in Brisbane and Auckland respectively which commemorated the Centenary celebrations in 2022, marking 100 years since Australia’s men’s national football team – now known as the Socceroos – played their ever first ‘A’ international match, which was against New Zealand in Dunedin.
1-0 win at Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane
The match would prove the first hit-out since Australia's dramatic FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022™ intercontinental playoff penalty shootout win against Peru and final match on home soil before the major tournament in November.
Awer Mabil's strike from distance was enough to get the Subway Socceroos over the line in a tightly-fought contest.
2-0 win at Eden Park, Auckland
It was a short turnaround as the Aussies would travel across the 'ditch and that was reflective of Graham Arnold's team selection making 11 changes from the match three days earlier and handing out a plethora of caps.
Harrison Delbridge started on debut while Ryan Strain, Cameron Devlin and Jason Cummings, Garang Kuol and Keanu Baccus all received their maiden Socceroos caps off the bench. For Kuol, he became the sixth-youngest Australian to feature in an Australia 'A' match and youngest since Harry Kewell in 1996.
Mitch Duke opened the scoring in the scoring in the second-half before Cummings marked his debut with a successfully converted penalty as an improved second-half display inspired Australia to a 2-0 victory.
Subway Socceroos v New Zealand All Whites - International Friendly
Tuesday, 17 October
Gtech Community Stadium, Brentford, London UK
Kick-off: 7.45pm local / 5.45am AEDT (Wednesday, 18 October)
Tickets: Purchase Here