At The World Cup, football is life, and life's lessons are learned in the most cruel and dramatic of fashions.

The first of them is that just like it is in the real world beyond the white line, change is constant and indiscriminate.

Last Sunday, Germany disposed of Australia with such clinical efficiency it felt that it was just a formality before they claimed yet another World Cup trophy.

Less than a week later, they face a determined Serbian outfit (recovering from the damage done by their own impetuosity) and Germany found itself in the role of village drunk on a weekend bender.

Miroslav Klose is marched from the field after seeing red. Then there is the most unusual of failures. Germany misses a penalty. The last time that happened at a World Cup Finals other than in a shoot out was 1974, when Germany was split in two and Johnny Warren led the Socceroos against both German teams, East and West.

In the end, the Serbs triumph and add their name to the list of teams singing redemption songs as their theme tune. Greece's victory of Nigeria, Switzerland's defeat of Spain (their first loss in over three dozen Internationals!) all speak of how fortune at this Word Cup is nothing but a comet streaking cross the night sky, alluring and desirable, but forever out of reach.

Algeria holds England to a soul-destroying scoreless draw (at least for those who still believe in the Three Lion's mythology). Mexico make France's squad of millionaire's look like a team of paupers and the United States are denied a famous victory by the sort of refereeing decision that defies logic.

Change is indeed constant, and this means that the trauma of last Sunday night in Durban is as yesterday as a Hootie and The Blowfish album.

Suddenly a win against Ghana for The Socceroos provides an unlikely springboard into a showdown with Serbia with a rejuvenated Tim Cahill to return.

While we despaired at their amateurish incompetence in Durban, the belief has to be that this is a mission that can be accomplished. This has been the week of the underdog at the FIFA World Cup. A week where, just like South Africa itself, the dream for some teams refuses to die, just as it is for millions of South Africans who live here between the beauty and madness.

And that's what the Socceroos must harness today. There are no tomorrows for many of our players. There is no miracle that doesn't involve hard work, self belief and desire.

All the things the Socceroos story has been built on. That is the lesson that has hopefully been relearned this week.