As I watched a replay of the Socceroos versus Czech Republic match during the week, my daughter joined me on the lounge.
She is a big Aaron Mooy fan and with her mum’s proud heritage also part of her makeup, she shares my enjoyment in Andrew Nabbout’s play.
Midway through the second half she made the strangest comment. She said, “Wow, they’ve all got such long necks.”
I was befuddled and thought perhaps she was referring to Tom Rogic, who does have that rather lanky appearance. Yet as it turns out, she was talking about the Czech team.
When quizzed, she reiterated. “They all have such long necks and they all look the same.”
Now before anyone labels little Sarah a vitriolic racist, her point started to make sense to me. She is very much used to watching A-League matches and the Socceroos and she noticed a distinct difference between Australian players and their Czech opponents.
In much the same vein as the Icelandic, Japanese or Swedish teams, there is a consistency about their appearance. The Socceroos however, are something very different altogether.
Our national football team is a product of our multicultural communities and from all parts of the globe we originate. I did a little research just to see the full extent of our cultural and ethnic makeup as a team and what I found was interesting and educative.
(Photo by Matt King/Getty Images)
Australia’s traditional links to the British Isles; our original source of migration, is still represented strongly in our team. Jamie Maclaren and Jackson Irvine both represented Scotland at junior level and Trent Sainsbury is only a generation removed from England.
Tim Cahill’s Irish roots on his father’s side might not be known to all yet the story of his body ink and the links to his Mother’s Samoan heritage have been played out commercially in advertisements.
Working a Welshman in there would give us the full deck and with Thomas as one of the most common names in the land of the leek, I am happy to jump on a late plane to Russia if the manager wants me.
Aziz Behich is unmissable with his distinct features and is proud of his Turkish Cypriot heritage.
The two hottest Socceroos of all right now are probably Andrew Nabbout and Daniel Arzani.
Andrew Nabbout during his time with the Jets. (AAP Image/Darren Pateman)
With something of a famous father who claimed the Lebanese bodybuilding title many years back, Nabbout speaks proudly of the ancient land of his ancestors. Arzani has faced the recent dilemma of a choice in future international allegiance between his country of birth Iran and the Socceroos.
Thankfully, he has pitched his tent in our camp and if he lives up to half the hype, Australia will be blessed with a wonderful footballer for at least two more World Cups.
Mainland Europe is well represented; the continental birthplace of many of the men who nurtured football in this country. Dimi Petratos’ Greek ancestry is one that has always been a part of Socceroo teams and Massimo Luongo provides the link back to Italian migration; so pivotal in the development of the Aussie game.
His mother’s Indonesian bloodlines also offer a connection to one of our closest northern neighbours.
The Croatian community also played a key role in the growth of the game in the local, Anglo and sometimes hostile environment. Tomi Juric, Milos Degenek, Mile Jedinak and Matt Jurman all have ties back to one of the most beautiful coastlines on the planet.
Australia’s Mile Jedinak (AAP Image/David Moir)
While tensions between Croatia and Serbia have historically been extreme, the contemporary national squad experiences no such animosity. Thanks to Australia’s role as a peaceful conduit and the game of football further pacifying tensions based on difference and history, Tom Rogic and Danny Vukovic are closely connected to their Serbian roots.
As a nation, we should be proud that our landscape offers scope for friendship and peace rather than division and animosity. Perhaps political leaders need to tune in to the World Cup and follow our teams’ journey to fully embrace that idea as well.
Of course, much of the squad are now third, fourth and fifth generation Australians with less of an obvious connection to their ancestral roots.
However, I am sure Robbie Kruse could convey his German heritage despite his Brisbane upbringing and Plumpton, New South Wales-born Mathew Ryan must surely have the luck of the Irish in the family tree somewhere.
Born into an AFL household in Melbourne, Matthew Leckie’s clan appears Anglo-Celtic based on the surname, as does the lineage of Josh Risdon, Brad Jones, Mark Milligan and James Meredith.
And that just leaves the forgotten man in this discussion: Bert van Marwijk. The Dutchman comes to us as a temporary appointment before we let the grumpy guy take over in a few months.
In total, by my count, 24 men with fourteen different nations providing the ingredients in a considerable melting pot of talent.
In a way, this is what is so special about Australia, the Socceroos and the upcoming month. No wonder they call it the World Cup.
Barca4life
Guest
Agree 100% Griffo. It’s quite simple we don’t play enough football unlike the football countries around the world, the more we could play more football year round like it’s done overseas the better at closing the gap with the worlds best. Along with the quality coaching, pathways and Talent ID programs as well, this is the key in every major football country. If we can have this place along with the education of the importance of technique from the age of 4, it would the best possible chance for Australia to produce its next golden generation at the big stage. But Ange has mentioned it’s all about investing in the long term and thinks the FFA don’t have there priorities in place at this stage, I guess we will found in the future if it’s true or not.
