By Benjamin Conkey
March 19th 2009 @ 1:57am
My favourite sporting anthems
I never used to like our national anthem. There was always something so bland about it, even when the best singers tried to put a unique rendition together.
But when the Australian national anthem was belted out via Sydney’s Olympic stadium PA in November, 2005, 80,000 fans changed my opinion of Advance Australia Fair.
I’d never heard it sung so passionately at such a booming level.
For the first time, the anthem made the hairs on the back of my neck stand to attention. And that was just from watching the Australia-Uruguay World Cup qualifier on television.
It once again showcased the power of sport to change my opinion about a usually monotonous song and to implant a sense of nationalistic pride.
In saying that, I realise it’s not the best anthem. It doesn’t seem to make grown men cry, like the Italian anthem, and it doesn’t have the historical significance or cultural power of South Africa and New Zealand’s respective gems.
Outside national anthems, there are the specific sporting anthems and theme songs.
I love Rugby’s ‘World in Union’ piece made for the 1991 World Cup, and which has been used ever since. It’s an inspiring song and really gets you in the mood to watch the game they play in heaven.
Then there’s the Champions League theme in football, a classical piece that they play before every fixture.
The crescendo is spectacular.
And we can’t forget that April is fast approaching, which means only one thing to me – golf, specifically The Masters at the Augusta course in Georgia.
The Masters is the only golfing major played at the same course every year, which means there is history everywhere you turn.
As a tribute to the most famous golf course in the world, Dave Loggins wrote the song ‘Augusta’.
The lyrics are full of trivia, like “Sarazan’s double-eagle, at the 15th in 35″, and the American TV networks love to use it because of the delicate piano arrangement that goes perfectly in the background when the scoreboard is on screen.
But it’s not all about inspirational songs.
In the seventies you had the fun of “C’mon Aussie C’mon” for cricket, which captured the era perfectly.
It was an advertising jingle for World Series cricket using the names of all the key players at the time. It was a call to arms for fans to get out and support the heroes of Aussie cricket.
Unfortunately Shannon Noll tried his hand at a modern cover. It was terrible, but at least the money raised went to charity.
Moving on to specific club songs, and for mine you can’t go past Liverpool’s ‘You’ll never walk alone.’
Okay, it’s not strictly Liverpool’s song. It comes from the 1945 musical ‘Carousal’ by Rogers and Hammerstein, and has been covered by many artists since, including Elvis, Johnny Cash, Frank Sinatra and Gerry and the Pacemakers.
However, it’s Liverpool’s raw Kop version at every home game that I like best. It’s one of the many reasons why I want to go to Anfield.
Manchester United tried to claim they started singing it first. If this is true, why didn’t they keep singing it? What idiots for giving it up.
Of course, there are also those general sporting songs.
There are so many, but I’ll throw a few out there to get us started: We are the champions – Queen; We Will Rock You – Queen; Holy Grail – Hunters and Collectors; Ole Ole (mainly a soccer song but also used in other sports), and Eye of The Tiger – Survivor.
What songs get the rest of you Roarers in the sporting mood?
Like this content? Buzz it up!
Free Email updates:
Our daily emails are only sent if there is content for the sport or that author. You can subscribe to multiple daily emails; or get the daily Roar email with all our content in it. We value privacy. More...
(59)
were we trying to bully union to death when they were boring people to death ( ok stop now ifs sokka’s so boring why is it so...
Tommy Smith said | March 19th 2009 @ 2:57am | Report comment
I don’t know what its called, but the Sevilla anthem in football is excellent.
Its also hard to beat the Irish hymns (Fields of Athenry, Let the People Sing, etc.) blasting out of Celtic Park in Glasgow on a European night.
dasilva said | March 19th 2009 @ 7:02am | Report comment
Harry Kewell to the theme of daddy cool always seem amusing.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xV0SLIcbEhc
Redb said | March 19th 2009 @ 7:14am | Report comment
Up there Cazaly in AFL.
