Could June 26, 2010, be the biggest day in Australian sporting history? The Americas Cup win in 1983, Cathy Freeman’s run at the Olympics in 2000, and Kieren Perkins 1500 meter triumph in the pool at the Atlanta games, could soon be joined or even surpassed in Australian sporting lore.
The venue for the biggest event in the nation’s sporting history? Not the MCG or Flemington Raceway, but the Royal Bafokeng Stadium, on the outskirts of Rustenburg, South Africa.
Socceroos coach Pim Verbeek or any of his media savvy players will tell you they are only focused their group matches or even first-up opponent Germany. But as fans, we can contemplate what might lie ahead and salivate at the prospect of a meeting with the old enemy, England.
The equation is simple.
If England tops group C, as expected, and Australia can book a place in the round of 16 behind the Germans, the stage will be set.
Two nations a world apart, but eternally linked, will stop. Citizens will collectively draw breath and every Ashes match will pale in significance.
Both countries are mesmerized by the now constant stream of Ashes series, but a knockout game at the World Cup presents a once in a lifetime opportunity, a chance to strike a devastating blow to the pride of ‘the mother country’.
The English have made public their desire, above all else, to beat Australia: in particular, at the London 2012 games, but even that would not redeem a World Cup defeat in the game of their creation.
Last time the two sides met, in a 2003 ‘friendly’ international at London’s Upton Park, the Aussies triumphed 3-1, but the English shrugged off the result as meaningless.
There would be no escaping the result in South Africa.
Historically, that match saw the debut of England’s youngest ever international – Wayne Rooney, who would later turn villain in 2006 after being sent off as the English exited yet another World Cup.
He will again carry their hopes in 2010.
As a spectacle, the match-up would capture the country’s imagination like nothing else. As a conquest, it would be Australia’s greatest of all time.
Derby County FC
Guest
That is the best comment i have ever read on The Roar, classic.
AA
Guest
That would be a story!
BigAl
Guest
in Sweden - in Swedish !
Wavell Wakefield
Roar Rookie
I don't recall that either. Frankly, I'd be surprised were Australia to even get out of their group.
Colin N
Guest
"On the contrary, then-coach Sven Goran Erikson declared that he would never entertain the possibility of a “friendly” between the two nations again, as he was unaware of the depth of the rivalry between the two countries, and surmised England had way too much to lose from future encounters." Where did he say that?
Roger Rational
Guest
I'm sure Wayne Rooney will be soiling himself at the thought of facing Craig Moore...
Wato
Guest
Should such a dream encounter eventuate, I tend to agree that the result will be different to 7 years ago in Upton Park. Finally, Eng-er-land have sorted themselves out with a coach who is producing results and getting the team to work as one would imagine they should given the names on the team sheet. Such happy memories at Upton Park on that night seven years ago, hope I'm also there in the round of 16 for this match should the stars and planets align..... ;)
Stephen Smith
Guest
And that comment by Adolf (how apt) is why I hope this game won't happen. Every jingoistic nasty swipe going well beyond a sporting contest will be wheeled out by both countries. It would be awful.
Adolf
Guest
The Australians winning would be the final nail in the coffin for the British Empire. It would be completely over.
Al
Guest
Yep i'm sure some cricket game, some stupid aussie rules match, a horse race and some event with yachts would all be bigger than Aus vs Eng in the World Cup. Nice one!
Derby County FC
Guest
Apaway English supporters always say it's meaningless because we lost but yeah it cuts deep mate, trust me. "All the Socceroos have to do is take the match to penalties"...... it just seems too easy, what with your team of out of form and second tier players against a team with one of the best qualifying records out of Europe and for once with a coach that knows what he is doing. Good luck, you'll need it. ;-)
Australian Football
Roar Guru
No I can see it---Brett Holman coming on ten minutes remaining for Timmy Cahill and scoring a hat-trick to take the Australian National Football team into the quarters to meet Italy again. This time no more Mr Nice Guys..
apaway
Guest
A point of correction on this article - England have never shrugged off the February 2003 result as "meaningless". On the contrary, then-coach Sven Goran Erikson declared that he would never entertain the possibility of a "friendly" between the two nations again, as he was unaware of the depth of the rivalry between the two countries, and surmised England had way too much to lose from future encounters. And if the two nations do meet in the Round of 16, all the Socceroos have to do is take the match to penalties and they'll win.
Derby County FC
Guest
Ha ha. You've got to be kidding me. An ageing Socceroos team playing dull, unimaginative football won't even get out of the group.
Australian Football
Roar Guru
That would be the biggest sporting event in the history of Australian Sport. The Australian National Football Team defeating the English National Football Team in the knockout stages of the Football World Cup---the biggest sporting event on the planet. Finally the day that the Daily Telegraph and Melb Herald would have to print the story of Australia's biggest Football achievement---Front, Back, and Centre pages. ______ AF
Jay
Guest
Lets just see whether we can get passed the group stages. Anything else will be a bonus.
Mr. Big
Guest
Australia would win, England would choke. Even they realise that.
Tom
Guest
Geez. A lot has to happen between now and then. Getting second ahead of two of Germany, Serbia and Ghana would be immense enough in itself, without thinking about who we'd play in the next round.
jimbo
Roar Guru
Good news for Mark Schwarzer and the Socceroos http://www.foxsports.com.au/story/0,8659,27057246-23215,00.html We will meet England in the round of 16 - we will top our group and they will come second in theirs.
punter
Guest
What a thought!!! Australia v England in the Football WC in 2010, now that would be worth flying over to Sth Africa for this match alone.