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Nothing compares with the fun, excitement, tension, relief, despair, heartbreak and pure, pure joy of being a Socceroos supporter.
For those who have been supporting this team for more than a handful of years, our journey has been at the darkest end of the spectrum, but the last six years have propelled the Australia national team into becoming a formidable force in world football.
We may not be the best, and probably never will be, but even the best footballing nations in the world know that today, the Socceroos will be tough opposition. One or two moments of lost concentration, and gotcha!
To be an avid Socceroos supporter, standing and singing, chanting, waving your flags in the Australian home end is one of the greatest experiences you can have.
Surrounded by your fellow hardcore supporters, your mates, the soldiers in green and gold who have answered the call to be the Australian 12th man, is an honour, and the pride and passion is so thick you can almost touch it.
Australia at home is electric, but being an Australian away supporter is a total different experience.
Having had the great fortune and honour to have seen most of the Australian 2010 World Cup away qualifiers, I can attest to the fact that the game day atmosphere is very different, probably much less noise, but never ever lacking in passion.
To expand on the previous soldier metaphor, the away supporters draw on that siege mentality, a feeling of being behind enemy lines. The camaraderie between the supporters is intensified as we are all there for the one cause and need each other to work through the inevitable challenges that will be placed in front of us.
Challenges such as, how do we get tickets? Where do we get tickets? Why do we have to pay 25 times more for tickets than the locals? How do we get to the stadium? How do we get back from the stadium? Why have we been denied entry to the stadium? And of course, where do we find affordable beer in an Islamic country?
But the challenges are always overcome due to the collective ingenuity and tenacity of the away supporter. We come together as one, that tiny pocket of green and gold in a stadium full of contrasting colour and intimidating noise.
But we sing louder and longer than we ever do at home. That tiny band of brothers and sisters (sometimes numbering less than your fingers and toes) trying to drown out thousands of locals on their own turf. We probably never do, but it sounds pretty bloody loud where we stand, that’s for sure.
And the beauty of being an away supporter doesn’t end there. It’s not all about football (did I hear someone yell ‘blasphemy’?). Due to my away game travels I have also experienced the Pyramids in Giza, Petra in Jordan, sumo wrestling in Tokyo, ice skating in Dubai and a dhow cruise in Doha.
Not to mention finding affordable beer in those latter Islamic countries! I have also met some of the most wonderful people of many different cultures I would never have possibly met before. It has been the most fulfilling of experiences and I cherish every moment.
As we move into the next decade and the qualifying games for Brazil 2014, I would like every true Socceroo supporter to keep an option open to travel to at least one away game to experience the difference and excitement being an away supporter in enemy territory. It will be a life experience you will never forget.
And for me?
I’m praying for Tehran and Pyongyang.
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