Over the past few weeks my mind has drifting back to 1993 and the last time Australia hosted an international football-only tournament, the World Youth Cup.
While the nation hosted the Olympics seven years later, the football somewhat got lost among the multitude of other sports. But in March 1993 it was football-only, and what a treat the fans that flocked to stadia in Sydney, Canberra, Adelaide, Melbourne and Brisbane were given.
Mixing it with Colombians, Ghanaians, Brazilians, Americans, English, Turkish, Germans and Uruguayans, to name some, local fans flocked to back a Young Socceroos team coached by ‘The Boss’, Les Schienflug, and featuring the mullets of Kevin Muscat, Marc Wingell, Anthony Carbone, Peter and Jim Tskenis, and the quality of Craig Moore, Paul Agostino and the two Antes, Milicic and Juric.
Fans recognised that that team didn’t have the quality of the Young Socceroos team that made the semi-finals in Portugal two years earlier, but it was a highly organised team that demonstrated the mental qualities Australian teams became renowned for, making it all the way to the semis.
A successful home team of course helped, but Australians didn’t only flock to see the flowing locks of the young Roos, but the flowing football of the likes of Gian, Marcelinho, Nii Lamptey, Augustine Ahinful, C. K. Akonnor, Chris Faklaris, Fernando Correa and Nick Barmby.
And Australian football fans turned up to these games with a spirit to embrace a world that came here to party. It made for one of the most memorable fortnights, the carnival atmosphere starting and finishing at the SFS.
When the Asian Cup kicks off at the Bubbledome in Melbourne tomorrow night with the Socceroos taking on Kuwait, the hope is that this same carnival and welcoming spirit resonates.
Of course the likes of Korea, China, Japan, Iraq and will draw upon a vast diaspora in Australia, but for the Asian Cup to be a complete success the locals need to get to games not only involving the Socceroos but the likes of Uzbekistan, North Korea, Oman, UAE and Bahrain.
To that end, the organisers have certainly made it affordable to get to non-Socceroos games.
Rather than whinge and whine about Middle Eastern time wasting, North Korean secrecy, and basking in our apparent superiority, the hope is that Australians turn up to enjoy themselves, and maybe break down a stereotype rather than reinforce it.
Without a ball being kicked there was already talk yesterday of “Asian time-wasters” from both Australian host broadcasters. For a tournament being marketed as an opportunity to unite, there is little unifying about bashing our visitors and painting them all with the same brush before a ball is kicked.
Instead, it would be nice to see Australia and Australia’s media use the Asian Cup to reach out and try and learn a thing or two by embracing our visitors, and showing decency.
Yes, of course we want the Socceroos to go on to the semis and final, but let’s do it with a bit of class.
Since Australia entered the Asian Confederation almost a decade ago it’s fair to say it hasn’t always been the most cordial of relationships, both ways. Indeed, we still appear rather isolated, and there is little regular connection with many of the teams visiting.
The hope is this tournament acts as a bridge builder and that football can show Australia in a brighter light than those running our politics and media.
In terms of the quality arriving here, there remain question marks about many of the teams, even the top few fancied to fight it out for the title.
Another average World Cup from the Asian sides last year, with coaches being sacked left, right and centre, and a few key injuries mean that very few teams come greatly prepared and settled.
You can throw the Socceroos firmly into this mix.
With the ranking having slipped into three figures and not much convincing about all the thirds in recent months, Ange Postecoglou’s men enter the tournament without the confidence you get from winning games. The pressure is on to produce and the Roos will certainly look to build through the tournament, but nothing is a given based on recent form.
Postecoglou has certainly looked to fill his men with confidence and belief, a tactic used to good effect in Brazil, but the question is whether this is enough to get the job done.
This will be a tight Asian Cup, with Japan, South Korea, Iran and the Socceroos in with a chance of winning it.
Elsewhere, I’m seeing the standard lifting across western Asian, and a team like Qatar, as settled as any, offers genuine outsider interest. I was very impressed by the work of Djamel Belmadi when they beat the Socceroos a few months ago.
Oman and the UAE are others continuing to invest in creating better football.
Then there’s Iraq and the Palestine, who will have plenty of local support and look to use the feel-good factor.
This will be a tournament where the 4-2-3-1 dominates, with many new coaches defaulting to ensure the base is strong. It means we are likely to see defences dominate, but there will also be plenty of exciting attackers to keep the interest high.