Redb
Jamie said | March 19th 2009 @ 7:58am | Report comment
awe…i hate saying it but the kiwi song is awesome. The Welsh seem to like theirs too
Sam said | March 19th 2009 @ 7:58am | Report comment
Hearing the Australian anthem at the 2006 World Cup was amazing to hear. Especially when sung by the Green and Gold army. The players grow an extra leg just by the support of the crowd alone. Men at Work’s ‘Down Under’ is one I’m kind of sick off, although it is a kinky type of Aussie song.
I think ‘I Still Call Australia Home’ is a great one which would be relevant for our Socceroos with most of them living abroad. It is the kind of song we all love to hear coming back to Australia from an overseas trip. Although saying that ‘You’ll Never Walk Alone’ would have to be the classic.
Calexico said | March 19th 2009 @ 8:07am | Report comment
It always makes me laugh seeing people singing ‘Down Under’ as though it were some kind of patriotic anthem – the first line is about smoking pot in a combi van!
Hoy said | March 19th 2009 @ 8:20am | Report comment
I don’t know if you can beat the Flower of Scotland for passion when they play England. There is a great clip below of the song in 1990.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XA6cnXFiE6I
For ‘official’ national anthems, the Kiwi one is great, along with the Frenchies for getting the blood up. I think ours lacks a little oomph at time, and it is certainly not helped along by Waltzing Matilda.
Michael C said | March 19th 2009 @ 8:23am | Report comment
I so hate the Adelaide Crows theme song
“We’re the pride of South Aus-tra-li-ya, we’re the mighty Adelaide Crows……”,
I learned to hate it after the ‘98 GF. Oh how I hate that song……
A lot of people regard the Richmond song the best.
http://bigpondvideo.com/afl/29058
Tom said | March 19th 2009 @ 8:27am | Report comment
Richmond club song ‘Tigerland’ is a great one. Its a shame most of the Richmond fans only seem to know three words of it.
True Tah said | March 19th 2009 @ 8:29am | Report comment
World in Union – Ladysmith Black Mambazo 1995
Jamie said | March 19th 2009 @ 8:30am | Report comment
The Tigers song isnt bad. A bigger shame is you only get to sing it twice a year and never in September. I also despise the Crows theme song (being a North Melb supporter who they ran over the top off in that GF).
Pippinu said | March 19th 2009 @ 8:39am | Report comment
heh, heh – very true re the Tiges song (kids love it)
Most of the older AFL club songs are so daggy that you just gotta love them!
el_capitan said | March 19th 2009 @ 8:50am | Report comment
Can’t go past “Irelands Call”, esp when the Irish are at home to play the English in Rugby. Very stirring, and so full of pride and passion.
Although not an anthem, the 2003 World Cup match between the All Blacks and Tonga, was stirring. Seeing both teams approach each other doing the war dances, brilliant stuff.
Michael C said | March 19th 2009 @ 9:10am | Report comment
It was sad when the North Melbourne board who tried to market the club as the generic “Kangaroos” rather than “North MElbourne”, decided in their wisdom to replace “North Melbourne” from the theme song with “The Kangas”
“Good old Kangas, they’re champions you’ll agree, the Kangas are the team….”, sounds so hollow compared to “Good old NOrth Melbourne, they’re champions you’ll agree, North Melbourne is the team that plays to win for you and me”
For the Swans and Brisbane, re birthing the old South Melb and Fitzroy songs I reckon have been good moves,
Shocks said | March 19th 2009 @ 9:21am | Report comment
Have to agree with el_capitan that “Ireland’s Call” is right up there but for my money nothing can top watching any French national team before a game shedding a tear passionately singing “La Marseillaise”. Especially if it’s during a world cup and there about to play a certain team from the south.
Jets said | March 19th 2009 @ 10:01am | Report comment
New Order “World in motion” always gives me a good laugh
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4uFWGALVF0Y
Spiro Zavos said | March 19th 2009 @ 10:21am | Report comment
For a sports moment to put a shiver down your spine you can’t beat ‘Land of my Fathers,’ the Welsh national anthem sung before a Test match at Cardiff.
