16 November, 2005. Penalty shoot-out. John Aloisi waits patiently for the referee to blow his whistle and for him to attempt to take the Socceroos to the world cup for the first time since 1974.
I’m only a casual football fan, but I can’t watch. I go outside our back room onto the rear patio. I know the sound from surrounding homes and on the TV will tell if Aloisi is successful or not.
There is a massive roar of exultation from homes around the suburbs, you simply can’t miss it. Even my wife, who normally has no interest in sport, is screaming hysterically.
I rush back inside to see Aloisi doing his lap of honour, shirt off, being chased by his ecstatically overjoyed team mates.
I soak up the atmosphere of what has happened for the next several hours …
That was then. In 2006 Australians were probably just happy to get the monkey off their back. In 2010 there’s been an expectation that we should qualify, which we have. But how will we go now we’re there?
In the weekend papers, Jason Culina proclaims that the Socceroos are four years better, not four years older. It’s a nice line, and I desperately hope it’s true!
A picture of the 14 players who appeared against Japan in the opening world cup match of 2006 shows that a staggering 12 will battle on again in 2010. Only the afore-mentioned Aloisi and 2006 skipper Mark Viduka are missing.
I’m concerned the team lacks some good young players to “energise” the veterans. But if the Socceroos are looking for inspiration, they could do worse than the England rugby union team of 2003.
England won the rugby world cup of 2003 with an exceptionally old and experienced team. They played a game that suited them and prevailed. This is not to say the Socceroos will win the tournament if they apply similar logic.
But age is not necessarily a handicap. The collective experience of this Socceroos team is incalculable. There are criticisms that coach Pim Verbeek is too conservative with the game plan.
But he has cut the style of the team according to the cloth available. This is smart. We don’t have outstanding strikers for example. Grit and perseverance are among our national characteristics.
Helping the Socceroos is the fact this is one of the most open World Cups ever. There is no clear favourite. The hard grounds and altitude will bring some of the fancied European teams undone.
The World Cup tag of champion awaits a country with the self-belief and determination to take all before it.
If the Socceroos can make it to the second round, I would consider that “objective achieved”.
But whatever happens, I just hope the Socceroos can do justice to their talent, whatever that might be, and do Australia proud in the process.
I’m sure they’ll make us proud. Go the Socceroos!
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