Last week Josh Kennedy entered into football folklore when he headed Australia into the 2014 World Cup. 16 years ago our national team was not so fortunate.
For those lucky enough not to be there, or even luckier; young enough to not remember, have a read. It will hopefully make qualification to Brazil last week that extra bit sweeter.
The night was a typical balmy night and the Socceroos entourage was in town. 16 years ago the Australian team was not as lucky as it is today with World Cup exposure or even an International friendly. This was going to be an event that one would remember for the rest of your life.
Australia came away with a 1-1 draw in the first-leg, with a young Harry Kewell announcing himself on the international stage.
Back to the ‘G’, there was a buzz about the ground that had never been experienced before, it was an eerie feeling.
There was a hush over the ground; people were nervous, anxious about what was going to take place over the next 90 minutes. Out came the players and all this lifted, spectators became an army of 85,000 fans urging our national team across the line to gain one place in France. This added to the experience dramatically, knowing that 31 nations had already booked their place, and only 90 minutes stood in our way of joining the football elite.
Supporters had a belief that Australia deserved to be on the football stage, after all, the Socceroos squad included some of the best names Australia had ever produced; Bosnich, Slater, Zelic, Kewell, Viduka and Arnold just to name a few. They also had master tactician, Englishman Terry Venables, behind their campaign, what could have gone wrong.
The team started well but failed to take their chances. Aurelio Vidmar probably had 3-4 early chances but he wasn’t alone. In the 47th minute, a Vidmar goal puts Australia 2-0 up, and the crowd went into a sense of jubilation. However, they were celebrating too early, but Australia was playing the better football and had the overwhelming support of the 85,000 crowd.
Supporters were dancing on the isles singing “We’re going to France, we’re going to France”. Looking back at this now, it was a little premature. Supporters firmly believed that they were going to France and nothing could have changed that.
Enter Peter ‘#&#$%’ Hore, the serial pest that has plagued many public events. Hore ran onto the ground and caused a six minute delay. This did not change the game but the momentum was lost, the crowd silenced and more importantly Iran had six minutes to stop and assess the situation.
Australia conceded two goals in a five minute period and it was the darkest hour for Australian supporters. Yes, Italy was heartbreaking, but this was something different. Australia had 15 minutes to find an equaliser, but it wasn’t going to be. Player fitness, injuries and whatever else started taking their toll, France merely became a country where the Eiffel Tower is located and not a place to fulfill Australian World Cup dreams.
As the final whistle blew, the Iranians were running around celebrating and the Aussies sat on the pitch lifeless. Supporters had an aura of silence, heartbreak and devastation.
The Socceroos managed to regroup and show the football world what they were capable of finishing second in the Confederations Cup.
One cannot imagine how the Australian dressing room must have felt that night. In 40 minutes they had gone to being ‘Heroes of a nation’ to just another group of footballers in this country who couldn’t get the job done. The legacy of 74′ would continue for another four years.
Kasey
Guest
Punter, I'm over it now I guess..still get a bit nervous though when my team goes 2 up especially if somebody within earshot gobs on and says something to tempt the football Gods like: "we've got this" :( grr Helping me get over it has been the realisation that it was one of those things we needed to endure to make us stronger. Afterall, no Master Mariner got his qualification sailing on a mill pond! And stronger now we undoubtedly are. 2013 onwards is a great time to be a football fan. I'm even seeing glimpses of the future style of football our National Team should end up playing via the u/20 team currently in Turkey:)
Griffo
Roar Guru
How did I miss this article? Oh that's right...no fond memories of that night, shedding manly tears over the back of the old TV and hearing it sizzle when they got fried. :-( Still - hindsight looking at the 8 years afterwards, the even greater challenges of trying to make it past Uruguay in 2001, which made us stronger for when we needed it most against them in 2005. I think that game in '97 made us prepared for Iraq in Melbourne, but still not without some heart-in-the-mouth moments. And as mentioned, qualification for France '98 would have just papered over the cracks of the admin of the game for just that little bit longer. You don't know where you're going until you realise where you have been...
Punter
Guest
It's best to let it go Kasey, maybe it just was not the right time. Whereas 2005, the relief was huge & the A-League was in place to take advantage of the Socceroos success & of course the subsequent WC qualifications. However in 1997, even if we had qualified, yes lowest point in my sporting life, we were not ready.