There is the sight of the resplendent band with the leader pumping his mace and the massed voices in the crowd, mostly men, singing their hearts out in perfect harmony and timing. It’s a cliche but a good one, that Wales always wins the singing and sometimes the game.
This wonderful, moving tradition started in 1905 as a counter to another other great rugby tradition, the All Blacks haka.
Before the Wales-New Zealand Test on that tour the All Blacks did their haka.
It was a rivetting and magical moment. In the seconds of silence at the end of the haka, a Welsh player started singing the national anthem, something that had never been done before. A few notes in and he was joined by some of his fellow players. Then as their voices faintly echoed around the famous old ground Cardiff Arms Park, more and more members of the crowd joined in.
But the time the singing had got to the heartfelt call of ‘Wales! Wales!’ the entire crowd had joined in and the deep, resonant, soaring voices of 40,000 spectators resounded around the ground and into the folklore of rugby.
Jamie said | March 19th 2009 @ 10:26am | Report comment
Great stuff Spiro…but who won that game?
Redb said | March 19th 2009 @ 10:32am | Report comment
Would have to back Hoy up here, ‘Flower of Scotland’ is a stirring battle theme especially if they were playing the English.
Redb
The Link said | March 19th 2009 @ 10:51am | Report comment
Green Machine – Canberra Raiders
No need for harmony or tune, so much so that I can picture Big Mal singing the words himself
eric said | March 19th 2009 @ 11:30am | Report comment
Ya canna beat Flower of Scotland. Watching the clip brought tears to my eyes, but I have also been in the old Arms Park, at Cardiff when they sang Land of Our Fathers. Arthur Summons tells a great yarn about running onto Arms Park for a rugby Test, feeling ten foot tall and invincible…..until they sang.
AussieGolfer said | March 19th 2009 @ 1:08pm | Report comment
And don’t they love to show the scoreboard in the Masters coverage! More golf, less scoreboard and less piano please.
ONSIDE said | March 19th 2009 @ 5:23pm | Report comment
It has always amused me that AFL club theme songs, the great AUSTRALIAN game
all come from the UK or the USA. Unless we visit Brisbane where its The Marseillaise,
the tune of the FRENCH national anthem.
The complete downer in my book is Watzing Matilda.I cringe every time the ARU try to
arc up the crowd with this dreadful dirge.But no ,it gets worse.The Australian Rugby
theme song in South Africa 1995 was ,RUN WALLABY RUN. It must have penned by
outpatients. There we were listening to the crowd sing FLOWER OF SCOTLAND,and
LAND OF MY FATHERS, along with other uplifting emotional national rugby anthems,
and the Aussies had to sing RUN WALLABY RUN.
Harry said | March 19th 2009 @ 5:37pm | Report comment
The kiwi anthem good? You must be joking. That dirge is worse than our one.
Agree with Spiro, the Welsh anthem is the best, but the French and Scottish ones also rate highly (as an aside, I always remeber my 16 year old neighbour saying to me at the RWC 03 – perfectly seriously – that the French national anthem had been pinched from the Brisbane Lions team song!).
The South African one is good as well. Whatever one feels about the “old” tune (the second half of the current one after the Zulu tune) it leaves our one well behind.
A surprisingly disappointing one is the Italian antional anthem.
Agree most of the AFL ones are so corny they are actually quite endearing. Although the Adelaide Crows and Port Adelaide eforts are just plain awful. Likewise Waltzin matilda before the rugby – I Hate it.
Can remember watching in the UK the Liverpool Kop singing “You’ll never walk alone” in th first match after the 89 Hillsborough disaster – that did bring a lump to the throat.
Jets nothing wrong with “World in Motion”. Poms should have won that world cup by the way …
Phil said | March 19th 2009 @ 6:12pm | Report comment
From what i read Waltzing Matilda was used in the Rugby as a response to the All blacks Haka.
