The man in the pub often likes to supply running commentary for whatever game happens to be on the big screen.

Well for this hack, viewing Australia’s World Cup clash with Ghana in a rammed Clapham Junction Walkabout on Saturday, the special comments came from none other than former England, Aston Villa, Chelsea and Leeds United player Tony Dorigo.

The 45-year-old was fairly easy to spot, well turned out in a smart blazer and – in a sea of beer-swilling Aussies – drinking a glass of Coke.

Flyers hurriedly dropped on tables trumpeted the Melbourne-born left-back’s appearance on the day – “Australia, England and Chelsea legend Tony Dorigo” – yet the man who played for Bobby Robson’s team in the 1990 third-place play-off against Italy could have been Toto Schillaci as far as my compatriots were concerned.

They could probably spot last year’s number one AFL draft pick Tom Scully at 100 paces, but someone who played more than 400 games in the English top flight between the mid-80s and 1997? Fat chance.

In fact, had Dorigo not chanced to sit at the one table occupied by a sports journalist from the local rag – and one of those seemingly rare Australians whose knowledge of the British game predates Roman Abramovich’s roubles – he may just have slipped out the front door unnoticed.

As it was, he seemed a bit bemused by the fact he’d been paid to turn up, tuck into a chicken burger and watch the game.

Presumably, he was to make himself available to chew the fat with any Socceroos fan who sought his wisdom on exactly why Pim Verbeek had started the Germany game with three holding midfielders and no strikers.

To his credit, he happily discussed that with me and much more – whether Argentina might win the tournament despite having Maradona as manager, the wisdom of my selecting the Dutch keeper in my fantasy team, and what the hell is wrong with Wayne Rooney?

He kept a cool head when Harry Kewell became the second Aussie player in as many games to be sent off after 30 minutes, and seemed as impressed as anyone about the fighting qualities Verbeek’s men showed in adversity to grind out what could prove an invaluable point.

Then, at the end, he shook my hand and told me to enjoy the rest of the World Cup before I left him sitting, anonymously, in a blissfully ignorant green and gold rabble.