What is it with Australian goalkeepers and the Champions League? This country has produced few players who have taken part in the biggest club game in the world, but it seems that the best route for Australians – Harry Kewell aside – might be to stay between the sticks.

Frank Juric was on the bench in the 2002 final when his club, Bayer Leverkusen, came up against Real Madrid in the play-off in Glasgow.

Mitchell Langerak playing for Dortmund. Credit:Sandra Montanez

Juric, a former Melbourne Knights and Socceroo goalkeeper who spent the bulk of his career in the Bundesliga (German football league), stayed on the pine that day too as the German side went down to the Zinedine Zidane-inspired Spaniards 2-1.

And former Sydney United net-minder Zeljko Kalac was on the pine in 2007 when AC Milan defeated Liverpool 2-1 in Athens.