So on one hand we have a stirring sight of men doing a war cry and the other 70,000 people sing a poem about a guy who stole sheep……..
Anyway its not really an aussie thing to chant or sing at games, the abysmal Aussie Aussie Aussie Oi Oi Oi is downright embarrassing. The Welsh and poms do it much better.
ONSIDE said | March 19th 2009 @ 6:46pm | Report comment
Phil
stole sheep; before…… committing suicide.
Maybe the Wallabies should be sponsored by an ethical drug manufacturer that sells anti depressants
DaniE said | March 19th 2009 @ 6:46pm | Report comment
Heaps of good songs out there! Ladysmith Black Mambazo’s World in Union is easily the best version of that song, they should keep it as that rather than update it for forthcoming world cups (can be used interchangeably with the 1991 orchestral version though). Rugby’s lucky in that so many of the national anthems are fantastic – those of the four Home Unions, the French side, the Argentinian anthem, and Italian, South African and the Pacific nations. Either they are totally rousing or very lyrical. Then you can’t go past Bread of Heaven, Swing Low Sweet Chariot as great crowd songs.
Unfortunately there are also some majorly crap sporting songs… there was the schmaltzy Waltzing Matilda version of the 1995 Rugby World Cup “and they sang, as they watched, as they waited for the battle cry… you’ll come a Waltzing Matilda with me”, the completely embarrassing ‘Run Wallaby Run’ in the same album “we’ve won this cup we ain’t giving it up!” and of course, the ‘Drums of Ballymore’ played before the 2nd Australia v South Africa test match in 1993 “see the drums… hear them roar… there is no ooother… Ballymore”!
WorkingClassRugger said | March 19th 2009 @ 6:48pm | Report comment
May be bias but “Ireland’s Call and “World in Union” always get my hair on the back of my head standing. Powerful and inspirational.
WorkingClassRugger said | March 19th 2009 @ 6:50pm | Report comment
Anyone remenber the Portugese anthemn from the 2007 RWC, couldn’t understand a singe word of it, but the emotion in it when the players sang it was intense.
Dublin Dave said | March 19th 2009 @ 7:32pm | Report comment
Can’t believe there’s people here who actually LIKE Ireland’s Call. But then, I’ve never understood why people buy Madonna records either.
I have got to agree (for once
) with Spiro. The Welsh National anthem is a wonderful piece of music. Even if you don’t understand a word, or are supporting the visiting team I would humbly suggest that attending an international in Cardiff is something any rugby lover or indeed devotee of choral music, should attempt to do once before they die. If only for the anthem.
TV doesn’t do it justice. Especially if they continue with the tawdry format imported from the US of getting a solo singer, to do the honours before a game. Even though the Welsh get somebody who can sing, usually Kathryn Jenkins, to perform as opposed to the US who will drag out whatever talentless pop star is current flavour of the month (eg Madonna), the fact that the TV monitors concentrate on the soloist rather than the thousands singing away in the crowd doesn’t give a fair reflection of what the song should sound like.
A good anthem like the Welsh is MADE to be sung by a crowd. Listening to tens of thousands of people putting their hearts and souls into such a wonderful song is spine tingling stuff. Gotta be there to hear it though.
Honourable mentions for great anthems must go to La Marseillaise and N’Kosi Sikelele Africa. Whatever about realtions to sporting events, both get magnificent treatment in the movies. The funeral scene in Richard Attenborough’s Cry Freedom where the throng sing N’Kosi Sikelele Africa is a marvellous set piece. But my favourite is in one of the truly great movies Casablanca where the resistance leader in Rick’s Cafe orders the band to drown out the singing of the German officers by playing La Marseillaise. And everybody joins in. Fantastic.
Italy’s Inno de Mamellii is good too. Regrettably, having awful national anthems is something that most English speaking countries, in my view, have in common. I don’t share the consensus view of Flower of Scotland or God Defend New Zealand. And as for the US, England, Australia and even Ireland, I will maintain a diploomatic silence.
