Next year’s trip to South America for the 2020 Copa America is the most exciting thing to happen to the Socceroos since they won an Asian Cup on home soil almost five years ago.
Remember when you used to watch the old World Soccer show on SBS on a Saturday afternoon and every few weeks the feature game would come from Argentina?
Well that will be the Socceroos at the Estadio Monumental in Buenos Aires next June.
And even though it’s a bit of a shame none of Argentina’s group stage games will take place at La Bombonera – quite possibly the most famous stadium in world football, even though expansion plans mean it will soon look very different – a trip to Buenos Aires is still a football hipster’s dream.
The Estadio Monumental is one of grand old dames of South American stadia and while you won’t exactly get a modern match-day experience should you make the trip over to the Argentine capital, that’s exactly what makes the whole experience so unique.
A trip to the Copa America is the sort of once-in-a-lifetime football fantasy we could only dream about when we were watching games from faraway lands on our terrestrial TV broadcasts in the ’90s.
Sure, this might be the umpteenth Copa America with a new-look schedule and two more seemingly randomly invited teams, but in this case CONMEBOL’s typically haphazard organisation is well and truly Australia’s gain.
And it’s not the like the rest of our lengthy five-game group stage is anything to sniff at.
The Socceroos begin the tournament against old foes Uruguay in the central Argentine city of Cordoba, before heading to the outskirts of the capital to face both Paraguay and Bolivia at the newish Estadio Ciudad de La Plata.
Then it’s off to the Monumental – host of the 1978 World Cup final and home to the world famous River Plate – to take on host nation Argentina in what may well be Lionel Messi’s international swansong.
Lionel Messi will face the Socceroos again at the 2020 Copa America. (Photo by Robert Cianflone/Getty Images)
And if you haven’t had enough of Cordoba, you can head back there to watch Australia’s final group stage game against Chile.
Will the Socceroos even win a game at the tournament? Bolivia at least seem beatable.
But to try and conjure up a points tally is to miss the point somewhat, because the Socceroos just being at the Copa America will be an unprecedented moment in history.
That’s not to imply that Graham Arnold’s team will head to the tournament as easy beats.
If the Socceroos can better the performance of the 2020 Copa’s other invitational side Qatar, they’ll have done well.
And for the uninitiated who might wonder why Australia is even playing in the oldest international tournament in world football, it’s worth remembering that CONMEBOL have been welcoming invitational teams since 1993.
At first it was usually teams from North America – Mexico made the final at the first time of asking – however Japan made their first appearance in 1999 and Qatar will be making their second consecutive appearance at next year’s finals.
And with the South American sides set to be in the midst of World Cup qualifying when the tournament kicks off, the Copa represents a chance for Australia to genuinely test itself on the international stage.
Not since the 2017 Confederations Cup have the Socceroos been seriously tested outside of World Cup dates, and a trip to South America is something many of us might have feared we’d never see again.
Will Uruguay be fired up to take on the Socceroos at the Estadio Mario Alberto Kempes? You’d better believe it.
Will Leo Messi lead his national team in a tournament co-hosted by Colombia, with the final to be played at the Estadio Metropolitano in Barranquilla? Maybe, maybe not.
But who cares about that right now? The Socceroos are going to the Copa America!
And if you don’t mind, I’ll be busy looking up flights to Buenos Aires for the rest of the day.
Football is Life
Roar Rookie
You can't argue with those points Buddy
Ad-O
Guest
Not a fan of teams outside of Conmebol, or at a push Concacaf at the Copa. But will definitely be watching the games.
Ad-O
Guest
Azteca, Mexico City has it beat to. Host of 2 works cup finals, Maradona's Hand of God and GGOAT and since they play NFL games there Americans would be aware of it.
Buddy
Roar Rookie
I have actually read a few articles about stadiums - not Australian publications) that have mentioned central coast stadium in very positive terms, compact, appropriately sized and a good view!
Micko
Roar Rookie
Are you referring to the Mumbai stadium?
Kdog
Guest
This is as much about learning from asia as it is about asia learning from south America, Qatar is the strongest team in Asia by far this year, as for the Socceroos, the history is immense, we may not be superpowers, but we have taken alot of South American team's down a peg in the past years, also we are seen as the England of Asia, low skill high intensity, and the most physical team in Asia by far.
MarkfromCroydon
Roar Pro
I have stupidly committed to taking the kids to Disneyland in March and I won't be able to take time off to also attend the Copa America, not to mention my wife would have a conniption if I tried to go by myself. Ah well, at least I can watch it on the telly, and hopefully I'll go there for the World Cup in 2030.
Football is Life
Roar Rookie
Yeah I remember the late timeslot on Saturday night. As a kid I'd rack out early and set the alarm, I would watch it alone whilst the family slept
AGO74
Guest
The wife has seen me play football so she knows the sordid sorry truth on my footballing talents.
Buddy
Roar Rookie
Even that has lost a lot of gloss in recent years especially since they moved it to a 5-00 pm kick off. Very few FA Cup parties here these days compared with a decade ago.
Football is Life
Roar Rookie
Agree and does this mean our level of respect and the perception of Australian football in the world has changed,? I think it has considerably, so.to the naysayers out there, think again my friends.
Football is Life
Roar Rookie
The world is poorer for Les’ absence. I am sure he’s got front row seats at an game he chooses. And yep who doesn’t remember tha chocolate box
Football is Life
Roar Rookie
Nahhh not with Wembley especially when it comes to the Cup Final.
Football is Life
Roar Rookie
Gold absolute gold. You’d think that Central Coast stadium would be right up there, they don’t have a couple of massive sauce bottles at Nou Camp or Wembley!!!
Nick Symonds
Guest
Sydney to Rio = 13,513 km Sydney to Beirut = 14,176 km - Come on, let's join CONMEBOL.
Brainstrust
Roar Rookie
Each continetal federation championship should be reserved for teams from that region. The guest teams were introduced to raise revenue, so having USA and Mexico there meant a lot of extra Tv money and same for the Gold cup. Then you had Japan because their Tv money is big. Unless Qatar paid a lot of money to be included I cant see Australia and Qatar earning them much. The journos are obviously looking forward to their junkets so lets make big news of it. The flipside is the level of importance given to our matches in Asia is poor.
Redondo
Roar Rookie
Tell her you're in the squad
Para+Ten ISUZU Subway support Australian Football
Roar Rookie
That's a real shame :unhappy:
Mark
Guest
Argentina is actually a sensational place to visit. If you like red meat and red wine, it is paradise. BA has a great cafe and bar scene. It’s cheap as well with all the issues with the local economy and the Peso. If you haven’t been before, argue on that basis.
Buddy
Roar Rookie
In my case, be thankful that you are married to someone who loves going to away games.....loves the different places and the people you meet!