Cousin Claudio
Roar Guru
That's just the reality of Australia's media and their investments in Australian sport and our intolerant, isolationist, xenophobic, parochial and protectionist culture. The real football fans, myself included, certainly appreciate the fantastic pioneering deeds that our ethnic groups have performed to get Australian football to where it is today.
Cousin Claudio
Roar Guru
Absolutely, every football fan has the opportunity to express their opinions about the Footballroos and I'd still count Ange as a Footballroos fan, but be careful what you say because you live and die by the pen. Every country in the world has the same club v country tug of war. The Footballroos will have more time together before the Cup kicks off and a better preparation than France or Brasil. Its all about money in the end and given the very limited funds the FFA has, I've always thought they've always given the footballroos the best preparation they can afford, given the enormous travel and organisation issues. If we had a $1.5 billion media deal, the story might be different. Given Australia has had the longest, most kilometers travelled and most expensive quailication path in FIFA World Cup history to get to Russia 2018, its a bit rich of Postecoglou to start criticising the FFA and what they are doing, especially after he asked them to double his salary, before resigning in a petulant huff.
Cousin Claudio
Roar Guru
209 nations around the globe entered the FIFA Football World Cup for 2018. We are down to 32 now. and by 16 July there will only be one winner. Football is a truly international game and represents just about every nation on earth. But then again, Port Adelaide did play Gold Coast in China in a monumental Victorian Rules challenge.
Stuart Thomas
Expert
Wow, I need some of the transcript of this conversation. Powerful stuff. It is our greatest strength yet some wish to label it as our greatest weakness.
MQ
Guest
We don't want a return to the NSL, but equally, we should not be afraid that some of the best known football clubs in Australia have an ethnic background (just like some of the best known clubs in South America and elsewhere).
brian drian
Guest
+1
Griffo
Roar Guru
No.
Brian
Guest
He left for more money and now he criticises the FFA. He says he was interested in more then results and then bemoans future results.Glad he's gone. Good club coach when you can build your own empire but terrible at international where you have to work with what you have.
BigAl
Guest
?? Are you saying multiculturalism is good - because it will eventually lead to a new superior mono-culture ?
Griffo
Roar Guru
Personally I think it is a debate we not only need to have, but to have constantly. There’s much that could be done to get more games and importantly more time on the ball. Schools are so under-utilised in terms of weekly competitions in addition to clubland, and that is only scratching the surface. Training once or twice a week plus a game is not going to do it for us, as Japan seems to indicate. And paying through the nose for another after school activity adds another barrier on top. I think Ange has earnt the right to say whatever he wants and contribute to the discussion. The idea is to have the discussion and for those making decisions to make informed decisions based on football, not business theory and practice for revenue outcomes.
Griffo
Roar Guru
Great article Stuart and reminds me of another comment from my German mate about his time here: Basically he couldn’t believe how well multiculturalism worked here and that in time all the mixing of the worlds genes here would makes us unique and unstoppable at whatever we decided to do.
Cousin Claudio
Roar Guru
You'd like a return to the NSL? Its not just about ethnicity, its about viability and financial management. A-League clubs are franchises that have to pay their own way. That's why Deloitte's are doing the assessment of the bid proposals and not Pauline Hanson. Playing the racist card is not the best approach.
Cousin Claudio
Roar Guru
Then why did he leave? Hope his family aren't missing him too much while he's earning $4M a year in Yokohama. His credibility is shot. He would learn quite a deal from listening to other more experienced people like Aussie Bert.
theBird
Guest
Great article. Too bad FFA are doing their best to down play the role of that ethnics and migrants have made to football in this country. Other codes would love to have such rich history and culture. #EraseTheNCIP.
Lucas Gillard
Roar Guru
Mooy is so dutch that he lines his cigarettes up in a 4-3-3
chris
Guest
haha crazy right? Seeing them wearing designer clothes and killer heels riding a bicycle lol
Barca4life
Guest
I don’t want to hamper on things but Ange makes some interesting comments with regards to the future of the national team and direction on where it’s going with regards to youth development and strategic direction. An interesting read. https://www.theguardian.com/football/2018/jun/08/ange-postecoglou-australian-football-is-going-backwards
Fadida
Guest
That's amazing AD. Let's hope those that have claimed BVM is in it for the money read that.
Liam Salter
Roar Guru
A little off-topic, but I thought this was great: https://www.adelaidenow.com.au/sport/football/socceroos-coach-paying-assistants-out-of-his-own-pocket/news-story/57a7566582e9c82f30dced0876ef7786