Benjamin Conkey said | March 19th 2009 @ 8:02pm | Report comment
Great responses guys. It must be something about the British accent because even when they just chant “Barmy Army” in cricket over and over it sounds good!
I must say I also love when TV networks use soundtrack music to promote a sporting event. State of Origin ran with the Gladiator campaign when it came out. The Gladiator soundtrack just goes perfectly with any sporting action, especially the song ‘Now we are free.’
There’s also been some good Olympic music over the years.
Aussie Golfer..Yeah they do like showing the scoreboard a bit too much. And what’s the go with only showing three hours of golf? That always annoys me.
I don’t think anyone’s mentioned GLORY, GLORY TO SOUTH SYDNEY? The Rabbitohs faithful belted that out last weekend. Good song from the most passionate fans in rugby league.
ONSIDE said | March 19th 2009 @ 8:12pm | Report comment
Benjamin,
Here is one that could be, in fact should be , but isnt.
The BRITISH LIONS do not have a rugby anthem.
DANNY BOY
Maybe The Wallabies could nick it. If England can utilise a negro spiritual
us Aussies could give DANNY BOY a home. (ofcourse it would work)
Brett McKay said | March 19th 2009 @ 8:19pm | Report comment
great piece Conks, as usual, and good discussion resulting. I’m glad you mentioned the Barmy Army – I had the pleasure of chatting to few of the Army over a plastic schooner of mid-strength on the SCG Hill a few years back, and despite being the enemy, and having ridiculously sunburt skin, they were top blokes and genuine cricket lovers. And then they started chanting, while I was standing in the middle of them!! That was cool…
The rugby crowds at Murrayfield and Cardiff Arms Park (despite there being a bloody big stadium on the site, it’s still the Arms Park) get the vote for me. Their doing something right if the hairs on the back of my neck stand up, while sitting on the couch, under a blanket, at 2am in Australia!!
And someone mentioned God Defend New Zealand before; I don’t mind admitting that I have to consciously stop myself mouthing the words!! I guess I’ve got to know it a fair bit since the Tri-Nations started..
matta said | March 19th 2009 @ 8:20pm | Report comment
Agree with Hoy and co that Flower of Scotalnd is top notch. The words actually mean something – I miss Scotland being good at stuff.
Swing low sweet Chariot is and African slave song – anyone else find it ironic the English use it?
DaniE said | March 19th 2009 @ 8:22pm | Report comment
Dublin Dave, I totally agree with your sentiments re anthems needing to be about the crowd, and not about the soloist. It ups the passion a hundredfold! I have no more tragic memory than seeing the pre-Idol pop group Bardot screwing up the Australian national anthem years ago *cries*
DaniE said | March 19th 2009 @ 8:24pm | Report comment
Am I the only one here who learns and memories the songs phonetically so that I can sing along with them during the games? It’s bloody hard trying to read Welsh let me tell you!
matta said | March 19th 2009 @ 8:27pm | Report comment
DaniE – the AFL finals always seem the be at the same time as Australian Idol and the kids always turn up to annoy eveyone who has to sit through them singing something poorly.
ONSIDE said | March 19th 2009 @ 8:39pm | Report comment
Dani E
Have you ever tried to order two serves of phonetical Welsh Rarebit in Cardiff
ONSIDE said | March 19th 2009 @ 8:45pm | Report comment
Dani E
what do you call an Englishman after a Wales v England six nations game
WAITER
Midfielder said | March 19th 2009 @ 10:56pm | Report comment
Ben
Best match I have been to was the 2005 WCQ I was one of the 80, 000 that sung that night to this day the my best sporting moment ever.
On club songs as you said the Kop are hard to beat, … IMO the best You will never Walk Alone ever .. enjoy.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0nfFi-_Hb2A
Benjamin Conkey said | March 19th 2009 @ 11:27pm | Report comment
Midfielder, I was waiting for someone to say ‘I was there.’ Definitely something you can tell the grandkids. I wish I had a time machine so I could go back and buy a ticket. Were you one of those people who captured Aloisi’s penalty on a mobile phone? There’s a fair few on Youtube. On most of them you can’t see anything..but the sound of the crowd says it all.