Kasey
Guest
Besides Aurelio Vidmar being profligate in front of goals, I blame El Tel being arrogant and ignorant. Arrogant in that he wanted yet more goals despite being 2-0 up. Ignorant in that he did not pick the ultra-reliable Milan Ivanovic to partner Alex Tobin in defence. Tobin and Ivanovic were the bedrock foundation upon which much of Adelaide City's NSL success was built. Regardless of that, for robbing the team of its momentum Peter Hore should have been lynched IMO. Ultimately, it burns that the 'only' team to go undefeated in WC qualifying did not get a gig in France98; however as has already been mentioned in the long run things turned out probably for the best. Can you imagine the myriad of ways a disfunctional and moribund SoccerAustralia could have squandered the largesse of a WC qualification? Cronyism and back room deals already saw ticket revenue from Socceroos games going to the company of one SocAus director, while all Socceroos travel was conveniently handled by the travel agency owned by another board member. So glad to be able to put that dark age for football behind us. Failure drove the desire to make changes via the Cawford report. Happy to have lived through it as it provides a nice dose of perspective regarding any minor issues still facing the game in Australia.
Greg
Guest
I was just joking about El Tel. I enjoyed his time as coach. At least until Iran got the wrong impression of Peter Hore and got, literally, even.
Brick Tamlin of the Pants Party
Guest
Who knows what kind of impact the sides of 98 and 02 could have made at the big show,particulary with Kewell and Viduka at their absolute prime around that time.Horrible night against Iran and some old familiar feelings were starting to appear around the 80th minute last week,thankully we pulled through.
Football fan
Guest
One of the best socceroo teams ever in my opinion. They feared no one and played sensational football. It was a tragedy they didn't get to show it on the biggest stage of all.
Xavi
Guest
Yes, in fact, Iran felt quite insulted by that event. They still don't know that Hore is/was a madman! They thought he was a particularly impolite fan and that they were being taunted. Iran's side in 97 was very strong and for Australia to have dominated them as they did in Melbourne said a lot about El Tel.
Greg
Guest
I hadn't heard that before Xavi. The "loss" really was Peter Hore's fault then? Nah, much more fun to blame the hapless El Tel for the debacle.
Hardsy
Guest
Thanks for the comments guys, sorry for the bad memories but one thing is for sure our game is heading in the right direction. If you feel inclined check out my website www.fromthestandsal.com Looking forward to a great ALeague season ahead.
Towser
Guest
Make no mistake I was lower than a worm doing the limbo that night,but on reflection I too wonder how much long term mileage the game could have gained from qualification in 1997. Short term boost,long term nothing added. Sort of reminded me of looking at houses in the Eastern suburbs of Sydney in the Seventies. Remember being told to watch out for the shonky builders/Real Estate Agents & the quick fix,quick sale merchants. Watch in particular for newly wall papered houses,often the wallpaper looked attractive,sucked you in to buy,but underneath the wall was full of holes. Can anybody who has followed the game for the last 40 years & longer in Australia look at the game prior to 2005 & honestly say that football in Australia didn't have an Eastern Suburbs quick fix/quick sale smell about it? I leave it to your own imagination to put a name to the many holes under the wallpaper.
Evan Askew
Guest
Some good points there but permit me to play devls advocate In my opinion we had as good a team as we did in 2006 as evidencced by th performance in the confederations cup. If we had qualified we migh have done great things. And since the introduction of "summer soccer" in 1989 and with the excelent coveage of SBS the NSL was gradually increaing in crowd numbers. Look at the difference beteen this match in the last winter season of the NSL http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NLhBHFM4Gk0 compared to this http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AURDYKY-Phk I still agree with your assesment as Hill had signed that ghastly television deal with channel 7 which killed the donestic game as we then knew it. But had we qualified and done well perhaps it is possible that c 7 might have changed theimind and gotten behind the domestic game?
Xavi
Guest
The worst night in Austalian soccer history, for sure. Apparently, the Iranians felt that the goal net being torn by Peter Hore was an Aussie taunt that they were getting their goal 'raided'.
Midfielder
Guest
I did not sleep for three days...
Jukes
Guest
Thank you for letting me relive my worst sporting nightmare. It was totally unnecessary. For those younglings who arent old enough to remember count your lucky stars. It was the most exhilirating and gut wrenching moment I have ever experienced. The euphoria of 2-0 up and things looking on track. Then utter devastation. I wouldnt wish that feeling on my worst enemy.
Minister for Information for the Democratic People's Republic of Football
Guest
The time wasn't right. I honestly believe if we had qualified for France '98 the revolution in our game wouldn't have taken place. We'd still be in Oceania and we'd possibly still be stuck with the NSL. I was there and God it hurt but looking back it was meant to be that way. It made Uruguay '05 and everything that followed so much more special.