On Sunday I ventured to Parramatta Stadium for a warm-up game between South Korea and Saudi Arabia. Apart from the outstanding crowd of almost 7000 mainly South Korean fans making incredible noise and generating great atmosphere, the quality on display was of a very competitive standard.
Indeed, as I watched Bayer Leverkusen’s Heung-min Son carve up from the left side of Korea’s 4-2-3-1, I felt I was watching a player that would emerge as one of the stars of the tournament. With Ki Sung-Yueng prompting him, Korea will be an extremely tough opponent for the Roos in Brisbane.
Meanwhile, Saudi Arabia were competitive for the first 50 or 55 minutes before wilting under the relentless Korean control, but showed in that time they also have quality up front in Salem Al-Dawsari and Nawaf Al Abed.
Then there are others I’m looking forward to seeing, like one of my favourite ever Asian players, Kuwait’s Bader Al Mutawa, and exciting young Iranians like Sardar Azmoun and Alireza Jahanbakhsh.
Undoubtedly we will see a few kids emerge to become stars of Asian and potentially international football, and that’s one of the exciting things about any tournament.
But apart from that, the Asian Cup offers an opportunity to enjoy a three-week football carnival in our backyard, and if we can come away from it feeling more connected with our Asian football family, and more humble about our place in it, then it will have been a great exercise.
BMWUB
Guest
LOL. She should be given the job of greeting at Brissie airport the teams still to play at Suncorp. I can just imagine it: "G'day mate, welcome to Austraya. Whaddaya reckon of Brissie? Down 'ere all us Aussies love our cricket and footy - maybe not you're sort of footy but anyway enjoy ya visit and bring ya relies back next time. Nee hee hee hee." (pronounced with a nasal, ocker twang that is indiscernible to non-Australians). The media treatment of the tournament has been pretty predictable: there has been much obsessing over a dead rubber, five-day test match (testing indeed) at the expense of giving the Asian Cup too much slack. I'd put it down to the mainstream media's apathy, indifference and a predilection for myopic tradition rather than any agenda that might conform to the 'containment of soccer in Australia' argument. Anyway, last year when Eddie McGuire fussed that the tournament may turn out to be a lemon what else were we to expect? Conformity is the great Australia pastime, and the media has simply herded with Eddie. However, to keep it in perspective: *This is not the world's greatest continental championship and the number of 'household names' is small indeed. *This tournament is very looking similar to Thailand 2007 (Bangkok hosted Australia's group in the Asian Cup). Thai media coverage was pretty average, as was advertising generally around Bangkok. Crowd numbers were abysmal: attendances for this tournament have been fantastic in comparison. The only group game that pulled any interest whatsoever with the locals was Thailand v. Australia; I suspect a lot of people in the crowd that 3/4 filled the national stadium only turned out to see one of Liverpool's finest ('Arry K) take on the Thai national team. Oh, and a final comment. SBS could learn a few things from the ABC and Stephanie Brantz when deliberating on how to present a more professionally packaged presentation. 'Basher' is so painful I avoid SBS A-League broadcasts like the plague. The SBS panel on Sunday nights at 10pm are either too winy, dull or serious. I avoid them to. They sure could do with a Sam, Santo or Ed. Lighten up, SBS!
Bondy
Guest
Offsider Are you challenging or do you feel threatened by football .
Fussball ist unser leben
Roar Guru
Crowd of 12,557 to watch Saudi Arabia & China at Brisbane Stadium. The football community has embraced Asian Cup football!
BigAl
Guest
same here!
Fussball ist unser leben
Roar Guru
North Korea played Uzbekistan in Sydney earlier today. The crowd of 12,078 was bigger than the majority of crowds at the RL World Cup that was held in AUS in 2008. Of the 18 matches played in that RL WC, only 7 matches attracted crowds bigger than PRK v UZB in the 2015 Asian Cup! Apart from matches featuring Australia at that RL tournament only 2 matches involving Eng v NZL managed to attract a bigger crowd than PRK v UZB in football! Interesting times.
Bondy
Guest
Watching the races today the Magic Millions on Ch 7 they interviewed the minister for sport and tourism for Qld she was promoting or touting how International Qld was with " major ' sporting events the only thing was that she only mentioned the races which she was at of course and the Tennis in Brisbane. Though China was playing Kazakhstan later that evening in Brisbane in the AFC and she or they "Ch7 " never mentioned it whilst touting how International Qld was with sport. Oh dear ...
eagleJack
Roar Guru
Perhaps "Strayians" enjoy watching sport. Learn some respect Fuss. While belittling Australia at every turn seems to give you a kick (yay you proved you are smarter and more cultured than a stranger on the interweb), those of us watching from afar are pretty disgusted by it.