Thanks for the link..I did enjoy it. Have you heard the song ‘Fearless’ by Pink Floyd..they cleverly moulded the Kop singing You’ll Never Walk Alone in the background..then at the end of the song it’s just the roar of LIVERPOOL. Brilliant!
Derryn said | March 20th 2009 @ 9:03am | Report comment
Flower of Scotland would be my favourite. You’ll never walk alone is also very stirring.
A favourite at Socceroos games recently has been I Am Australian – We are one etc…….I am, you are, we are Australian
Goes down a treat
Midfielder said | March 20th 2009 @ 1:37pm | Report comment
Ben
AHhhhhhhh that night six mates went.
How can I explain… Homebush is and all seat stadium no one sat down, everyone stood all match… we screamed we booed we bled together … Kool was magic that night and I was so impressed with his touch, guil, …. but to the match as one the crowd every person independent of each other to cheer Australia home.
Between me and me five mates we all in our early 50’s having played together for yonks …. we knew as did the crows all the football chants all the hand movenment …….. very clever JON in offering the football players the first pick of the tickets because you got a real football crowd not a cricket crowd come along to watch clap and cheer good play.
After the match the fire works, the songs no one would leave 45 mins latter they threaten to turn off the lights told us the trains would all go as would the buses still we stayed no one wanting to leave. We six when to the pub at about 1:00 where we drank and sung with the rest in the pub till about 7:00. Then went to work still in our Socceroos shirts and still pissed I guess as well …. everyone forgave us evern a client who came in at 9:00 to find me still singing …
Ben unles you where there and suffered the pain it is near impossible to describe that night..
el_capitan said | March 20th 2009 @ 1:42pm | Report comment
Don’t forget Angry Anderson’s “Bound for Glory” for the AFL 91 GF. Classic occer music!
On a serious note though, hearing the crowd get into the music, is what makes Wales special.
jimbo said | March 20th 2009 @ 1:49pm | Report comment
Mid,
I was there too up in the Western Grandstand about half way.
The other things I remember were not being able to hear the Uruguayan national Anthem because of the Aussie cheering and perfect strangers running around hugging and kissing other perfect starngers when the penalty went in and the atmospheric mass sigh of releif that we finally qualified again.
Ben,
Love Pink Floyd, Love Fearless – the FFA should get someone to do something similar for the A-League ads.
Redb said | March 20th 2009 @ 2:05pm | Report comment
el_capitan,
and in the Batmobile limo no less.
Redb
Midfielder said | March 20th 2009 @ 2:11pm | Report comment
Jimbo
Ya that too after the match was one great hug and kiss…. my wife was with me and this young lady behind me early 20’s grabbed me gave me a hug hug and a huge kiss AHHHHHHH and the booing during the Uruguayan national Anthem … Kool said it was the best home crowd he has ever played before in fact I think they all the players that night have said the same…
I will put up a youtube latter of the night..
Also love PF and love fearless ….
As an aside I was in a clients car the next afternoon still well over the limit I think and he had it on 2UE, and Steve Price who had recently arrived from Melbourne and a hater of football… he was at the match and gave one of the best intro’s to his show and said he has never been to anything in sport or in anything else that came close to the atmospgeric that night …. He said he actually understood what football was about and althrough he was a Richmond Supporter nothing came close to a close international in a meaning match… just added to the feeling..
Tifosi FC said | March 20th 2009 @ 2:40pm | Report comment
Midfielder , i was also at the game, behind the goals where the penalty shootout was being taken to the left slightly. truly a wonderful evening for australian sport.
Recently i found a you tube clip of the radio commentary of the game by peter wilkins and andy harper. The commentary is put with the tv images. I think Peter Wilkins is fantastic in it and his last words best summed up that evening !!! Absolute delirium indeed!!!!
