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The Socceroos need your attention for more than just the World Cup

Mile Jedinak of Australia celebrates scoring his side's first goal with team mates Andrew Nabbout and Robbie Kruse during the 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia group C match between France and Australia at Kazan Arena on June 16, 2018 in Kazan, Russia. (Photo by Laurence Griffiths/Getty Images)
Roar Rookie
27th June, 2018
23

The Socceroos success lives and dies by what happens with football in Australia.

Nearly all of the current Socceroos passed through our national A-League.

The stark reality that becomes apparent at World Cup time is that many Australians care about being successful on the international stage. They only care about the fate of the Socceroos without necessarily caring about how they became Socceroos.

The most important thing about the Australian team is the story of how they got there.

Australia is a nation that loves football. We tell ourselves that we’re not, but no non-footballing country makes it to four consecutive World Cups in a row.

We tend to think the Socceroos came from some foreign place and then became the team they are. Maybe it’s got something to do with the multicultural nature of football, or how many Australians end up playing overseas.

The reality is that all of the Socceroos were crafted on thousands of Saturday football fields around Australia and then most of them in the A-League. Both of these places are a genuinely good way to go to and support the Socceroos outside of World Cup time.

Tom Rogic reacts after missing a goal opportunity

Australia’s midfielder Tom Rogic (ODD ANDERSEN/AFP/Getty Images)

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And they need it.

Their current situation is simply unsustainable.

Football in Australia is under-funded, under-supported and under-sponsored

It’s because a lot people that like the World Cup, that like Socceroos at the World Cup, don’t really do anything to actually help them get there.

It’s a nice thing to see Australia get a lot of attention around World Cup time, but what the Socceroos need to continue succeeding is your attention between now and the next tournament in Qatar.

They need you to support an A-League team, to follow the FFA Cup, to go check out a match at your local football club on Saturday morning and buy a coffee.

Football clubs at every level in Australia are great places, they’re as good at the lowest level as they are at the highest.

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And what’s best about them is that they produce our Socceroos and will continue to do so.

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