You can’t escape it can you? It’s a testament to the significance of Friday’s vote on who will host the 2022 World Cup that everywhere you look, it’s being discussed.
Even those who don’t normally write about the world game, have been giving their two cents worth over the last few days.
For me the anticipation started well over a week ago when conversations with others within the Australian football community started to regularly descend into a dissection of the bidding process and Australia’s chances. Since then, things have only gathered momentum.
In the early hours of yesterday morning as I drove home from a long overnight shift covering European football at SBS’ Sydney studios, I couldn’t stop thinking about what I will find myself going through after the final vote is cast by the FIFA executive committee.
It’s maddening, and for me, the next few days probably can’t go fast enough.
My concern is not because I think Australia can’t win or that failure will doom the game in this country, but because I see Friday’s decision as one of the most important moments thus far in the history of Australian football (the Crawford report remains the pinnacle as it is the catalyst for all that has come after it).
From my perspective it’s quite simple. The game in Australia will take one of two distinct paths once 12 men in Zurich finally manage to cast the same vote later this week.
If Australia is awarded the rights to host the 2022 World Cup, a huge boost to the game’s profile in this country will come along with it.
It won’t all be easy sailing for Football Federation Australia though and no matter what the final decision, there is still so much work left to be done at all levels of the game.
It’s a challenge that won’t be helped by an increase in hostilities between the different sporting codes as the fight for greater market share heats up.
Then we come to the other path Australia could take. The one that will leave a sinking feeling in the pits of countless stomachs across the country.
Part of the reason I’m so anxious about this decision is because, like everyone else in the football community, it will directly affect me, the game I’ve dedicated myself to and my career.
Of course football will go on in Australia, but I see a “football recession” in the game’s future if things don’t pan out in Zurich.
Like pruning a tree, cutting back some sections of the game may be necessary to help it gradually grow in the future and the football media will be hit hard.
While I’ll try to put this out of my mind, I suspect the next few days will be spent ruminating on the permutations of this possible outcome.
So while I could tell you the whispers I’ve heard about who’s vote is going where, or make a bold predictions about what I think will happen in Zurich on Friday, this is my reality.
Like many others, a large part of my mind will be wondering what the future holds for me as the 22 (or now possibly 23) executive committee members cast their votes.
Meanwhile there are already comforting sounds coming out of the Australian camp that plans are being formed for both eventualities.
News Limited writer David Davutovic tweeted that FFA chief executive Frank Lowy had told him, “Life will go on, the development of football in Australia will go on… With the bid in our pocket it would be a lot better.”
It’s pragmatic and honest from Lowy and while over the last few years I’ve had many doubts and concerns over the bid, I’m putting all that aside for the rest of this week.
My fingers are crossed, my hopes are high and I’m preparing myself for the worse.
But that’s ok.
After having sat through Iran ‘97, watched corrupt football administrators exploit the game throughout the 90s and still been able to enjoy the successes that have followed, I know we’ll be all right either way.
In the end Friday’s vote will be another part of the rich fabric of Australian football’s history. I just might be a little depressed for a few days after is all.
djfrobinson
Guest
Hay Gavin I'm a kiwi as well and a die hard union supporter. I know that NZ will do what it can to assist in the Australian bid, assuming it can do anything at all I'm not sure how these votes work with FIFA so I'm not sure if NZ even gets to vote. I to was proud of our boys in the football world cup they must have felt like All Blacks returning home after their success.
MVDave
Guest
Wrong wookie Almost half a million by mid June there for the World Cup. Still 3 weeks to go. http://www.africagoodnews.com/brand-africa/2010-fifa-world-cup/1823-world-cup-visitors-flock-to-south-africa.html
Koops
Roar Rookie
Ben said yet instead of assimilating into English culture by following the indigenous English game and their local club, they bring with them their weird, foreign sport. Considering your constant barrage of negative posts on Australia's indigenous game, that statement is laughable.