Check it out at :
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xPEJYRXJkGA&feature=PlayList&p=B415DE78B3A438B4&playnext=1&playnext_from=PL&index=34
dasilva said | March 20th 2009 @ 3:16pm | Report comment
Fearless is great
Never walk alone is great
Together…. not so great. Didn’t gel very well.
Kazama said | March 20th 2009 @ 3:25pm | Report comment
I too was in attendance that night – in the stand, goal and penalties end, slightly off to the right. Best night of my life so far by a mile and I’d relieve it every day if I could. Atmosphere was incredible, especially during the shootout. I couldn’t hear the Uruguayan anthem at all but everyone – myself included, and I never sing it – belted out our anthem like it was a war cry. I remember I was so nervous I couldn’t stop shaking, and I just kept cheering and shouting and singing as much as I could to try to kill the nerves. My voice was pretty hoarse when we got to the penalties. Schwarzer saves and you started to believe it was going to be our night. Viduka missed and everyone’s heads dropped as they thought ‘not again.’ Schwarzer saves again and you could feel that the curse was about to end. Aloisi scored and I went nuts like everyone else – sadly there were no 20 year old girls near me. My phone kept beeping until about an hour after the game as possibly every person I’ve ever met sent me an SMS. I will never, ever forget that night.
Cheers Tifosi FC, that clip is awesome!
Midfielder said | March 20th 2009 @ 5:24pm | Report comment
I was in line with the corner flag in the north west end of the ground.
The best youtube I know of the night is Reverse the Curse” aside from naming JW as captain of the 74 side he gets it about right. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EUIP6STNxSA
The Peter Wilkins I had heard on before but never with the goals… good stuff
Sam said | March 20th 2009 @ 5:31pm | Report comment
Joe FC
I’ve always liked Peter Wilkins as a radio commentator in any sport. For me ABC radio do it the best. Watching that clip, it is the kind of stuff that can make a grown man cry. I think it’s about as good as it gets. Apparently Guus used highlights of the game to motivate his Russian side in the 2008 Euros. Guus seems like a man of steel, but I’m sure even that game and the emotion of it, would be etched in his memory for life.
Tifosi FC said | March 20th 2009 @ 6:00pm | Report comment
Midfielder, thx for the vid link. great video, i think the failures of past attempts is what made this so special.
Peter Wilkins saying “Yes Oh yes Ive never seen such unbridled emotion from an Australian crowd. Absolute Delirium!!
For me this is pure gold as Wilkins has seen his fair share of sporting highlights and thinks this tops them all!!
Midfielder said | March 20th 2009 @ 6:01pm | Report comment
Tifosi
Have to agree about Wilko
dasilva said | March 20th 2009 @ 6:08pm | Report comment
The only thing that can top the Uruguay match is if the World Cup 2018 is held in Australia. Australia play England in the Final and it’s a penalty shootout
ren said | November 13th 2009 @ 1:45am | Report comment
screw penalties. go for the jugular and romp home 5-0 another whitewash over the poms!
roddster said | April 24th 2009 @ 12:26pm | Report comment
Yeah Flower of Scotland is hard to top. Especially at Murrayfield with the bagpipes. Unreal.
Footbal Person said | February 4th 2010 @ 6:36pm | Report comment
Seven Nation Army ?
In all serriousness Grande Roma
Jonathan said | March 11th 2010 @ 5:19pm (2 weeks ago) | Report comment
A song that would be brilliant for Australian soccer fans to sing would have to be one of the greatest Australian songs ever written – Wide Open Road by the Triffids.
The sky was big and empty
My chest filled to exploooooooooode!!!!
I yelled my insides out at the sun
At the wide open road
it’s a wide open road, it’s a wide open road,
Then it’s a wide open road
It’s a wide open road
And now you can go any place
that you ever wanted to gooooooooooooooo!!!!
Magic, and uniquely Aussie.