Fussball ist unser leben
Roar Guru
China playing Saudi Arabia right now at Brisbane Stadium & from TV observation I'd estimate we have more people than attend some AFL & NRL matches. Definitely more people than attend elite Sheffield Shield Cricket. Remember ... this is Saudi Arabia & China being played in Brisbane. Plus the global TV audience will be greater than AFL and NRL combined would get for Grand Finals for the next 10 years.
Floyd Calhoun
Guest
What is a 'Stayian' exactly?
Brad
Guest
Yes because South Korea are playing, one of only three teams worth watching.
Fussball ist unser leben
Roar Guru
Hey Brad There's a very good crowd in Canberra Stadium for KORvOMA right now. Hard to tell from TV, but I'd expect around 15k.
Bondy
Guest
Brad Your envy is staggering, poor bugger ...
Fussball ist unser leben
Roar Guru
You can stop "not being sure" ... ... 9 mates & I have already paid & got tickets to watch: Iran, Bahrain, Nth Korea, Saudi Arabia, Palestine, Jordan & Uzbekistan. If you don't watch global sport, you won't understand.
Brad
Guest
Outside of Australia, Japan and South Korea, i'm not sure of anyone who would pay to watch any of the other teams.
Rocco75
Guest
all good Perry Bridge. I am a test cricket fan with only a passing interest in T20. I for one hope that one day cricket is not killed off (including the world cup) but the ICC and the respective cricket boards around the world may have other plans....... I also can't wait for kick off tonight. this is the Socceroos best chance to win some silverware. the Asian Cup on home soil. Can't wait.
Fussball ist unser leben
Roar Guru
"So – I presume that we’re on the same page here?" Not the same page. Not the same book. Not the same library. To all the negative comments you've tried to raise I have a 2 word response ... ... SO WHAT. Actually, I had a different 2 word response, but I doubt it would get past the moderators. 9 mates & I have tickets to 7 matches. I'll be watching every other match I can see on TV. Palestine vs Jordan is my pick of the non-AUS matches. I hope you enjoy NOT watching the Asian Cup.
Perry Bridge
Guest
Rocco75 I was a little tongue in cheek on that front - re the ICC WC squads. Although - the fact that cricket via the test matches and BBL has traction with it's audience presently means that any discussion around ICC WC squads is not being done to deaf ears. And the BBL is impacted too - in that international players have been coming and going based on whether they are making their national squads or not. The Australian squad has a level of 'build up' as to who is in or not and especially whether Michael Clarke and his dodgey hammy get's selected or not. The papers will give plenty of coverage to his hammy. The notion of the ICC WC as a pinnacle event is technically beyond question - but as you point out, the status of ODI cricket is curious, especially in Australia where Test cricket is still a clear #1. There are other nations where ODI's are clearly ahead of Test with respect to public 'buy-in'.
Perry Bridge
Guest
Fussball, Exactly - that pretty well puts the Asian Cup in perspective, doesn't it. You'd be booking and filling the MCG for an exhibition match such as MVFC v Liverpool, and as I mentioned - around the international clubs booked in for Melbourne July this year are all scheduled for the 'G and will probably be near enough sell out 'events'. So - I presume that we're on the same page here?
Rocco75
Guest
"And then there’s the announcement of World Cup squads (cricket) in a pinnacle world event that is being built up towards by a sport with current momentum of coverage." I stopped reading there. the one day world cricket world cup is not a pinnacle world event and no one is sure (not even the ICC) that one day cricket will still exist in 4 years time..... T20 could well kill it off. Not trying to be nasty Perry Bridge but there is no build up to the announcement of cricket world cup squads. you announce the squad and that's it. if it was the Ashes series then that would be completely different. I'm a cricket fan too but I disagree with your comments.
Fussball ist unser leben
Roar Guru
"Eng v Aust was pretty well impossible to get family of 5 into" Yeah .. so was a practice match MVFC vs Liverpool So what? If AUS played England in a competitive Football match in AUS, you could price the tickets at $500/head and it would sell out in minutes. Same would happen today with AUS playing a competitive matche against: ARG, BRA, ESP, GER, etc. etc.