TCunbeliever
Roar Guru
Thanks for attempting to answer my post. However many people are going to come, and I suppose it is fair to estimate a million, considering Australia is an attractive holiday destination, it's not really the point. And no, never did I say the hospitality and catering industry will bust. The particular industries will do well, but it is going to make every train, bus, tram, beach, cafe, restraunt, supermarket, park, pub, bar, nightclub, and hotel incredibly crowded.. I'm not sure how the Public transport industries will cope with that, or how well that will go down with the general population who isn't interested in the event, and who is greatly inconvenienced by the lack of available and comfortable transport, cafes, bars and restraraunts.. Well it is good that the US World Cup did help the sport their to take off, hopefully it will have the same effect here. I think it'd be great if everyone had their AFL/NRL clubs they supported in Winter and an A-League club they also felt strongly about in the Summer. Personally i remain skeptical that it will have such a strong impact, but we shall wait and see.. Also I'd love it if we did win the World Cup, and whilst it was running the millions (or however many) tourists would find NRL or AFL games on FTA TV (as well as the World Cup) and see AFL/NRL news on the front and back pages of the daily newspapers.. (Depending on which state they are in). That idea entertains me. But ther is a long way to go between here and there.
TCunbeliever
Roar Guru
Twatter Thanks for that input.. Whilst all codes are constantly in a slow state of evolution, changing slowly with available technologies and changing abilities of the players, I thank you for providing evidence that Association Football was played and well established in Britain before Australian Rules Football was bought together in the 1870's or thereabouts. Perhaps this will encourage AF to change his moniker to British Football as, due to the fact that sport was played in Britain and imported here, and not created here and exported there, there is absolutely no justification for calling his chosen sport 'Australian Football'.
The_Wookie
Roar Guru
article in the Australian says only 270,000 international tourists turned up to the World Cup, any others were already there for the sights, safaris and other stuff. Far cry from 3 million though. http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/sport/can-we-afford-the-world-cup/story-fn63e0vj-1225963528403
jimbo
Roar Guru
Football only overtook the other codes in the last decade and became the biggest team sport in 2009. What is your point?
True Tah
Guest
Jimbo I think that figure is pretty rubbery...I think about 40,000 Australians went to South Africa, and apparently that was the third largest group of tourists to go (after England and USA). Say 32 teams with each drawing 40,000 is a touch under 1.3M. Maybe the 3M was for the whole year?
jimbo
Roar Guru
According to the FIFA report SA had 3 million visitors to SA WC 2010.
Ben
Guest
UK Steve is probably another drunken Aussie that lands himself in Shepherd's Bush and embarasses himself and his nation with his behaviour. Aussies in London are for the most part an embarassment to the human race. They have a local football team, QPR who are top of the championship yet instead of assimilating into English culture by following the indigenous English game and their local club, they bring with them their weird, foreign sport played by mean wearign tight fitting, weirdly shaped costumes and an oval ball that is red. Being in the UK, why does he exactly care about what happens here in Aus, he has left this country and should focus on bettering his newly adopted home rather than prying his nose into events occuring here without actually living here or paying taxes here.
Australian Football
Roar Guru
Would you care to explain..? Is Rale giving away bank accounts..?
Forgetmenot
Guest
Perhaps you guys should do a bit of reading on Rale Rasic. Junior soccer has had a HUGE head start on other sports.
Australian Football
Roar Guru
There is a video on Youtube called Pippinu the cat---if you search for it you will find it. It comes up with the most incredible names. Akin to Paul the Octopus in the Sth Afican WC .. :D
Ben
Guest
West Ham smashed the mancs 4-0, COYI!!!!!! If only it were a league game, we need the damn points! For long suffering Hammers, it is incredible!
Fussball ist unser leben
Roar Guru
Oh dear, UK Steve ... you have been exposed. Only an Aussie, who knows nothing about football - other than watching the EPL highlights on the news - would consider a Man United loss to WHU in the Carling Cup to be "incredible"!
djfrobinson
Guest
Yeah 4th in Australia perhap and 4th in the world. I can live with that
djfrobinson
Guest
I am not a football fan but having seen the excitement of the rugby world cup, and I can only imagine that the soccer one will be 20 times more exciting. I'm not demising my codes world cup by any means it’s one of the best events in the world. I'm simply saying that the football world cup is something to be admired. If Australia gets it there will be major benefits as the world will turn its entire focus to Australia for 6 weeks
UK Steve
Guest
Definately 4th of the football codes in Australia though isn't it. What could they possibly do that would have any impact on whether Australia got the world cup?
UK Steve
Guest
I'm a citizen of the world my friend. Not everybody in England calls the game Football but most do. If you say soccer, people understand and unlike soccer tragics in Australia don't go and throw a hissy fit. West Ham have just beaten Man Utd 4-0. Incredible!!
punter
Guest
Aussie Rules Steve, I think the AFL would kill for 1/100th of the int'l exposure Rugby has.