This article is written from the perspective of a marginal footbll fan. Like most Australians I watch any sport that isn’t American. And like most Australians my code of preference is not for the ball that bounces in a straight line.
Yet I’m drawn to the sport; there’s a real power in the global party every four years, and I want to be a part of it. And I want to be convinced that this is the best sport going around.
And this is where the Socceroos come in. Their primary job is to win trophies and grow the game.
In 2013 when Australia qualified for Brazil, Frank Lowy was quoted as saying “It’s a team of fighters and a team of doers. These boys have the Aussie spirit in them. They will never, ever say die”.
True words, 12 months on.
This team could have beaten Chile in their opening game, and they gave the Netherlands a great little tickle in the second. One can’t begrudge them a breather as they lost to Spain in their final game; especially considering they were missing of the best players of the World Cup, in Cahill.
Yet it’s more than the fortunes of the national team that’s bringing new people to the sport. It’s the culture that’s brewing; a unique energy.
Last weekend I was at the fan park at The Star, where they’re playing all the final World Cup games. I was there to watch the Socceroos open their campaign against Chile, and was part of the yellow hoard; marching in unison across Pyrmont Bridge and descending upon the place.
The scarves, beanies and shirts were on proud display everywhere you looked.
Upon arriving at the fan park, the diehard, or brave, Chilean fans took camp at the front and centre; flanked by a sea of yellow punters keen to see their team have a crack at the big time.
The stadium was kitted out in all forms of World Cup carnival. The buzz of the crowd filled the space. An LED screen stretched across the party faithful like a sermon.
The speakers roared with the Brazilian fiesta. The crowd in Darling Harbour competed with their own fervour; such that you weren’t sure where one crowd ended and the other began.
And it was all about the football.
This week we saw the Spanish part from the World Cup with heads bowed. They didn’t even bother to celebrate their goals against Australia. Some Spanish fans were heard to say they wanted their team to lose the match as punishment for a failed campaign.
Yes, the Socceroos lost all three games, but they did it with style. And for Australians, well, if you’re going to lose, then you’re going to have to do it well. And well they did.
Now we can get to the business of watching the finals. And I think the Socceroos have done the job; I might be hooked.
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Even though St.Pauli ultimately lost a high-scoring affair, Jackson Irvine was a standout, as well as scoring a late goal.
What if we celebrated all of the achievements big and small, and weeded out those hell-bent on bringing down a game that is doing a hell of a lot right?
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